In 1856, John Gibson purchased 40 acres and built a distillery along the shore of the Monongahela River in Pennsylvania. By the turn of the century, the Gibson’s Distilling Company was the largest producer of rye whisky in North America. Unfortunately, early in the new century, fate dealt the company a tragic blow, in the name of Prohibition. Consumption of legal whisky all but dried up, and Gibson’s Distilling Company went bankrupt. In 1923, the entire contents of the distillery including the stills, the aging barrels, all of the remaining spirit, (and even the grain which was on site) was sold via Sherriff’s auction to Schenley Industries of New York. Fifty years later this whisky brand, which was born on the US side of the border in Pennsylvania, was resurrected by the brand owner at the Schenley Distillery in Valleyfield, Quebec. Now, of course, it has become one of the iconic brands of Canadian Whisky.
Of course the story continued and Shenley Distillers underwent re-organization at the end of the 20th century. As part of that reorganization, the Gibson’s Finest Whisky brand was purchased by William Grant & Sons in 2002. Some time after the acquisition, William Grant & Sons moved the production of Gibson’s Whisky from the Schenley plant in Valleyfield, Quebec to the Hiram Walker Distillery in Windsor, Ontario.
You may read my full review by clicking on the following excerpt:
Review: Gibson’s Finest Rare 18 Years Old Canadian Whisky
Please enjoy my review, and my suggested bar drink, The Old Fashioned Cocktail.
On November 15, 2009 I completed one of my very early Canadian Whisky Reviews. It was for the Gibson’s Finest 12 Year Old Whisky. Recently, I was sent a new sample bottle by the brand’s media company (Jesson + Company), and I have decided to revisit this Gibson’s Whisky to provide a more rounded out review, and to see if perhaps the blend has undergone any noticeable changes since my earlier review.
