Review: Forty Creek Heart of Gold (2013 Limited Release)

Forty Creek Whisky has for the last number of years produced a special limited release whisky and allowed the public to participate in the release by offering to let the consumer choose their own numbered bottle. This year, reservations for Forty Creek’s 2013 Limited Release, Heart of Gold, will open at noon (EST) on Monday, May 27th, 2013 (and end June 21st, 2013). If you live in Ontario, and can make it to the distillery to pay for and pick up your numbered bottle, then you may choose any number between 00003 and 9,000 to be your own uniquely numbered bottle. The numbers are offered on a first come, first serve, basis and no two bottles will have the same number. (Complete details and the reservation form are available at the Forty Creek Whisky website.)

This year’s special release is a whisky with an emphasis on Canadian Rye Grain. Heart of Gold is not a 100 % rye grain whisky, as the whisky blend also includes a barley whisky, which adds some nutty flavours, and a corn whisky, which adds weight and body. But make no mistake about it, the intent of John Hall in creating this whisky is to showcase the spicy, fruity and floral notes of Canadian Rye.

You may click on the link to read my pre-release review:

“… The initial nose reminds me strongly of rye whisky as I remember it from my youth (seventies/early eighties). The breezes above the glass are full of wood spices (cardamom, ginger, sandalwood, sawdust and white pepper), and those breezes remind me of autumns past when the ripened grain in the fields was being combined. The air all around the farm would be full of the scents and smells of the harvest, complete with the straw left behind in windrows and the separated chaff and grain dust floating in the air above the fields and granaries …”

Please enjoy this preview of John Hall’s newest Special Release Canadian Whisky!

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If you are interested, here are the links to the other Forty Creek Special Release Whiskies I have reviewed :

• Forty Creek Confederation Oak Reserve Whisky
• Forty Creek Double Barrel Reserve Whisky (lot 240)
• Forty Creek John’s Private Cask No. 1 Whisky
• Forty Creek Portwood Reserve 2009 Whisky
• Forty Creek Portwood Reserve 2012 Whisky

Announcing: Forty Creek – Heart of Gold

Forty Creek Whisky has just announced Heart of Gold as their 2013 limited release whisky.

According to the information from Forty Creek, Heart of Gold is a whisky that was inspired by both the heart of the distillation and the heart of the maker, and was created with an artist’s palette of noble grains, unusual yeast selection, copper pot stills and delicately toasted oak barrels, mixed with passion, innovation and patience. The project began almost ten years ago with a particular emphasis on Canadian rye grain.

According to Whisky Maker John Hall,

“I have always brought out the spicy, fruity notes of rye in my whisky, but this time, I wanted to perfect capturing the underlying delicate floral notes of the rye that too often get lost in the process. I decided to use a wine yeast strain for the fermentation because I felt this approach would allow the floral aromas and flavours to prevail.”

“I aged this rye whisky in lightly toasted barrels to ensure the oak did not overwhelm the subtle flavours captured in the heart of the distillation. Yes, my Heart of Gold is a rye forward whisky. But, it is not 100% rye. I believe the art of blending adds a complexity and creativity to the final whisky. The final Heart of Gold blend includes some barley whisky for nuttiness and some corn whisky for weight and body. Yet, the fruity, floral rye whisky notes are the star of this show!”

This special release will be limited to only 9000 individually numbered bottles. It will be bottled at 43%  alc./vol with a retail price of $69.95. Customers in Ontario may reserve any number between 00003 and 9,000.  These on-line reservations for numbered bottles will begin exactly at noon on May 27th and end June 21st. For more information follow this link

What’s new at Forty Creek?

Review: Forty Creek Copper Pot Reserve

The Forty Creek Copper Pot Reserve, (like all Forty Creek Whiskies), is built upon Whisky Maker, John Hall’s, foundation of three separately distilled grains: barley, corn and rye. Each grain is distilled and aged in oak separately. When each whisky is ready, the three finished whiskies are blended together and ‘married’ in oak once more allowing the three to become one.

Indeed, John Hall’s flagship whisky, the Forty Creek Barrel Select is a perfect example of that concept of marrying three separately distilled and aged grain whiskies into one. The Copper Pot Reserve is a more ‘premium’ version of the Barrel Select. Mr. Hall chose his best grain whiskies as the base for the Copper Pot. He aged these best whiskies a little longer to bring in more flavour from the oak, and then he chose the best of these whiskies to marry together in oak once more to complete the final blend. The Copper Pot Whisky is bottled at 43 % abv (rather than the traditional 40 %) allowing this premium whisky to showcase its robust flavour.

Here is an excerpt from my review:

“… The initial nose of the whisky brings oak and rye spices into the breezes above the glass with an effervescent orange peel zest riding the coattails of the spice. As the glass sits, green tobacco and orange marmalade jump in with a soft punky caramel tainting their scent. I detect some cinnamon and ginger rising up from the glass and my sense is that the Copper Pot is going to be a very interesting and complex whisky… “

You may read the full review here:

Please enjoy my review of this outstanding whisky!

Review: Forty Creek Portwood Reserve 2012 Whisky

Forty Creek Whisky has for the past several years produced a special limited release whisky and allowed the public to participate in its release by offering to let those who pre-order the whisky to choose their own numbered bottle(s). These special release whiskies are built upon the foundation of the company’s flagship whisky, Forty Creek Barrel Select, and are actually versions of this whisky which have spent additional time finishing in certain selected oak barrels. This year’s special release is the Forty Creek Portwood Reserve – 2012 Whisky.

This is the actually the second edition (lot 061) of the Portwood Reserve; the first edition (lot 060) was a very limited bottling released only in Ontario in 2009. As you have already determined, what makes this whisky special is that this Forty Creek Whisky has been finished in Port Wine Barrels. I am one of the lucky few who managed to buy a few bottles of the first edition 3 years ago, and as you can see by my 2009 review (see review here), I found this first edition of the Portwood Whisky very much to my liking. Of course, this means that I am delighted to have been sent a pre-release bottle of the second edition such that I can share my thoughts here on my website. This whisky is produced at 45 % alcohol by volume and is limited to only 6600 bottles and will be available in limited markets across Canada.

Here is an excerpt from my review:

“…  The scents and smells rising into the breezes above the glass remind me of dark ripe BC cherries, blackberries and raspberries. Some dry fruit sensations (reminiscent of raisins and prunes) are part of the overall fruit and berry aroma. Subtle but firm impressions of cinnamon and cloves join in with a bit of sweet Demerara sugar thrown in for good measure. There are strong impressions of oak and orange peel in the air as well as hints of rye spice… “

You may read my full review here:

Included with the review is a very nice cocktail, the Portwood Manhattan. Please enjoy my review and the included cocktail, cheers!

Introducing: Forty Creek Copper Pot Reserve

Forty Creek Distillery, formerly Kittling Ridge Estate Wines & Spirits, has announced the September release of their new Forty Creek Copper Pot Reserve. Made in the same style, as the Forty Creek Barrel Select (See my write-up here: John Hall and Whisky: A Good Meritage), Forty Creek Copper Pot Reserve is blended to be bold, complex, and flavourful. In fact, with the Forty Creek Copper Pot whisky, Master Distiller and Whisky Maker, John Hall has promised that he has ‘amped up’ the flavour to deliver a deeper and richer taste profile through patient extra aging in white oak barrels, and careful selection of whisky stocks.

The Copper Pot Reserve Whisky will be bottled at 43% alcohol by volume to complement the depth of flavour in this bold Canadian Whisky.

Here are the tasting notes from the distillery:

“… Deep copper (amber) colour. Bold aromas of toffee, nuts and spice. Dried stone fruits follow through on a smooth, supple entry.  Full bodied with rich brown spice notes and hints of marmalade. Finishes with a long, sensual fade. A whisky worthy savouring…”

Sadly, it seems this may be an Ontario only release.  I may have negotiate a road trip!

For those who are interested, here are my reviews for some of the other Forty Creek Whiskies from John Hall:

• Forty Creek Barrel Select
• Forty Creek Confederation Oak Reserve Whisky
• Forty Creek Double Barrel Reserve Whisky (lot 240)
• Forty Creek John’s Private Cask No. 1 Whisky
• Forty Creek Portwood Reserve

Cheers Everyone!

FORTY CREEK PORT WOOD RESERVE – RESERVATIONS ARE NOW OPEN!

It was announced on the Forty Creek Website about two weeks ago that the second edition of the FORTY CREEK PORT WOOD RESERVE will be released for sale in September, 2012. This whisky marks the sixth special release for the distillery, and there will be only 6,600 bottles of Port Wood available. (The first release sold out before any bottles left Ontario.) However you can reserve your own numbered bottle if you act before June 7th, as once again Forty Creek is offering Canadian Whisky connoisseurs the opportunity to reserve their own bottle number of Forty Creek Port Wood Reserve. Customers can reserve any number between 0003 and 6,600 (I have already reserved bottle numbers 128, 129 and 130).

The reservation opportunity for numbered bottles began on May 7, and will continue only until 5:00 p.m. on June 7, 2012. As always, the reserved bottles must be purchased and picked up at the Forty Creek Distillery in Grimsby, Ontario, on the scheduled release day for the whisky in September. The distillery is unable (due to provincial and federal regulations) to ship the reserved bottles in the mail or across provincial borders.

Bottles numbers are reserved on a first come, first served basis. Port Wood Reserve will retail for $69.95.

For more information about Forty Creek Port Wood Reserve and how to reserve your personally numbered bottles click here.

You may read my review of the original (first) edition of Portwood Reserve here (to date I believe this is John Hall’s finest Whisky):

• Forty Creek Portwood Reserve

My reviews for other Forty Creek Special Releases may be read here:

• Confederation Oak
• Forty Creek Double Barrel (240)
• Forty Creek John’s Private Cask No. 1

Cheers everyone!

Review: Forty Creek John’s Private Cask No. 1 Whisky

Last Winter (just a little over a year ago) I had lunch with John Hall when he was in town for the Edmonton Whisky Festival. One of the things we talked about was Mr. Hall’s penchant for saving his best whisky barrels for his own private use. You see, every once in a while when John was testing and tasting his barrels of whisky to see how they were coming along, he would hit upon a barrel that was absolutely exceptional. These barrels would be squirreled away and earmarked for his own private stash. John admitted to me that this had kind of gotten out of hand, and he had accumulated far more of these ‘Private Casks’ than what he would ever need, or be able to consume.

It turns out John figured out what to do with his growing supply of exceptional casks, as in the fall of 2011 he released his new special release, John’s Private Cask No. 1 Whisky.

Here is an excerpt from my review:

“… The initial aroma from the glass begins with some rich notes of oak and cedar rising into the breezes above the glass. I notice traces of bourbon and honeycomb, light baking spices, and a nice spicy rye influence. When I gave my glass a tilt and a slow swirl, leggy drooplets slowly coalesced and slid ever so slowly back into the whisky…. “

Here is a link to my full review:

And of worthy note:

John’s Private Cask No. 1 Whisky recently received 3 separate Awards of Excellence at the recent 2011 Canadian Whisky Awards:

• Connoisseur Whisky of the Year – Domestic Market
  
• Best New Whisky of the Year!
• Canadian Whisky of the Year!

Review: Forty Creek Confederation Oak Reserve Whisky

Forty Creek Whisky has for the last number of years produced a special limited release whisky and allowed the public to participate in the release by offering to let you choose your own numbered bottle. As well you can have your bottle signed by their own Master Distiller and Whisky Maker, John Hall, when you arrive to pick up your pre-ordered bottles. These special release whiskies are built upon the foundation of the company’s flagship whisky, Forty Creek Barrel Select, and are basically versions of this whisky which have spent additional time finishing in selected oak barrels.  Last year’s release was the Forty Creek Confederation Oak Reserve Whisky, I manged to buy three signed bottles, and although it is a year later, I have decided that it is time to provide a review of this unique limited release bottling (16,800 bottles) of Forty Creek Whisky.

What makes this whisky unique is that it has been finished in Canadian Oak Barrels. These oak barrels were made from oak trees (growing only 40 miles from the distillery) which began their growth in Canadian soil approximately 150 years ago at the time of Confederation (The birth of Canada as a nation), hence the name Confederation Oak.

Here is an excerpt from my review:

“…The aroma from the glass begins with typical Canadian Whisky notes of light rye and oak.  Soon, however, I begin to notice caramel corn and light baking spices building, then a strong indication of the new oak barrels imparting their fresh tannin into the liquid as fresh scents of honeycomb, vanilla, cedar and toffee rise into the breezes above the glass…”

You may read the full review here:

Please enjoy the review!!

Review: Forty Creek Double Barrel Reserve Whisky (Lot 240)

Today I am continuing a series of Forty Creek Whisky reviews with the Forty Creek Double Barrel Reserve Whisky. This whisky was introduced in the fall of 2008. As a collector, I purchased and saved a few bottles from the first release, and now I have selected one of those first bottles to review.  This bottle is identified on the label as Bottle number 0043 from Lot 240.  Although this review is from my whisky collection,  I would like to thank Dave Gordon, the Regional Manager of Shiralli Agencies, who has provided me with a bottle from the current release (Lot 245) and I will be reviewing that bottle in the coming weeks.

Here is an excerpt from my review from Bottle number 0043 from Lot 240, of Forty Creek Double Barrel Reserve Whisky:

“…When I brought the glass to my nose I received a light indication of rye spices gently being lifted out of the glass. This was quickly followed by an updraft of caramel corn and honeycomb. The whisky also brings forward strong dry woody notes (oak and cedar) and a touch of sweet maple….”

Here is a link to the full review:

Cheers!

Forty Creek Barrel Select Whisky Revisited

When I mentioned to Dave Gordon, the Regional Manager of Shiralli Agencies that I was reviewing a few Canadian whiskies on my website this summer. He arranged for me to receive a bottle of Forty Creek Barrel Select Whisky to re-acquaint myself with the Forty Creek style. Although I have previously reviewed this whisky, I felt it was appropriate to revisit it and provide a new review. (I have left my original review at the bottom of the review page so that my readers can easily see what changes I noted in the blend since my first review.)

Here is an excerpt from the new review:

“…I allowed the glass to decant and began to notice a nice marmalade scent alongside the corn and caramel. Some light baking spices were developing as was a delicate smokiness. As the glass was allowed to breathe the baking spices seemed to deepen with obvious tinctures of vanilla growing in the breezes. In fact, the longer you allow the glass to sit and breathe, the more scents and aromas seem to drift up from the glass…”

Here is a link to the full review:

Review: Forty Creek Barrel Select Whisky

I have provided a nice elegant cocktail with the review which I call, Autumn Glow.

Please Enjoy the review and the cocktail!