Lot 40?

[CrispyCritter]

I've heard Gillman mention Lot 40 more than once, but I've never seen it around here - is it imported into the US at all? I've tried searching Binny's, Sam's, and Bevmo - no dice.

I've also seen a Canadian whisky called "Pendleton" (distilled in Canada, bottled in Oregon - go figure). Has anyone tried it?

[scratchline]

It has a limited distribution in the USA. I've never seen it in the northeast, but I've picked it up in Arkansas.

[gr8erdane]

Actually it's no longer in production. I picked up one for Gary here in St Louis as he can't find it in his neck of the woods anymore. It's not cheap when I do find it but have found it in a couple of stores around here.

[ThomasH]

I bought a bottle of Lot 40 in St. Petersburg Beach,Fl 2 years ago for 17.99. The same store had some last summer when I went back. It is not bad whiskey, but not anywhere near the best I've had. I think the pot still claim in the advertising was more hype than anything. I have also tried the Pendleton and it is fairly good. I bought mine online from Binny's last year. I think they recently listed a 20yr old version for 80.00 a bottle.

Thomas

[scratchline]

17.99 is a great price. I think I paid over 30 when I last got a bottle around Thanksgiving last year.

I'd had had it before and had been on the lookout for another bottle since then. I'd initially been attracted to it because it claimed to be made with malted rye. But head-to-head with WT rye at 20 bucks, I prefer the Wild Turkey.

I remember mixing Manhattans with each for a friend who was visiting (not a whiskey drinker) and he too preferred the WT.

[TNbourbon]

Well, it's certainly not everywhere, but I've seen it (in limited quantities -- 2-3 bottles at a time) in quite a number of stores around here. Usually in the $28-$32 range.
I believe Gary has said that Lot 40 would qualify as a 'straight' rye under U.S. guidelines. None of the GNS, caramel coloring, fruit liqueurs, et al, many Canadians have.

[Gillman]

Correct, Tim. It is made from a "mash of malted rye and small grains" and is distilled once in a pot still (this is what the attached neck label states). I read the mash reference as meaning the small grains are barley malt, corn and/or unmalted rye. It is a straight whiskey in my view (effectively) because almost certainly distilled under 160 and aged in charred wood (this seems clear from the taste). I can't detect any added flavoring in the whisky. It is very flavorful and may be what Old Potrero would be like if allowed to age a few more years. I use Lot 40 solely for my blending work. If you combine it with a much larger amount of wheat-recipe bourbon it tastes exactly like a rye-recipe bourbon, and so forth. It probably offers a taste of what "singlings" were like before double distillation and rectification became common.

Gary

[barturtle]

As much as I want to like the Lot 40 it is a tad too one-dimensional. But I bet it would make a great whiskey to vat with, alas it has become hard to come by. I too have never detected any of the typical Canadian additions to the flavor, but think the warehousing there makes it suffer and not allow it to reach the complexity of a more southern climate.

[kvltrede]

Schaefer's in Skokie (http://www.schaefers.com/index.html) has five or six bottle of Lot 40 at $37/750 ml. I was surprised when I saw them last night as I hadn't even heard of Lot 40 until a few days ago when I read hear that it was no longer available.

Just thought I'd pass this along in case any Chi-area folks were on the lookout.

Kurt

[Gillman]

Apparently it is no longer made and these are the last stocks from the original run of some years ago; that is what I was told anyway by a Corby rep last year. However the product reappeared in Ontario after he told me that so I am not sure if this is new stock being sold or original stock being distributed slowly to the market. I find this whiskey somewhat like an older Old Potrero. It is quite spicy and cinammon-like. I use it only for blending and it works very well in that capacity. In fact, I suspect Lot 40 (or something very like it) is the "flavouring whiskey" used for the Corby brands and maybe for the CC brands, which may explain why it works well in blends and vattings. Adding a little to a combination of bourbons can make all the difference to the palate, but if you did not know it was there you would never guess, even if you are familiar with Lot 40. By the way I suspect it goes well with cola and ginger ale.

Gary