History was made earlier this year when Canadian whisky was distilled in downtown Montreal for the first time in decades at the Sazerac Company’s Old Montreal Distillery. For more than a year Sazerac has been putting the elements in place, installing grain mills and a 4,000 gallon mash cooker, converting existing equipment and hooking up fermenters.  Recently a key piece, ...

By Father John Rayls Rating: A- There are many opinions about Orphan Barrel whiskeys, ranging from love and devotion to cynicism and avoidance. For myself, having found several sourced whiskies that I thoroughly enjoy, I remain open-minded concerning the Diageo’s Orphan Barrel releases.  While I’m skeptical about the stories of suddenly rediscovering barrels that are 12 to 25 years old ...

Diageo has added to its Orphan Barrel line of very aged and ultra aged whiskies with an entry that reaches into new ground: Canada. The new release, dubbed Entrapment, is essentially a 25 Year Old Crown Royal, made and aged at the brand’s giant plant in Gimli, Manitoba. Entrapment was distilled in 1992 from a mashbill of 97% corn and ...

By Debbie Shocair Rating: A On the heels of their 2016 award-winning release of a 16 year straight rye, Lock Stock and Barrel has launched an equally impressive 18 year straight rye whiskey. This new, but more aged release is among the oldest straight ryes available, and is certainly the oldest one I have had the privilege of enjoying. This ...

Beam Suntory has introduced Basil Hayden’s Dark Rye, the first-ever permanent addition to the Basil Hayden’s portfolio. Much like Basil Hayden’s flagship bourbon, Basil Hayden’s Dark Rye is designed to stand out in the ever-expanding crowd of American whiskies. Uniting the duo of Kentucky straight rye whiskey and Canadian rye with a splash of California port, Basil Hayden’s Dark Rye ...