There's something strange about Black Velvet Reserve 8 year old. It is like Blue Velvet by David Lynch: there's few good spots but mainly it's just annoying.
Aromas balance between good and bad. The taste is actually decent and the finish is just too grainy and blended.
This left me a bit confused, just like almost every Lynch movie. Which isn't always bad. Better to be confused than angry, right?
Nose: First, the stingy alcohol and rectified spirit effects. Then it gets lightly fruity with lemon being the main factor. Everything fades away very fast and ends up almost completely scentless.
Taste: Gives heat very much. Peppery but mellow.
Finish: very quick with wood and peppers. Gets watery and uncharacteristic almost right away.
Balance: Black Velvet 8 yrs is decent whisky when compared to other cheap blended ones. Made me feel happy, yet blue...
@Rantavahti - Pendleton's 12 would be an excellent choice. It is bottled in Oregon state by Hood River Distillers - I believe it to be 100% Canadian rye whisky. Pendleton 1910 (12 YO) is 100% rye aged in Canada and then bottled in Oregon; it takes its name from The Pendleton Roundup, which began in 1910.
Although I have never tasted Pndleton's 12 YO, I am confident in saying that it is from Alberta Distillers (Calgary, Alberta) world's largest distiller of rye whisky and an absolute favourite of J.M. Masterson's is 10 YO rye whisky from the same facility - the Masterson's is 45% abv. Pendleton's 12 YO should be a very good example of rye grain whisky.
@Rantavahti, Congratulations on such a nice review for a less than nice whisky.
Black Velvet is one of the inconveniences that must be endured when it comes to Canadian whisky - it is all about the bottom line. Without the cash flow that these mixing whiskies generate, we would not have the top shelf offerings.
I am a HUGE fan of Canadian whisky, as you can see by the 50+ expressions in my cabinet. There are many very good and some incredibly brilliant offerings produced in Canada. (Jim Murray is absolutely infatuated with Alberta Distillers 100% rye expressions.) There are not so many single malt and I am not aware of any 'bourbon' style expressions.
I could talk about and sip Canadian all day long!