Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Food & Drink

The Manual may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

A Beginner’s Guide to Canadian Whisky

Sam Slaughter
By

canadian whisky
Image used with permission by copyright holder
When it comes to Canadian whisky, not many people can claim to know more than Davin de Kergommeaux (if they do claim it, they’re probably wrong). He did, after all, literally write the book on the stuff. Canadian Whisky was such a success when it was first published that was brought back for a second round (and blurbed by the Great One himself in the process); the new edition was published in October 2017.

That’s why, when we had the chance to sit down with de Kergommeaux — a certified Malt Maniac and trained sommelier who has been drinking, talking, and writing about whisky for around two decades — we jumped at it faster than you can say “two minutes for cross-checking.”

Recommended Videos

During our conversation, we found out what you need to know about Canadian whisky if you know nothing about it (and where to start when you’re looking to buy some!).

How did you get into whisk(e)y?

Related

At my annual physical many years ago my doctor told me that small amounts of alcohol were good for my cardio-vascular system. I loved whisky — Scotch first then all the rest — and by 1998 I was writing about it on the Maltmaniacs original website. People loved the site and we got lots of positive feedback, so I just kept going.

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Is there an overall flavor/taste that you would say can be said of Canadian whisky? If so, can you explain it?

There are three flavor touch points for Canadian whisky: butterscotch first, spice in the middle, and a pleasing citrus bitterness on the finish. In a couple of words: elegant, refined, complex.

What are three lower-end whiskies a Canadian whisky beginner should check out? 

Same question, but three higher-end whiskies?

Is there a Canadian whisky equivalent of the hubbub around Pappy?

Yes. Canadian Club 40 Year Old was $215-$250 when released last month. There was Wal-Mart-sale-style competition as people fought over it in the stores. It sold out instantly and already is going for $800 on the gray market.

Which smaller Canadian distillery (or two) do you think is/are primed to be the next big thing?

Still Waters in Toronto makes a great 100-percent rye and decent single malt whisky. They were the first of Canada’s new generation microdistilleries and have been very intelligent and strategic about how they make and market their whisky. I think it is just a matter of time before a larger distiller buys them out.

Anything else a newbie to Canadian whisky might want to/should know before buying their first bottle?

Yes. Don’t buy the cheapest or you will likely be disappointed. Spend just $5 more and you will be amply rewarded.

Want to know more about Canadian whisky? Check out this list of some of our favorites under $20, then go pick up Canadian Whisky and enjoy both together.

Editors' Recommendations

Sam Slaughter
Sam Slaughter
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Sam Slaughter was the Food and Drink Editor for The Manual. Born and raised in New Jersey, he’s called the South home for…
Canadian Club Releases a 42-Year-Old Whisky
Canadian Club 42 Year Old

The second release in Canadian Club’s CC Chronicles series is a 42-year-old Canadian whisky, also named Issue No. 2: The Dock Man. This slightly awkward name is meant as a tribute to the dock workers who helped the whisky keep flowing during the lean years of Prohibition. No. 2 is one year older than the last CC Chronicles release, 2018’s 41-year-old Water of Windsor. “For more than 150 years, we've consistently delivered quality expressions to whisky drinkers, and the release of Canadian Club 42 Year Old continues this tradition,” said global whisky ambassador Tish Harcus in a prepared statement. “Following the success of our first CC Chronicles release last year, we're excited to unveil another premium, distinctive whisky that endures the test of time."

When it comes to aging, Canadian whisky is more like Scotch than bourbon, in that it can spend decades inside a barrel and still taste pretty good. The cooler climate up north means that long maturation periods don’t completely destroy the flavor of the whisky with astringent tannin and oak notes, as it often does in Kentucky. With this whisky you’ll find rich brown sugar and molasses on the nose, and dried cherry, vanilla, and maple syrup on the palate. At 90 proof, there’s a little bit of welcome heat here as well. Ultimately, this does not drink like an over-aged four-decade-old whisky, and that’s a good thing. Representatives for the brand won't give details regarding the mash bill, but they confirmed that the whisky was aged in American oak barrels (the exact type were not revealed) for the entirety of its maturation.

Read more
Old Pulteney Relaunches With New Design and Whisky Lineup
Old Pulteney 12

Old Pulteney is a Highlands single malt distillery on the Caithness coast that may not have as much name recognition as big players like The Macallan or Glenfiddich. But this smaller operation, nicknamed "the Maritime Malt" due to its close proximity to the ocean, does produce some very fine whiskies. The core lineup has just been relaunched in the U.S. with redesigned bottles and a few brand-new expressions joining the flagship 12-year-old: Old Pulteney 15, Old Pulteney 18, and the NAS Huddart. Distillery Manager Malcolm Waring recently described these four whiskies as highlighting various defining characteristics of the distillery: The 12 focuses on the influence of the sea, the 15 showcases the influence of warehouse maturation (as opposed to wood), the 18 proves that the location in the warehouse where the whisky matures has an effect, and Huddart adds a touch of peat to the mix.

Previous

Read more
Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible World Whisky of the Year Winners Announced
A whiskey shot cheers

Jim Murray's 2020 "World Whisky of the Year" winners were announced last week, and immediately the online whiskey world short-circuited with about 100 differing hot takes on the results. Every year, Murray releases an updated version of his book, which is now in its seventeenth year of publication. And every year, especially in recent times, the Twitter and other social media pile-ons begin. Granted, Murray appears to be a bit of a character, especially as revealed in this recent interview. His tasting methods are precise if unconventional, with tics that he claims make them more honest than others -- he does not taste blind, he abstains from flavorful food while tasting, he won't even wear aftershave for fear of it interfering with his process.

Murray tasted about 1,250 new whiskeys for the new edition, and there are over 5,000 entries included in the book. It seems like all the accusations of being paid off by the companies whose whiskeys he anoints as winners actually work as free publicity for Murray in the end, as the Whisky Bible continues to make waves with every winner announced. And the brands he gives top honors to aren't complaining, as the bottles he picks as winners often become hot commodities in the following months (such was the case with Crown Royal's Harvest Rye in 2016).

Read more