Mass-Market Canadian Shootout

[CrispyCritter]

As I hadn't had either one of them before, I bought a miniature each of Canadian Club 6yo and Seagram's VO.

Well, I'm glad I bought miniatures - I found them both underwhelming. I've much preferred Wiser's, Forty Creek, Tangle Ridge, or the 8yo Hirsch. The VO and CC just don't seem as flavorful.

[Gillman]

In general I would agree although I note Jim Murray rates in particular VO very highly (in the 90's in his maximum-100 scoring system). Each brand is going for a certain profile, the two minis you sampled are certainly on the less assertive side. In this group I'd include Canadian Mist.

Gary

[CrispyCritter]

Yes, I'd definitely give VO the edge - but, if nothing else, it'd be better at 86 or 90 proof. Yet, to contrast, AAA 10 year is also 80 proof, yet quite full-flavored.

I'm guessing that the CC and VO blends contain more of the distilled-to-high-proof base whisky, and less of the "flavoring" whiskys.

[mythrenegade]

The only canadian whisky I've had was Crown Royal, and I quite liked it. How does it rate compared to the others you guys have mentioned?

Joel

[FlashPuppy]

The only canadian whisky I've had was Crown Royal, and I quite liked it. How does it rate compared to the others you guys have mentioned?

Joel

As is my understanding, Crown Royal either does or has contained SW bourbon, mixed with cheapo Canadian and watered down to proof...

[CrispyCritter]

Next time I spot a miniature of Crown Royal, I'll have to try it. On the other hand, in my own opinion:

Forty Creek OR Wiser's 10yo > VO > Canadian Club

Tangle Ridge, from Alberta Distillers, is quite good - My semi-educated guess is that it's similar to a flavoring whisky as used in the more common Canadian blends.

The Hirsch 8yo Canadian's label mentions that it's bottled at Glenora in Nova Scotia, but doesn't say anything about where it's distilled. The taste is similar to, but just a bit different from TR.

The Forty Creek whiskies (I've had Barrel Select and Three Grain) are superb. Incredibly, there was a period where Binny's sold both of them at $9.99 per bottle. I wish I had stocked up!