Rare Hare Lucky Bastard 30 Year Old Canadian Whisky Review

By Randall H. Borkus

Rating: B

Playboy Spirits’ brand launched its luxury Rare Hare collection in 2022, which included previous releases of a 17-year-old bourbon and 1961 vintage cognac. This latest release is Lucky Bastard 30 Year Old Canadian whisky, a single barrel finished in Pineau Des Charentes casks for 120 days. Pineau Des Charentes is a fortified wine-mistelle or vin de liqueur, made from either fresh, unfermented grape juice or a blend of lightly fermented grape must, to which a Cognac eau-de-vie is added and then allowed to mature.

No data is available as to where the whisky actually comes from. In addition to my sample, I was lucky enough to find a bottle in the wild. The presentation is elegant! It comes in a bright red box with gold lettering, and the 700ml bottle screams “I’m a Diva.” It also included a sleek set of Lucky Bastard Playboy playing cards. I must admit we contemplated for a moment just what the Playboy playing cards were hiding from us in the package. Playboy Spirits produced 2,500 bottles at 89 proof.

The Whisky
The whisky’s color is a deep golden amber, and it runs a little thinner than expected as it drips down the sides of my Glencairn glass.  On the nose, Lucky Bastard declares it is Canadian whisky and sprays me senses with notes of vanilla, slightly burnt gingerbread, and toasted butter. The front palate holds hints of over baked fruits with plenty sweetness and toasted banana coconut drizzle. The finish is spicy then sprinkled burnt sugar wafers drizzled with more toasted banana coconut settling into a nice walnut-oak dryness.

I like it, but I am missing most of the Pineau Des Charentes barrel influence that I had anticipated would reveal itself as I imbibed this little gem.  It tastes like so many other aged Canadian whiskies I’ve come across over the years and I seem to miss any significant Pineau Des Charentes influence here.

The Price
The suggested retail is $599 and with minimal research I found it offered for a little less on the internet.