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Corby Lot 40 Cask Strength 2018 Single Cask

Northern Border 2018 Preview SOT part II

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@cricklewoodReview by @cricklewood

18th May 2018

1

Corby Lot 40 Cask Strength 2018 Single Cask
  • Nose
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  • Taste
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  • Finish
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  • Balance
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  • Overall
    90

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  • Brand: Corby
  • ABV: 54.3%

On May 5th I was at Spirit of Toronto with @Nozinan and @Paddockjudge, we attended the Wiser's Masterclass that was given by Dr. Don Livermore. We were presented with the 6 new expressions that would be released by the distillery in 2018.

Don joked that this was the whisky that everyone was here for, in a way he's right, if there's one Canadian whisky that gets the masses hot and bothered it's Lot 40 Cask Strength. Last year's release was a really solid whisky on par with other cult inducing rye whiskys.

The 2018 release is an 11 year old whisky, Dr. Livermore's said that his reason for choosing this particular bond was because they all exhibited a particular flavor profile which he felt was quite different than last year's edition (he mentions a licorice/anise note).

Nose: Caramel, pine tar, orange creamsicle, pepper and steak spice, floral, rising pastry (like brioche dough) and a bit of vanilla.

Palate: Creamy, thrills gum, licorice, grippy oak, green apple. Super floral but in this context it work, cooked stone fruit, a mix of cinnamon and clove.

This was delicious and worthy of the frenzy, the nose was so different than expected that I had to smell @Nozinan's glass to make sure I had the right liquid. As this was a cask sample I am not sure how much of an outlier it is, once they vat the 15 to 20 casks they use for the batch if these creamy and piney aspects will remain.

The bad news is the price is going up to 99$ (for all the NBC barring the Wiser's 35), I understand why they are doing this but I don't agree with it. Nonetheless in this era of 147$ Elijah Craig barrel proof selling out at the LCBO, I'm sure it will fly off the shelves.

7 comments

@Robert99
Robert99 commented

@cricklewood What are the differences between last year and this year editions?

5 years ago 0

@cricklewood
cricklewood commented

@Robert99 from what I understood, they haven't vatted the casks for this yet so I am not sure what the final ABV of the bottles will be but probably similar to last years. The good Dr. said the choice of these 11 year old casks was because they exhibited a strong licorice/anise note which to him was unusual enough to want to highlight.

As for this cask sample, the nose was so different than the 2017 release, very creamy, lots piney-resin notes, the palate was super floral with a good dose of apricot. I found it to be rather singular if still keeping within the heavy rye whisky palate. I still think that overall the Gooderham and Worts 11 souls won my affection that night.

If Corby wanted to cause a riot they should sell full proof single casks of their rye and well aged double distilled corn whisky at the distillery shop...I know current laws wouldn't allow it but damn would they draw a lot of folks into Windsor for this.

5 years ago 2Who liked this?

@Nozinan
Nozinan commented

@cricklewood Nice review.

Why won't laws allow them to sell stuff in the distillery? Other distilleries in Canada (ie: Forty Creek) have a distillery shop...

5 years ago 0

@cricklewood
cricklewood commented

@Nozinan I believe they are only allowed to sell things that are in the system of the LCBO, so no fill your own casks or distillery exclusives, please feel free to correct me if I am wrong.

5 years ago 0

@Nelom
Nelom commented

This will be (if I can find it) my one purchase of 2018. I had pretty much decided as much already, but learning that it'll have a strong anise/licorice note makes it a firm decision. I loved that about later bottles of Legacy, and so I'm sure I'll find it an enjoyable addition to Lot No. 40. Thanks for the review and the heads-up.

5 years ago 0

@Robert99
Robert99 commented

@cricklewood I find the regulat Lot 40 to be too fragrant and that is why I prefer the CS. This one offers more wood notes and is more balance imho. So when you say that your sample was very floral, I am wondering if the balance will be there for me although the anise/licorice note would certainly gives it a lower note and provide more complexity. Is that a correct assessment?

5 years ago 0

@cricklewood
cricklewood commented

@Robert99, you've mentioned how floral you find regular Lot 40 before. While this was definitely floral, its not the main instrument, much like last year's edition.

I haven't had a taste of standard Lot 40 in years, my last bottle was from the old batch.

5 years ago 0

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