Corby's Lot 40 Dark Oak

Over the past few years some of my Connosr friends have encouraged me to explore Canadian whiskies, with good success. Many of these whiskies have been 100% rye. Recently, some of the big producers (ADL, Hiram Walker et al) have started releasing some interesting bottlings.

Lot 40 CS was released three years in a row. The first 2 releases were fantastic. The last one, in 2019, perhaps less so. In 2020 there was no cask strength release. Instead (perhaps), the Dark Oak was released. It is bottled at 48% in contrast to the standard Lot 40 which is 43%.

According to the bottle, the Dark Oak was aged in two types of new oak cask. First a number 2 char and then finished in a number 4 char “for depth of flavour and a bold finish”.

I opened this in November just after I got it (there were a limited number of signed bottles pre-released by the distillery and they sold out in minutes). I tried it a couple of times and poured some samples between then and March, and it has stayed undisturbed in my cabinet since then, each time gassed with Private Preserve .

This expression is reviewed in my usual manner, allowing it to settle in a Glencairn, 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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Nose: 21.5/25

Fruity, caramel, some vanilla. Sweet red apple. There are some spicy notes. Slight alcohol nip. Unflawed. With water, the alcohol nip is gone and it is quite perfumy. The spives, vanilla and caramel fade into the background. (21/25)

Taste: 21/25

Spirity, thin mouthfeel. Some fruit, caramel, vanilla. Water tones down the alcohol a little, but the flavours seem a bit washed out. I get a hint of menthol. The pepper is still there.

Finish: 20.5/25

Peppery on the development and the finish. The pepper lasts quite a while. There is also a bitterness (anyone taste PTC paper in high school?) (19.5/25)

Balance: 20/25

The peppery finish overpowers the palate, and the palate is weak compared to what is expected from the nose.

Score: Neat - 83/100 With Water: 81.5/100

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This is not a bad whisky. I wonder whether the “bold finish” went a little too far with the peppery notes. While I would not turn this one down, when I compare it to some of the finest Corby’s expressions I’ve tasted, this is not in the same league.

What might be interesting would be to compare this to the standard Lot 40. Ironically, that’s the one I have the least experience with. I think I may have a sample somewhere…

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1 - The phrase “xxxxxxxxxx does not affect the taste” is attributed to @paddockjudge. I am not aware of any prior instances of use of this phrase with the word “autograph”.