Followers of exceptionally previous Scotch or Irish whiskey have plenty of choices in at this time’s booming hyper premium whisky market — that’s so long as they’ve ungodly sums of cash to trade for the pleasure. Followers of Canadian whisky, however, have a tough time discovering something north of 18 years, if that. For the previous 5 years, Canadian Membership has tried to select up that slack with their Chronicles Sequence.
In 2017, to commemorate Canada’s a hundred and fiftieth birthday, Canadian Membership launched a 40-year-old expression that I’m informed was fairly the whisky, however alas haven’t personally tasted. Not lengthy after, the Chronicles releases arrived, constructed from the identical 100% corn inventory in that unique 40-year expression. The collection totaled 5 completely different expressions, every an extra 12 months older than the final. We sampled the 42 12 months previous, dubbed The Dock Man, after it was launched in 2019, however the remainder of the gathering has evaded us. Till now.
We’ll start initially with Chronicles Version 41 Years Outdated, the inaugural bottling launched in 2018. The tagline for this launch, Water of Windsor, is a tribute to the birthplace of Canadian Membership whisky in Windsor, Ontario. The 100% corn recipe used for the 40-year reportedly makes up most of this whisky’s composition, however there are additionally unspecified quantities of Cognac, rye, and sherry within the combine (Canadian regulation permits as much as 9.09% of different alcohol-containing liquids to be added to their whisky). When it launched in 2018, it was the oldest Canadian whisky ever. Let’s dive in.
The nostril is as expressive and chic as any Canadian whisky I’ve encountered. It kicks off with mushy, silky notes of nectarine, vanilla custard, white chocolate, and caramel corn. A stunning cigar field word, aromatic and heat, builds because the whisky opens, alongside subtler, vinous components of darkish prune and berry compote. After 20 minutes within the glass, the aroma is saturated with toffee and butterscotch. A delight to nostril. I’ve had a couple of single grain Scotches this previous or older, and the nostril right here is superior.
With a number of older Canadian whisky, I discover that the palate typically has a tough time residing as much as the aroma, however that’s not the case right here. Issues are surprisingly vibrant and fantastically balanced after 4 lengthy many years in a barrel. The mouthfeel is oily, nearly creamy, with a mouth-coating easy syrup sweetness and vivid notes of lemon oil and candied ginger. Undertones of fig, white grape, and rye spice provide some distinctive complexity atop much less shocking components of vanilla custard, cinnamon sugar, caramel, and oak. The end is lengthy and buttery with extra darkish vanilla bean and unique notes of black tea and Chinese language 5 spice. A knockout dram. I’m nonetheless nosing my glass, and it’s been empty for an hour.
90 proof.
A / $300 / canadianclub.com
Canadian Membership Chronicles Version 1 41 Years Outdated
$300
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