Highwood Ninety 20 Year Old
Canadian Corn
3 1389
Review by @Nozinan
- Nose~
- Taste~
- Finish~
- Balance~
- Overall89
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Distribution of ratings for this:
As the sun sets on the old Connosr website and we eagerly anticipate its rebirth on the new site, I’m sure I’m not the only one itching to post the “last review” . This is my attempt to end it all with a Canadian whisky.
This expression, from Highwood Distillers in Alberta, is made up of 100% corn, and yet is labelled a rye. This is one of the interesting foibles of Canadian whisky nomenclature. The name derives from its (American) proof and the minimum age of the whisky in the bottle.
This expression is reviewed in my usual manner, allowing it to settle after which I take my nosing and tasting notes. As is my habit with Canadian whiskies, I did not add water to this expression. The bottle is about half full, opened in December 2015, and gassed after each use.
Nose
First thing that hits me on pouring is fruity sweetness, then caramel. Then freshly opened can of corn kernels packed in water. Then I get dustiness. Leaving it for 20 minutes (while putting the kids to bed), I come back to intense caramel and vanilla. 22/25
Taste
The first sip is an explosion of caramel and very spirity. Then comes sweetness, loads of vanilla. The development is slightly drying. 21/25
Finish
The finish lingers longer than expected, leaving behind the impression, just the impression, that I am sucking on a buttered corn cob that has been eaten and all that is left is the empty cob. 21/25
Balance
This is NOT a very complex whisky, but the nose and palate complement each other very well. What you smell is what you taste. A little sweet. I don’t mind but some others might be put off by this. 22/25
Sequential Score: 86/100
However, this whisky is better than an 86. This is full-flavoured, and gets better and better with each sip. My enjoyment of this supersedes the technical analysis and I am assigning this a score of:
89/100
This is a very flavourful whisky, one of my favourite Canadian expressions. I did have the opportunity, thanks to Spirit of Toronto and @Talexander, to taste an independent bottling of a similar spirit from the distillery served up at cask strength, and I would eagerly welcome a standard bottling of this nectar at cask strength.
See you on the other side…
I have to agree with you--not complex at all, but very sweet and satisfying and easy to drink--I find it all brown sugar and gentle spice, kinda like gingerbread. One of my favourite Canadians, too. I've just bought my second bottle.