North of 7 Single Barrel 95% Rye

It has become a tradition for me that on Canada Day I post a review of a Canadian whisky. Last year, of course, I had no sense of taste and smell in the month leading up to Canada day. So I wanted to make this review special.

In 2020 I was privileged to attend an on-line cask selection tasting organized by @JasonHambrey. We tasted from 10 samples at cask strength and 2 carefully measured dilutions and everyone got to rank their favourites. I admit right off the bat that I was a bit player in this process, but it was a very interesting experience (one I hope to do again in the future). From that tasting emerged 2 barrel picks. One, a 4-grain Hazmat bottling (which I reviewed 2 years ago), was chosen for immediate bottling. This barrel, it was determined, would be great but needed some more time in the cask to achieve its fullest potential.

It was tasted yearly (not by me), and on January 23 this 7 year old whisky, 95% rye and 5% malted barley, was bottled. It took a while to get to Toronto from Ottawa, and my bottles actually came via Sudbury. Initially I tasted this from the freshly opened bottle of @fiddich1980, then a few weeks later @paddockjudge was able to ship me my bottles and a sample from his already opened bottle.

This expression is reviewed in my usual manner, allowing it to settle after which I take my nosing and tasting notes, followed by the addition of a few drops of water, waiting, then nosing and tasting. In the run-up to posting I have reviewed this on different days in different glasses.

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June 14 2023 - Glencairn glass

Bottle 104 (@fiddich1980) - Opened May 21, 2023 - sample poured same day.

Nose: 22.5/25

Sweet and fruity. Full of rye spice. Baking spices. Hints of dill and mint. If something can smell warm, this does. Heavy syrup. Beautiful nose. Water enhances the fruitiness, the spices are well-incorporated in the background. (23/25)

Taste: 22/25

WOW! Sweet and spicy on first arrival. Fruity. Green apple, cinnamon. Very spicy. On the development there is that warm feeling at the back of the throat and down the oesophagus. Slight hint of menthol. Powerful stuff. Water gives it a rich mouthfeel, a richness of flavour. You can almost chew it. The development is warm with more prominent menthol. (22.5/25)

Finish: 22/25

Tannic, sweet, astringent, with a lingering warmth. With water I get a hint of cocoa on the finish.

Balance: 22/25

This is a powerful whisky. The nose and palate complement each other. Water gives it a richer mouthfeel. (22.5/25)

Score: Neat - 88.5/100 With Water: 90/100

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June 22, 2023 - Kentucky Bourbon Glass

Bottle 67 (@paddockjudge) - Opened May 23, sample poured left-handed while facing SSW on June 18 approximately 1300, bottle 20% full

Nose: 21.5/25

Warm, sweet and spicy nose. Dill. You could convince me this was a bourbon on the nose. It has that cherry cola note. Very powerful nose. Water makes it more spirity, but it settles and is a bit brighter and fruitier, a little less overwhelming. (22/25)

Taste: 21/25

Sweet arrival. Dill. Spices. I don’t get the apple and brighter fruits that I did in the freshly opened sample I tried in the Glencairn. I poured some of the bottle 104 sample into a bourbon glass to compare. It’s still a bit brighter but tastes similar to this one. With water added I get a hint of cocoa in the development, maybe some coffee (which is not present in the sample from bottle 104. It’s still rich, a bit more approachable. (22/25)

Finish: 21/25

Astringent. Some dill. Tannins last a long time. no real change with water.

Balance: 21/25

The nose and palate complement each other. Neat it is a bit too concentrated. Water and time open it up a bit. (22/25)

Score: Neat - 84.5/100 With Water: 87/100

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June 25, 2023 - Brilliant Highland Whisky Glass

H2H2H both samples and freshly open bottle 52

Nose: 22/25

Sweet and spicy. baking spices. Cinnamon. Dusty. Hints of fresh-picked raspberries and black cherry cola. Vanilla and caramel. With a lot of time (and after a sip, I get that hint of dill. This is a warm, very rich nose. Interestingly, very similar to the sample pours. With water, the nose is a little brighter, and slightly less dill. (22.5/25)

Taste: 21.5/25

Sweet, bright and spicy on arrival. Vanilla, caramel. The development definitely darkens. Baking spices, the sensation of the upper crust of my mother’s apple pie with a little of the filling attached. Very rich. With water a little more fruity. Caramel and vanilla are still there but not as overwhelming. I get a hint of coffee in the development (kind-of like Kopiko candies). (22/25)

Finish: 21.5/25

Astringent, sweet, slightly dusty. A little dill on the finish with water.

Balance: 21.5/25

Neat it is very rich and powerful, but a very narrow range of flavours. With water it remains rich but a little brighter and more accessible. (22/25)

Score: Neat - 86.5 /100 With Water: 88/100

I did not notice a considerable difference between sample pours and the freshly opened bottle.

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This is a very powerful, rich whisky. I have to say I’m a big fan. I’m glad that I have a second bottle of this. I picked up a third bottle for a friend of mine and I think she will like it. I can’t wait to share this with rye-lovers.

It was interesting to see the differences I experienced with different glasses. I think that the glasses I used made more of a difference than the air exposure or bottle differences. One constant throughout the different tastings is that I like this more with a little water.

Happy Canada Day everyone!