Canadian Club

Pretty sure Canadian Club Premium was the first whisky I ever tasted, back when I was more concerned with the effects than the quality of the spirit.

Nose: a bit of alcohol, a lot of caramel. A touch earthy/leafy, as is typical of Hiram Walker blends. Some light vanilla tones. No fruit that I can discern. Becomes smoother and less astringent with time in the glass.

Taste: light-bodied, a bit hot. Grain alcohol and oak notes dominate. This combination gives the classic caramel flavour.

Finish: thin and somewhat bitter.

Balance: as bottom-shelf Canadian blends go, this one isn't bad but doesn't stand out in any way. As a mixer or cocktail base it is fine; as a sipper it is lacking. Its strongest point is definitely the aroma, which becomes pleasant over time.

As some of you know, my father died two years ago today.

In the time leading up to his death and during the Shiva (mourning period) I consumed no alcohol, because I tend not to avoid alcohol when I'm upset.

However, I remember from my childhood that my father used to pour CC on ice when he came home from work. And so on the night after the end of the Shiva, we all gathered at my house, and I raised a toast from a newly purchased 200cc bottle of Canadian Club Premium Canadian Whisky (Original 1858), and a number of us partook. When I was out of the room my brother let my kids taste it.

Last year I poured him a glass on ice, and put it by his picture. As I occasionally did as a child, I had a sip to "try it". It tasted essentially as it did 40 years ago.

Tonight I poured my father another, added some ice, and after leaving it for him for a while, came back and took a sip.

The last 20 cc now sit in my glencairn, and here is my review:

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Nose: faint green apple, some caramel and vanilla, light syrup (the kind you might find in a fruit cup. Alcohol.

Taste: Alcohol, sweet, wood tannins, a little caramel and vanilla, maybe some spices.

With Ice - no nose, oaky palate, some bitterness.

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I definitely like this neat compared to on the rocks.

Truth be told, there are many other whiskies I would drink before this one.

I won't replace this bottle with another. I can think of better ways to remember my father, but as I prepare to recycle the plastic bottle, and in the dying days of this Connosr site (before it rises from the ashes and is reborn), I can honour him in this small way.

Cheers!

L'Chaim!

Geon bae!

This is the Canadian version of the standard bottling - I believe the US "Canadian Club" is a bit different. Intriguing whisky - a bit earthy, dank, spicy, and floral on both the nose and the palate, with some interesting vegetal notes on the nose (celery and green bell pepper) good tingly spice and heat on the palate, and some errant bitterness at points. The finish is surprisingly tannic, with the spices still starring until it lightens up and cleanses the mouth.

To be honest, when I sat down to taste this, I was suprised at how enjoyable it was. I had tasted casually and in bars and cocktails, but my tasting sessions were very intriguing. However, the whisky is a bit out of balance at times and a bit messy - a bit more cacophonous than I prefer. The spice, and the earthiness, however, are fantastic.

So, stuck in the Emirates Business Class Lounge in Dubai for more hours than I care to think about, 15 hours travel under my belt and another 17 to go, I decided to have a proper drink. The choices (for me as a Bourbon fan) were Jack Daniels (sigh) or nothing. Oh, wait- what's that: Canadian Club.....So it's from the right continent. The name jumped out at me after watching all of Boardwalk Empire in one hit over a couple of weeks in winter. It's Canadian/Rye for sure, as namechecked by the likes of Raymond Chandler, Len Deighton amongst others as being the choice of dimestore hoodlums, garter handlers, thugs and guns for hire. So perfect for me. ;)

Gave it a try, pleasantly surprised so on the reverse trip from Manila, hit Duty Free and picked up a liter bottle for the remarkable sum of £17.

Colour is lightest of light ambers. Good legs in the glass Nose has hot chocolate/cocoa, a little vanilla and a fair amount of licoricey-phenol-alcohol. Light again.

In the mouth it's again, very light indeed- coffee-ish flavours with a little bit of cherry fruityness. Creamy almost- a light creaminess that coats the mouth- but a helluva a lot of alcohol fire. But also dry at the same time- moving to a burnt straw dryness. Then it slams to a complete halt like that dimestore hoodlum has just cold-clocked you with his .45. Barely no finish at all- maybe just a hint of dry sweetness that lingers for a fraction a second. Dry, light and short.

With an icecube or two, all of the fire goes and the coffee-creaminess expands into a vanilla flavoured smoothness that wasn't there before. Also fine in Coke or Pepsi: the dryness of Canadian Club doesn't have the cloyingness of JD and Coke.

Compared to Buffalo Trace or similar it's a very lightweight proposition. None of mint, cherry or big licorice stomping around and none of the enjoyment of the lingering finish of these whiskeys But compare it to Jack Daniel's basic offering there's none of that choking 'musty' flavour in the middle, nowhere near as much of the afterburner roughness and overpowering sweetness.

It's an easy drink that you don't need to have done 32 hours travelling to appreciate ;)

Granted I think this whiskey is advertised as a whisky meant for mixing, or at least over ice. But being somewhat of a purist, I am toughing it up and drinking it straight.

The nose is alcohol and straw, while the body is light and oily, and the taste is full of alcohol burn, citrus and cherries.

The whiskey drinks like a bad vodka with a bit of extra flavoring, and sadly this is why a lot of people think of whiskey as completely unpalatable stuff.

Unremarkable but clear tasting blended whisky good as a mixer, ok straight.