Canadian whiskey picks?

[Jono]

I will be in Toronto in October...just wondering what I should consider at the duty free shop.....besides Crown Royal and Canadian Club.

I also frequently see ice wine...might be a pick up as well.

[Special Reserve]

Here's a link to the duty free shop in Windsor if you're driving.

You can purchase more than the duty free amount but you will have to pay tax usually about $2-3/L.

http://www.dutyfreetunnel.com/products?cat=liquor

[Dr. François]

I would look for Alberta Springs, Alberta Premium, Alberta anything...

100% Rye whiskey. I've never tasted it; they don't ship to the USA.

[ThomasH]

They have Crown Royal limited Edition, which is primarily a Canada only brand. You can also check out the LCBO website and see if anything interests you and the site will list which stores carry it. Toronto seems to have quite a good selection of whiskey as far as Canada goes. You best deals at duty free will primarily be for Canadian whiskey. They also tend to have pretty good prices for Jameson 1780 12yr Irish whiskey!

Thomas

[Josh]

I know some like to cast aspersions on Candian Whisky and what not, but I actually kinda like it. Not on the same level as Bourbon or scotch or even TN whiskey or rye, but it can be good. I like CC Sherry Cask.

Definately pick up some ice or other wine. Ontario has some really great wineries. Heck, I would actually suggest you stop by some wineries on your way from Toronto. Pick up a brochure at a rest area and take a little extra time coming back. Try to carpool with a teetotaler or a pregnant woman so you can do lots of sampling.

But back to the ice wine, have you ever had it before?

[ThomasH]

I was at the local liquor store yesterday and saw that CC sherry cask was back on the shelves. It was 18.55 a 750, much cheaper than the first time it was available here. It went away for awhile in the US but evidently Beam Global is bringing it back!

Thomas

[Jono]

Unfortunately I will be flying in...no car...so I will have to look at the airport.

I have considered the ice wines before...will probably pick one up and a whiskey....the exchange rate is about even now so no real break there.

http://www.alcoholreviews.com/SPIRITS/albertapremium.html

This thread.. http://www.straightbourbon.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5168

Anyone tried this one:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glen_Breton_Rare

[Jono]

Crown Royal has a nice website...I have had regular Crown Royal...it is decent.

http://www.crownroyal.com/

Anyone tried these others:

Special Reserve

Cask 16 - blend of whiskey and cognac

Extra Rare...remaining product from the Waterloo distillery. Probably $$$$

[Jono]

By the way...the very worst whisky I have ever had was Canadian Mist.

I am not joking in that it smelled and tasted like formaldehyde....I dumped it down the drain...undrinkable. For some reason, I had thought it was a decent blend....wrong.

http://www.internetwines.com/rws6674.html

It is supposed to be the top selling imported spirit....really? I assume as a bar mixer only.

http://www.tastings.com/scout_spirits.lasso?id=179774 > I can't believe the review...other than "raw distillate."

Could it actually have been a bad batch? Toxic waste in error?

[craigthom]

If you are renting a car, Niagara Falls is an hour and a half to two hours away, depending on traffic. There are wineries there. And a waterfall.

[Gillman]

Just catching up on this. Duty free in Toronto at the airport has a small selection of Canadian rye. There is CR and some Canadian Club, of which the 100 proof version is the most interesting I think simply because it isn't sold domestically here. There may be one or two other brands. They have some icewine too (all icewine is good so you can rely on duty free for this), and the excellent Cuvee Catherine champagne-type wine from Henry of Pelham, Niagara, which many liked at the recent Gazebo (it was served to the ladies mostly but a couple of the guys tried it too).

There will be some other wine there as well, but not a large selection.

My suggestion is to find out the nearest Liquor Control Board of Ontario store to where you will be staying and buy there. The choice is much larger.

In rye, any of the older Alberta Springs products is good, but I'd buy the Forty Creek products too, maybe one of each, or one of these two groups and Wiser's Special Reserve. I like Royal Reserve, which is not expensive and offers the true rye-tinged Canadian whisky palate, it comes in an oblong shape bottle.

Gary

[Gillman]

Incidentally I wonder if that Canadian Mist Jon mentioned was mishandled in some way, generally (in my experience) it is a mild, nice whisky, not emphatic in any way but good of its type.

Gary

[mozilla]

For those interested....there will be a CC 30 out on the market very soon.

[ThomasH]

I can vouch for what Gary said about CC 100 being better than the 80 proof version. It has a fruitier rye taste to it than the standard version!

Thomas

[Jono]

Maybe I can take an evening stroll on Yonge or thereabouts....Gary, do you know of a good store in that area? I will be staying at the Marriott on Bloor.

[Megawatt]

There are some good aged Canadian whiskies to be had for $50 or less. I've listed the prices at the LCBO.

Gibson's Finest Rare (18 years) $50

Wiser's Very Old (18 years) $45

Danfield's Limited Edition (21 years) $50

Alberta Premium Limited Edition (25 years) $30

Crown Royal Limited Edition (no age statement, but said to be 15 years) $38

These are all very good but if I had to pick favourites, I would say the Alberta Premium and Crown Royal mentioned above really stand out to me. Being of a more mild nature, Canadian whisky really shows its age, I find.

[Jono]

Binny's does not list Alberta, Gibsons..they do show:

http://www.binnys.com/spirits/search/?pn=1&advs=2&ast=26&asc=24&astxt=

Crown Royal Special Reserve $32.99 and the XR $139.99

Danfield's 10 $24.99...not the 21 yr old.

40 Creek $18.99

Wisers 10 $13.99 and 18 $29.99< good price

What about the Pendleton 10?

[Gillman]

Jon, call me when in town, I sent a PM.

Gary

[ThomasH]

Pendleton is also decent whisky and is also becoming more widely available. Ohio started carrying it a few months ago. Gibsons is also a brand that you don't see in the US. I have both the 12 and 18 and both are good!

Thomas

[smokinjoe]

If you are renting a car, Niagara Falls is an hour and a half to two hours away, depending on traffic. There are wineries there. And a waterfall.

[Jono]

Last night, a friend of ours said her family came from Canada several generations back and it is a family tradition that when they get together for weddings, reunions etc. shots of Wiser's 18 are consumed. She asked me to pick some up if I see it at the Duty Free or LCBO.

[ACDetroit]

You will see it. It's one of the most popular brands I've seen, though I like the Deluxe better myself and go figure it's cheaper.

Have a great trip and enjoy the liquor shopping.

Tony

[Jono]

Current allowances...for stays of 48+ hours...are 1 litre of spirits and a $2-3 charge on each bottle that exceeds the allowance....hmm...even paying the surcharge could potentially still make sense depending on the price pd vs local price. I will go with a list of locally available spirits / prices for comparison. I wonder if the whiskeys are sold in smaller bottles -- 250 ml...allowing for more picks.

http://www.whiskymag.com/whisky/brand/wisers/whisky3807.html

http://www.whiskymag.com/whisky/brand/wisers/whisky3805.html

http://www.whiskymag.com/whisky/brand/wisers/whisky3806.html

[Gillman]

Soem are, it depends on the brand and location of the LCBO.

Gary