Thanks to ‘Whisky in the 6’ for the sample.
Canadian Club 40 Year Old, 45% ABV, $250 CAD
- Nose: Big hit of caramel and vanilla, honey, lemon grass, slight rye spice.
- Taste: Again, caramel and vanilla, rye, pepper, and apple pie filling.
- Finish: Medium/long, very good viscosity, caramel and spice notes linger.
- Thoughts: 7,000 total bottles, 100% Corn whisky aged in ex-rye barrels, oldest expression Canada has ever released. Canadian Club did this proper. They didn’t take advantage of Canada’s 9.09% rule, no additives, no colour. They did dilute to 45%, but I was actually surprised it wasn’t 40 or 43. I first tried this at an official CC tasting and wasn’t impressed at all. There was a youthful sharpness to it that threw me off, but I don’t get any of that this time. I actually quite enjoy this. At the launch event the bottle was cracked, poured, and was served within 10-15 minutes. This whisky obviously needs a lot of time to open up. $250 for a 40 year old is absolutely incredible value. But if you were to taste this blind I doubt you would equate that price tag to the juice. Bottom line it’s a Canadian whisky, this smooth, caramel and vanilla dominate, not overly complex, and pretty basic. But if you’re a CC fan or a Canadian whisky fan, you need this for the collection.
- Score: 86.5 – 1.5 value point(s) = 85/100
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Scores:
After my initial score I will add or subtract points relative on how I perceive value (based on what I paid for the bottle). A zero value means I think the price is justified.
0-69.5 – Don’t bother trying, life is too short for bad spirit.
70-79.5 – Worth trying, but you’re not missing out if you don’t.
80-84.5 – I recommend trying.
85-87.5 – Definitely try this!
88-92.5 – I recommend buying a bottle blind!
93-95.5 – Stuff you reserve for special pours!
96+ – The meaning of life.
My previous scores (including value points):
Ardbeg 10 88.5
Ardbeg Corryvrickan 92.5
Ardbeg Kelpie 91.5
Ardbeg Uigeadail 91.0
Balvenie 15 Single Barrel – Sherry 89.0
Blanton’s Gold 87.0
Booker’s (2015-01) 89.5
Bowmore 12 84.5
Bruichladdich Octomore 6.1 92.0
Bruichladdich Octomore 6.3 94.0
Bruichladdich Octomore 7.1 89.5
Bruichladdich Octomore 7.3 90.5
Canadian Club 40 85.0
Caol Ila 12 82.0
Compass Box – Peat Monster 85.5
Eagle Rare 10 85.0
Elmer T. Lee 87.0
Glendronach 12 Original 83.0
Glendronach 15 Revival 92.0
Glendroanch 18 Allardice 90.5
Glendronach 21 Parliament 91.0
Glenfarclas 25 93.5
Highland Park 15 87.5
Highland Park 25 92.0
Jack Daniel’s SB-BP (16-0574) 89.0
Kavalan Solist – Sherry Cask (58.7%) 90.5
Kavalan Solist – Vinho Barrique (57%) 89.5
Lagavulin 16 90.0
Laphroaig 10 85.5
Laphroaig Cairdeas Madeira 2016 88.5
Lot No. 40 88.0
Lot No. 40 Cask Strength 12yr 91.5
Macallan 12 Double Cask 79.0
Macallan 12 Fine Oak 84.0
Macallan 17 Fine Oak 87.0
Macallan 18 Fine Oak 85.0
Macallan 10 Sherry 83.0
Macallan 12 Sherry 88.0
Macallan 18 Sherry (1997) 92.5
Macallan Edition 2 90.0
Orphan Barrel – Barterhouse 88.5
Pappy Van Winkle 23yr 93.5
Sazerac Rye 88.5
Stagg Jr. (Batch 4) 83.0
Talisker 25 89.0
W.L. Weller 12 88.0
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[…] sipped like other fine whiskies. Canadian Club also released the oldest spirit ever in Canada, the CC 40 Year Old. But the highlight for me, and my Whisky of the Year 2017 was definitely the Lot 40 12 Year Cask […]