Review by: Raygun

A quick note before anything else for the sake of transparency. This review was done with an industry sample provided free of charge, with no expectations beyond drinking them. As always, I do my best to provide my unbiased opinion, and readers can decide how they want to take this review. For more information, see our Ethics & Transparency statement.

This an unusual one, a blend of corn whisky and rye from a Canadian distillery. Almost like a bourbon, but aged in used casks, so perhaps more like a single grain Scotch. These whiskies came from a distillery founded in 1857 in Windsor, and that sounds like Hiram Walker. The corn whisky was aged in Speyside Scotch casks, while the rye was aged in quarter casks previously used for peated Scotch: Laphroaig Quarter Cask, possibly? Reviewed from a sample. Rested for 10 minutes.  

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Distillery: Unstated, but strongly hinted to be Hiram Walker

Bottler: La Maison du Whisky

Region/style: Canadian whisky 

ABV: 61.9%. Cask strength

Age: 40 years. Distilled in 1982. 

Cask type: Ex-Scotch casks 

Color: 1.2 chestnut. Natural color. Non-chill-filtered.

Price: $400+

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Nose: Big caramel. I get a touch of rye, with ginger chews and eucalyptus.    

Palate: Much more rye flavor here. Tastes like a high-rye bourbon, in fact. Caramel chews, ginger, Twizzlers, cherry soda. Would have expected more complexity for the age.  

Finish: Almost no heat, surprisingly. Caramel, cherry soda, some cinnamon, and almonds. A little flat here.    

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Conclusion: Absolutely no idea what this would be like. Turns out it tastes a lot like a bourbon, or similar American whisky aged in used casks. I’m sure I’d guess it’s bourbon blind. Ends up a curiosity more than anything else. It’s nice enough, but certainly doesn’t taste like something 40 years old.  

Buy a bottle? Not a chance. There’s bourbon that’s much younger and cheaper that would taste pretty similar.  

Score: 75

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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. (Kavalan Solist Manzanilla)
• 85-89: Excellent, a standout dram. (Kavalan Solist Vinho Barrique)
• 80-84: Quite good. Quality stuff. (Green Spot Chateau Leoville Barton)
• 75-79: Decent whisky worth tasting. (Amrut Peated CS)
• 70-74: Meh. It’s definitely drinkable, but it can do better. (Taketsuru Pure Malt)
• 60-69: Not so good. I might not turn down a glass if I needed a drink. (Hakushu Distiller’s Reserve)
• 50-59: Save it for mixing. (Bushmills 10 Malt)
• 0-49: Blech.