So, what are you drinking now?

@MadSingleMalt

The only way you'll know is if you try it. I didn't think there was any reason to drink bourbon and didn't think much about Canadian whisky until I was exposed to some good examples of both.

Scotch/single malt is still my preferred spirit, but not by much. To me, whether to have a good malt, bourbon or Canadian depends on my mood. I'm glad I tried a variety so I can enjoy whisky in a variety of settings, especially if offered by someone with a limited cabinet.

In fact it is Variety, not rye, that is the spice of life...

@MadSingleMalt, convince you to buy a Canadian whisky? (no "e" in Canadian whisky, teacher) I couldn't give a sweet fuck if you ever tasted or purchased a Canadian whisky. You can change your poster name as many times as you like; however, you are still a fly in the ointment.

Tonight, opened up an 18 year Aultmore (Feb. 1997) SMWS 73.72 "A ray of sunshine". Fruity flavors on the tongue, and then a finish of a black currant iced tea. Really nice dram.

Nice manners... Myself, I can't recall ever trying any Canadian whisky. I might go for one of your suggestions @Nozinan but I think they come with quite a markup here in Sweden given the distance. Scotland is much closer!

@Nelom , good info on the additives. Thanks. Although I realized that "whatever" didn't mean "anything and everything under the sun," I didn't realize that there were same wood-aging requirements. That does sound a little better. But still.

@Nozinan , I get the easy "The only way you'll know is if you try it" idea, but in a world full of interesting whiskies and limited funds, I'm just not seeing any reason to bump a Canadian up above position #40 (or whatever) on my " want to try" list. Thanks, though. If I ever seen one of the bottles you mentioned on a friend's shelf, I'll ask for a taste.

@paddockjudge , your posts are the reason it was valuable to have a "downvote" button on the old Connosr. I was engaging in civil discussion about the merits of Canadian whiskyeeeey, and your reply is dickheadish in the extreme. If you talked like that to me in person, I would punch you in the face.

Yes, I changed my screen name recently, as I publicly stated on the "Welcome to new members" thread. What of it? And why did you call me a teacher? You lost me.

If anyone's wondering whether this is just a momentary lapse in @paddockjudge 's manners, I'm afraid the answer is no: connosr.com/priced-out-of-the-market-whisk…

And now that Connosr lets you see who liked each comment, I now see that @Nozinan and @skeptic liked that old post where @paddockjudge called me a "dip shit." Really? I always thought you guys were alright. Anyway, thanks for adding that feature, @jeanluc. Very helpful in this instance.

Cheers.

@MadSingleMalt

Totally agree on not shelling out hard earned (or even easy earned) cash on unknowns in these uncertain whisky times.

But, to be fair, when I had no experience with Canadian whisky (or bourbon for that matter), I didn't buy it, but I also didn't trash talk it. And I was open-minded enough to allow those of my friends, who do like it, to introduce me to some good examples. I still don't like a lot of the stuff that's out there, and my Connosr mentors know this, but I do appreciate the good stuff, and even if it's not my favourite, I can recognize the stuff that seems to have had some effort put into it...

When you're in Toronto, upvotes/downvotes from years gone by notwithstanding, come meet some of us in person and try some of the best Canada has to offer (it ain't Justin Trudeau). Canadian Whisky won't likely become your favourite genre, but I think you'll at the very least realize that it's very different from US ryes and bourbons, and you might even like one or two.

@Nozinan , sure—my mind's open. That's why I was asking about it.

Did part of my comments above come across as "trash talk"? I'm looking back and seeing the phrases "diluted to within an inch of its life" and "tainted with additives," but I stand by that. And of course, I was asking for recommendations that aren't like that.

@MadSingleMalt, oh my goodness, you've threatened me with physical harm on a public forum. :police car:

I did in fact tell you previously to "grow up, dip shit".

I'm dissapointed, I thought for such an arrogant poster you would have a better game than that.

I'm having a sip of a whisky named in your honour; Old Blowhard.

@paddockjudge @MadSingleMalt

Now why don't we all try to get along?

No more physical threats, no more trash talk.

Let's talk Whisky!

@SEPTIC, let's drink whisky....great Canadian whisky!

@paddockjudge

If it's Septic, you'll need something CS.... need 60% to kill bacteria and viruses.

@Nozinan, right you are! Make mine a cask strength bourbon.

The line of thought—if you can call it that—shown on this page is utterly incomprehensible. But I suppose I need to set my expectations at the right level.

Back on topic, my last whisky was Longrow CV, which I had right on the tails of a Lagavulin 8. The Longrow blew the Lag out of the water. It's just a lot "fuller" experience with absolutely zero hint of the nastiness that sometimes comes along for the ride with a young peater. (I'm looking you, Bowmore Legend, Big Peat, and Connemara!)

@MadSingleMalt

I've not tried the Longrow CV but I'm not surprised you preferred a craft Springbank product to a young, not CS Lag. I do like the 8 though. Given that I usually have my whiskies one at a time, I enjoy them "in the moment" and comparisons are difficult at times.

@Nozinan , I get what you're saying about the big-picture contrast between Springbank/Longrow and Lagavulin, but in this case I think the credit really belongs to the CV in particular. It's delicious, full-bodied, flawless whisky. (It's nothing really unusual or super-special to seek out—just totally good & solid.) I would not give the same praise to the current Longrow "Peated," which is zippier and perfectly fine, but less complete.

And do you never do side-by-side comparisons? I think that's where a lot of the fun is to be had. Plus, the comparison will often help you see what you're really getting (or not) when you pay extra for an enhanced version of a "basic" whisky.

@MadSingleMalt

I don't "Never" do H2Hs. I just don't do it often, because I usually can't manage more than one dram in an evening. Occasionally I will do H2H and put aside what I can't finish.

Occasionally when I get together with others I can do a few...

@MadSingleMalt, I've only ever had the longrow CV once but I don't remember being blown away. I had a much better Uigeadail the same night. The longrow RED though is a favorite for sure!

@Alexsweden , yeah, I'd agree with that: The CV isn't "special" or "unusual" like the good Reds are. It's just good & solid.

@MadSingleMalt, pouring a dram of Crown Royal Northern Harvest Rye 2016 Whisky of the Year, Jim Murray's Whisky Bible.

@paddockjudge , well bully for you.

Children...

@paddockjudge, I think I remember there being quite a storm around that nomination. That the CR in fact was quite an inferior whisky?

@Alexsweden It's a polarizing whisky for sure. I did not like it at all, and some of my best friends..., well, different opinions. One thought was that perhaps there was a fair degree of variation between the batch we all got and the one that was reviewed for the book.

@Alexsweden, huge turbulence surrounding CRNHRye. Yes, it is perceived by some to be an inferior whisky. Batch variation is one reason for the varied reviews. Also, the nature of the whisky, requiring a knowledge of the genre. Not everyone can appreciate this particular style of whisky or detect the delicate nuances it possesses. The batch in my possession, L5239 N5 is a very nice whisky, one which I scored 91.5/100, but not the same batch awarded WWOTY.

It took me many years and many failed attempts to make the leap from Canadian, Irish, and Bourbon to Single Malts. I suspect a journey in the opposite direction can be equally challenging.

Crown Royal produces enormous batch runs. The 2016 Limited Edition Cornerstone Blend was measured as tanker cars (plural)...that's a big lot of whisky. Batch variation is unavoidable, it happens across all styles.

To each, his own.

Cheers!

@paddockjudge I believe I have acknowledged to you in the past that I believe a factor in our differing opinions about Canadian whisky in general and examples such as this one in particular is your ability to appreciate subtle elements in the smell and taste that I cannot detect.

It's thanks to your mentorship that I do appreciate some of what Canada has to offer, because without your help I'd be stuck choosing between A'Bunadh, Amrut peated and unpeated CS and Caol Ila CS.

But I still don't like CRNHR... and that's OK.

But without you I'd never have tasted it to know that.

On call today, so drinking nothing but lemon, hot water and honey (and my daily coffee)

@Nozinan, absolutely nothing wrong with differing opinions, as long as nobody threatens you with a punch in the face.

I just completed a four hour tug of war with mother nature in my back yard, the last thing I want to pour into a glass right now is something peaty or vegetal...ahhhh, another litre of water, but this time followed by a healthy smash of Glen Grant 25 YO CS.

@Nozinan, looking forward to trying Glenfarclas 15 YO 50% abv.

@paddockjudge, " I suspect a journey in the opposite direction can be equally challenging." surely!

So far tonight I've had some beer, wine and straight vodka but no whisky yet. A birthday party well under way!(not mine)