Corby's Lot Forty Cask Strength 2018 release 11 YO

I like this rye. No mystery here. I really liked the 2017 12 YO first edition, and I liked the single cask version of the 11 YO at SOT this year, and I like this release. A lot. If that’s all you need to know you can stop reading now.

It’s still January first here in Toronto and I’m starting the year off, once again, with a review of a Canadian whisky. And not just any Canadian whisky. One of the finest ryes I’ve ever tasted. I reviewed the 2017 1 year ago today.

This expression is reviewed in my usual manner, allowing it to settle after which I take my nosing and tasting notes, followed by the addition of a few drops of water, waiting, then nosing and tasting.

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Is it my imagination or is this year’s 11 YO just lightly lighter in colour than last year’s 12 YO? I wanted to ask Doc Liver(no)more about caramel, but @paddockjudge doesn’t let me.

Nose:23/25

Rich, spicy. Lots of caramel. Hint of vanilla. Dill pickle juice in the background. Beautiful nose. Water enriches the nose. (23.5/25)

Taste:23/25

Wow! First sip gives me sweet and spice, then a little coffee and some pickle juice on the development. You’d never know it was bottled at 58.4%! Thick mouth feel. Butterscotch and vanilla in the development, with a little pepper. Similarly, water creates a profound explosion of flavour. Not so much different, but more of everything. Maybe, no, definitely, a hint of menthol in the late development early finish. (23.5/25)

Finish:22/25

Quite a long, oaky, astringent, tannic finish with a little pepper and caramel/butterscotch on the exhale. The finish becomes a little more complex with the menthol note (with water). (22.5/25)

Balance:22/25

Nicely balanced. Nose and palate are complementary.

Score: Neat - 90/100 With Water: 91.5/100

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Great rye!

Compared to the 2017 12 YO, the first edition(neat) has a sweeter nose and a more complex, floral palate. I get more coffee with water. It’s very hard to choose one over the other (I do realize I gave them slightly different scores) when they go head to head.

Of course, what can one do after comparing the two but to put them together? Of course, I am only tasting it with water added. It seems surprisingly unbalanced at first, with the two seeming to compete. I get coffee, toffee and pickle juice as its main flavours. And menthol. Not quite the sum of its parts. I will sip this but I think I like each edition best on its own.

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To all, I wish you a happy, healthy, 2019!