Review by: TOModera

It’s surprise whisky time! That’s right, it’s time for me to review a sample I didn’t even remember owning!

Where did I get it? An Xmas gift from a friend! Yay!

Honestly, I’m more so happy about the surprise. Danfield’s Private Reserve Small Batch is an uncommon, low end brand of Canadian whisky. It’s aged for 10 years, and is a blend, like a lot of Canadian whiskies.

Oh, and I can’t buy it anymore. I can buy the 21 year, for less than $50… which is frightening, now that I think about it.

Oh well, surprise drams are always fun, so what could go wrong?

Editor’s note: A lot

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Distillery: Black Velvet Distillery.

Bottler: Williams & Churchill Marketing Company.

Region: Canada.

ABV: 40%.

Age: 10 years.

Cask type: Unknown.

Price: N/A.

Color: Brown.

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Nose: Cola syrup, nail polish remover, varnish, margarine

Not just cola. It’s the syrup. Before the fizz is mixed with it. That smell that, if you smelled like it, you’d be covered in wasps.

Oh, and like you’re doing your nails at a pain shop.

Suffice to say, it sucks.

Taste: Old cereal, burn, Lemonheads, corn, hot sauce, fish sauce

I know what you’re saying “Hey TOModera, fish sauce is awesome when used in the right amount!” And I agree, it is. And in this case, it wasn’t. It’s bad fermented fish water. Not good fermented fish water.

Know the difference.

Also the taste is painful and not fun.

Finish: Cereal, old caramel, pepper

It’s short, angry, and feels old. Like Vern Troyer if he wasn’t amazing and cool.

Honestly, this finish blows.

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Conclusion: There’s very, very little to say about this. It’s not the worst whisky I’ve tried, yet it really did give it a run for its money. I want to believe that maybe it was sitting in the plastic bottle for too long and aged too much. Or that maybe it’s poison and I was suppose to die from it.

All I can say is stay away from this whisky.

Final Score: 17.

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Scoring Legend:

• 95-100: As good as it gets. Jaw-dropping, eye-widening, unforgettable whisky.
• 90-94: Sublime, a personal favorite in its category.
• 85-89: Excellent, a standout dram.
• 80-84: Quite good. Quality stuff.
• 75-79: Decent whisky worth tasting.
• 70-74: Meh. It’s definitely drinkable, but it can do better.
• 60-69: Not so good. I might not turn down a glass if I needed a drink.
• 50-59: Save it for mixing.
• 0-49: Blech.