Sons of Vancouver Realms of Rye 3 Mentho
$169.99
Realms of Rye Release 03, was bottled at 59.6% after maturing in ex-Bourbon and new American oak casks. Called 'Mentol & Evergreen',
Producer Description
"The much anticipated third release from the Realms of Rye series, dives deeper into the flavour spectrum of rye grain. This expression was expertly blended by the whisky-making team at Sons of Vancouver Distillery, with barrels carefully chosen and married to evoke vegetal flavours of menthol & evergreen.
"Release 03 ‘Menthol & Evergreen’ provides a stroll through a lush forest of conifers, wild herbs, and dense moss. The character of the rye grain provides notes of eucalyptus, pine needles, dill weed, and sweet grass. Maturation in ex-bourbon and new oak barrels provides a backbone of mint chocolate, green walnut, and cut lumber.
"Following the precise standards set for the Realms of Rye series, all the flavour in this whisky comes from the fermentation, distillation, maturation, and blending process alone."
The Maligne Range Watchtower
$119.99
This Canadian Whisky was made from a mash of 30% peated Scottish malt and the balance Canadian malted barley. Bottled at 48%.
Producer Description
"The Watchtower is The Maligne Range’s interpretation of a peated Canadian whisky – bringing together Canadian and Scottish traditions without adhering too closely to either. Built from Canadian malt with 30% heavily peated Scottish malt, it introduces smoke with intent – layered, controlled, and integrated into the structure of the whisky, with notes of soft smoke, and apple, citrus, and dark caramel carried through with clarity.
Process and maturation bring the elements into alignment. Blending is approached with restraint, allowing the peat to remain present without overwhelming the foundation. The result is a whisky where smoke adds depth and contrast, supported by grain and structure rather than dominating it.
Named after The Watchtower Mountain, a 2,791-metre peak in Jasper National Park, it reflects a sense of clarity and exposure-defined by structure, visibility, and more pronounced edge. Within the range, it marks a shift: where contrast becomes more defined and the profile begins to push further."
True Wild Roper's Hold 20 Year Whisky
$164.99
Batch 1 of Roper's Hold 20-Year-Old has been released by Bryce Parsons and True Wild Distillery. For this batch, the whisky was originally produced at one of the larger distilleries in Southern Alberta. The grain makeup is 90%+ Rye and the rest malted barley - something that the mystery distillery is not typically known for. The whisky has been finished in wine casks sourced from the Okanagan Valley.
Bottled at 47% ABV.
Producer Description
"Our newest (or should we say oldest?) edition of our beloved Roper’s Hold Whisky has been freshly bottled and is ready for you! This beautiful 20 Year Aged Canadian Rye Whisky was originally distilled right here in Alberta, but was later found in New York, and our team was committed to bringing this one-of-a-kind whisky back home. Once these forgotten barrels returned home to Canada, we finished them in beautiful Okanagan wine and custom American oak barrels to give the whisky its distinct colour and flavour profile."
Millstone 100 Rye Whisky
$108.99
Made from a mash of 51% malted and 49% unmalted rye grains, the whisky is 100 months old, 100 proof and 100% rye. This is a single rye whisky and has won awards from the Wizards of Whisky and Whisky Magazine. In 2016 it won Best Dutch Rye Whisky.
While not historically known for their whisky, the Dutch have been distilling as long as anyone in Europe. Most famous for genever and brandy, some of the distilleries there have taken to producing whisky. The Zuidam family began producing genever and other liquors in 1976 in the town of Baarle-Nassau on the Belgian border. Patrick van Zuidam, the second generation, began experimenting with whisky distillation in 1996, and started laying down barrels. The distillery produces both malt and grain whiskies, including a powerful rye. While they have borrowed and been influenced by the whisky makers in other countries, they are making a distinctly Dutch whisky. In one curious aspect, they mill their own barley in traditional windmills.
From the Distillery: “The new spirit is aged for a minimum of 100 month on new American oak barrels. The nose has rich notes of citrus fruit and spices with delicate tones of honey combined with vanilla and oak. The taste is rich fruity, honey sweetness and delicate spicy notes and a long peppery vanilla and oak finish.”
Evan's Tasting Note
Nose: Cloves, pine needles, coffee grounds and earthy spices. Maple syrup, ginger snaps, pumpernickel bread, dried dill, mint leaves, black liquorice, raspberries and blackberries and orange rind. Dark rye bread toasted with honey.
Palate: Black tea, black liquorice, ginger molasses cookies, nutmeg, blackberry compote, root beer, pumpernickel bread again, hints of citrus and mint.
Finish: Slightly drying. Spice, earthy components and black liquorice along with hints molasses sweetness mingle to the end.
Comment: This is a very earthy rye whisky. Not quite like anything else I have tasted from Canada or the USA. It is dark, dense, earthy and delicious.
Mars Shinshu Iwai Tradition Whisky
$74.99
A step up on the Iwai Whisky from the Mars Shinshu Distillery, in Japan, the Iwai Tradition is 75% malt and 25% grain, bottled at 40%. We are looking forward to trying this one too!
Producer Description: "This is malt driven spirit is truly a reflection of contemporary Japanese whisky. Incredibly balanced, soft and layered. A blending of sherry, bourbon and wine casks with hints delicate hints of peat make for a harmonious whisky that would make Iwai-san proud."
Producer Tasting Notes: "Ripe Cherry, honey toffee with a beautiful ginger spice."
About Mars Distillery: "Situated between the north and south Japanese alps, Mars Shinshu is Japan’s highest whisky distillery, at nearly 800 meters. The Hombo family have been distilling for more than a century and they added whisky to their repertoire in 1949 in Kagoshima. That was the southernmost whisky made in Japan until 1984, when all whisky production was moved to the current location in Nagano."
Mars Shinshu Iwai Whisky
$59.99
This new to Alberta Japanese whisky is allegedly a blend consisting of 75% grain and 25% malt whisky. Hoping to sample it soon.
From the Producer: "Kiichiro Iwai, the name sake for this Mars Whisky, was a silent pioneer of Japan whisky. This whisky is inspired by great whiskies of America. A majority of corn balanced with light malt aged in ex bourbon barrels. Ideal for daily sipping, in a mint julep or an old fashioned."
Producer Tasting Note: "Sweet with fruit flavors like pear, quince and hints of red fruits and vanilla."
About Mars Distillery: "Situated between the north and south Japanese alps, Mars Shinshu is Japan’s highest whisky distillery, at nearly 800 meters. The Hombo family have been distilling for more than a century and they added whisky to their repertoire in 1949 in Kagoshima. That was the southernmost whisky made in Japan until 1984, when all whisky production was moved to the current location in Nagano."
Don Michael Black Corn Andean Whiskey
$69.99
The first South American whisk(e)y to hit our shores, from Peru, is made with Andean Black Corn, bottled at 45%.
Producer Description
"At Don Michael, we have the privilege of presenting a whiskey unlike any other. Made from Andean Black Corn and the purest mountain spring water, our whiskey is aged to perfection in American white oak barrels. This is Black Whiskey. The first, and the best Andean Whiskey in the world.
"Black whiskey and the idea to use Andean Black Corn comes from the ancient Andean technique of making a homemade beer called chicha jora. We at Don Michael have refined this process, added malted grains to smooth out the flavor, and implemented a state-of-the-art distillation facility to provide the world with a unique Andean Whiskey in the form of Black Whiskey."
Rock Island 14 Year
$95.99
Producer Note: "Rock Island 14 Years Old Sherry Limited Edition is a remarkably rich and robust encapsulation of predominantly Sherry cask matured Single Malts from Orkney, Arran, Jura & Islay." 46.8%
Kyro Malt Rye
$79.99
This Rye Whisky from Finland is made from 100% malted rye. It is bottled at 47.2%.
People from Finland seem to know how to live the good life. We should all have a sauna in our backyard to dive into when it is fridged and snowing in the middle of winter. We should also have some good Rye Whisky to take in with us - and that is where Kyro Rye comes in. Kyro Distillery resides in Isokyrö, Finland. The distillery was founded by a group of friends that were pondering the meaning of life and bemoaning the lack of Finnish Rye Whisky one day in - you guessed it - a sauna. They decided to do something about it, and Kyro was born.