Whisky Connosr
Menu
Buy Whisky Online

Goodridge & Williams 100% Rye

Not quite there yet

3 465

@MegawattReview by @Megawatt

24th Dec 2022

1

Goodridge & Williams 100% Rye
  • Nose
    18
  • Taste
    16
  • Finish
    17
  • Balance
    14
  • Overall
    65

Show rating data charts

Distribution of ratings for this: user

  • Brand: Goodridge & Williams
  • ABV: 40%

I've been seeing this craft whisky brand from British Columbia pop up on LCBO shelves, and have been curious yet hesitant to try it. Craft whiskies are, after all, hit and miss at best. This one is 100% rye, aged in ex-bourbon and red wine casks.

The nose is not too inspiring. I get next to no rye spice, but lots of raw spirit with a neutral, vodka-like aroma. Given time in the glass, there is some oak, butterscotch, and a bit of red berries. Finally, some almond extract.

On the tongue it is light-bodied, almost watery, before the oak provides some grip. Again, the rye grain as very little to say here. I wonder what sort of stills were used. The taste is clean and lean with a bit of oakiness. Only in the short finish does it develop the sort of "classic" Canadian profile mentioned on the bottle.

Balance-wise, it is not quite there yet. The spirit and oak keep an awkward distance, afraid to be seen holding hands in public just yet. The wine casks add a soft touch of sweetness and charm, which certainly doesn't hurt.

Overall, I feel like I struck out with this bottle, especially for the price. The aroma isn't terrible and there's a decent moment of oak spice mid-palate but I would never had pegged this as 100% rye. In a head-to-head against Reifel Rye, the difference was astonishing. This has almost no flavour compared to the new ADL bottling, which was comparatively pungent, almost smoky, with a strong spearmint character. G&W, on the other hand, reminds me of other under-developed craft whiskies I've had, namely some of Stalk and Barrel's lower offerings.

4 comments

Astroke commented

This looks to be in the same league as Dillon's Rye

about one year ago 0

@Nozinan
Nozinan commented

@Astroke I think I would score Dillon's Rye a bit higher, but the comparison may not hold because I've only tried their limited release cask strength rye. Plus I have a soft spot for the distillery that donated several cases of 80% sanitizer to the group I practice with when it was scarce.

about one year ago 1Who liked this?

Astroke commented

@Nozinan I had bought 2 Dillons cask strength releases, I opened the 2nd one and literally poured it down the drain. Was pure ethanol. Now open for a year I could re-visit it.

about one year ago 1Who liked this?

@Megawatt
Megawatt commented

@Astroke

Comparing from memory, Dillon's is more rye-forward but also has a sour note that doesn't sit well with me.

Goodridge probably deserves a higher mark than I gave it. I had the standard Alberta Premium recently and I think Goodridge & Williams is more enjoyable.

about one year ago 2Who liked this?