Forty Creek Canada Gold

This whisky is produced by Forty Creek in Grimsby, Ontario, and, really, it is a way for them to stretch out their barrels - it holds well to house style and allows them to produce a very budget friendly product.

Nose: A bit of sharp rye comes through on the nose, a touch of sherry, and other dried fruit – mainly prunes, both in the scent and the slight tartness. I get some raspberries as well, with vanilla emerging more with time. There’s a touch of slight astingency in the nose as well. 73%

Taste: Quite sweet, with some honey notes and a nice balance of tartness and spice, and a bit of sherry. It goes down quite easily, with some tingling spices as well. It’s a bit raw still, but it isn’t bad at all. There are some notes of raspberry as well and a few touches here and there of vanilla, ginger, and toasted oak. The balance is good, the acidity is enticing, and the spiciness is compelling…I’m impressed! The astringency from the nose is slightly present in the taste, but less than I expected. 82%

Finish: Finishes with some grainy notes, with the slight sweetness carrying through – which is actually a wonderful support for the light oak which is also present. The spices are slight, but slightly present. It’s short, and could be bigger – but it’s well done. 77%

Intrigue: There really isn’t much that is “off” with this whisky - even with the slight astringency. It is straightforward, a bit simple and raw, but enjoyable. Not one that would detract from mixing, and certainly one you wouldn’t mind casually sipping though it’s not going to rivet your attention. 78%

Weighting the nose 25%, taste 35%, Finish 15%, and Intrigue 25% the overall grade is 78.

*I have also posted a separate format (with similar content) of this review at whiskywon.wordpress.com/2014/08/…