Century Reserve Lot 1525

It seems to me that the Highwood distillery in Alberta produces some of Canada's most understated, and perhaps underrated, whiskies. Of course the older stocks of Century Reserve are actually from the Potter's distillery so such generalizations may be meaningless, but the fact remains that Highwood whiskies are a study in subtlty.

Lot 1525 is so called because all the whiskies are aged between 15 and 25 years. Though the bottled cleary calls it rye whisky it is said to be 100% corn. Go figure.

With an ice cube (how I have been drinking everything lately), the nose is sweet, creamy. Vanilla, butterscotch, as well as delicate florals. Little in the way of spices.

These notes are carried into the mouth, but after a few seconds you get that tannic grip of oak, still sweet but also a little bitter and earthy. Providing some sense of balance. There is something to the palate entry that strikes me as synthetic, or sickly-sweet. Maybe it is that floral note again; roses may smell nice but you don't necessarily want to eat (or drink) them.

The whisky is smooth going down with just enough burn to satisfy. The finish is suitably subtle but quite nice with a balance of brown sugar sweetness and bitter oak. Overall Century Reserve Lot 1525 is a nice, easy-drinking whisky that wears its age well but might be too subtle or understated for some people.