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Lot No. 40

A Lot of Big Flavour

5 1589

@OdysseusUnboundReview by @OdysseusUnbound

25th Jul 2017

0

Lot No. 40
  • Nose
    22
  • Taste
    23
  • Finish
    22
  • Balance
    22
  • Overall
    89

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Distribution of ratings for this: brand user

This is an abridged version of a blog post I'll be publishing tomorrow

If the Internet is correct, the original Lot 40 (circa late 1990s) was the brainchild of then Master Distiller Mike Booth. It was an attempt by Hiram Walker to create three different premium whiskies known as the Canadian Whisky Guild. The success of these whiskies was limited, probably owing to the snobbishness of consumers when it comes to premium Canadian whiskies. Lot 40 was discontinued, much to the chagrin of Canadian whisky enthusiasts. In 2012, Corby spirits (which had acquired Hiram Walker) re-released Lot no.40. To ensure that they weren't just selling a venerated name and capitalizing on the (recent) past, Master distiller Dr Don Livermore consulted with the retired Mike Booth to ensure the recipe was authentic. Lot 40 is produced in a single, 12 000 litre copper pot still at the Hiram Walker facility in Windsor, Ontario. Lot no. 40 won Canadian Whisky of the Year in 2015 (Canadian Whisky Awards) as well as Connoisseur Whisky Of The Year Multiple Markets and a Gold Medal in 2017 (Canadian Whisky Awards). So I guess you could say it's kind of a big deal.

Tasting notes

  • Nose (undiluted) : rye bread, oak, cinnamon, nutmeg, pepper
  • Palate (undiluted): medium-bodied, rye spice, toasted oak, lots of baking spices, cinnamon hearts, hints of apple and caramel
  • Finish: medium-long, spicy, slight vanilla note, black pepper with oakiness lingering.

Adding water allows more complexity to shine through. Lot 40 may seem like a one-trick pony at first, but it deserves your full attention. With water, more herbal notes come through and some tobacco makes an appearance. There is also a citrus note that becomes more evident with water, perhaps oranges. This whisky is even great in an Old Fashioned tumbler on the rocks. Hey, not every whisky needs to be sipped from a Glencairn all of the time. Honestly, I like this whisky almost as much as Dissertation. Highly recommended.

Nose:

Body:

Palate:

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15 comments

@Alexsweden
Alexsweden commented

Thank you for the straightforward review. Sounds like a Canadian to try!

6 years ago 1Who liked this?

@Nozinan
Nozinan commented

If you like this....wait till you taste the cask strength version...

6 years ago 1Who liked this?

@OdysseusUnbound
OdysseusUnbound commented

@Nozinan I've heard rumours about that. Is it really a thing? Colour me hopeful !!!

6 years ago 0

@Nozinan
Nozinan commented

@OdysseusUnbound I tasted some at Spirit of Toronto 2 years ago and it was offered at the Masterclass at the most recent SOT. It will be released in the fall as part of a series of 5 special bottlings. Unfortunately it won't be easy to get.

6 years ago 0

@Victor
Victor commented

@OdysseusUnbound, yes, Cask Strength Lot 40 is a thing. You'll probably like it OK. Now let's see them produce and sell large quanitities of that CS Lot 40. Make it a product which is not impossible to find. Baby steps, Canada!

6 years ago 2Who liked this?

@Nozinan
Nozinan commented

As long as that large quantity retains the quality...

6 years ago 1Who liked this?

@Victor
Victor commented

Don Livermore and his minions saw to it that we received Lot 40 T shirts while we were at Tales of the Cocktail. "Unapologetically Canadian" it says on the front. Hhhhmmmm...why would you feel the need to say that?

Dr. Don looks just like one of my brothers-in-law.

6 years ago 0

@Nozinan
Nozinan commented

@Victor Now if that shirt had a picture o Whistlepig...

6 years ago 1Who liked this?

@Nozinan
Nozinan commented

@Nelom OK, maybe four.
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My wife always says I'm not allowed to teach the kids math... grimacing

6 years ago 1Who liked this?

@paddockjudge
paddockjudge commented

Nice review! There are many degrees of Lot No.40. This version is likely the "green" label and a 2017 release (newer/younger batch). It does not contain any malted rye and will be soft on the black liorice/star anise notes. Lot No.40 tends to acquire stronger licorice notes with age. This is also a trait of Wiser's Legacy. Lot No.40 is the "flavouring" whisky for Legacy, about 1/3 of Legacy is comprised of Lot No.40.

6 years ago 1Who liked this?

@MadSingleMalt
MadSingleMalt commented

@OdysseusUnbound , if you had mentioned here that your blog version of this review included a short take-down of Braveheart's historical accuracy and a picture of Sophie Marceau as Princess Isabella, I would have read it a lot earlier!

Did feminists really never publicly burned their bras? Huh.

6 years ago 0

@OdysseusUnbound
OdysseusUnbound commented

@MadSingleMalt Apologies, I'll be clearer next time. I can't find any historical reference to feminists burning their bras. The closest thing was a protest group throwing out "prop" bras into a big garbage bin with a "tools of oppression" label. Not even their actual bras.

6 years ago 1Who liked this?

@RianC
RianC commented

@OdysseusUnbound @MadSingleMalt - pah . . women eh!? laughing Nice review, just purchased a bottle of this and it sounds like one I'll enjoy!

Did you (anyone) make an Old fashioned with this? If so, how was it? I have a feeling it may not be the best due to the lower abv?

5 years ago 0

@OdysseusUnbound
OdysseusUnbound commented

@RianC I often make OF with this whisky. I make sure to use a large ice sphere so the drink isn’t too diluted. And I may use a double dose of Lot 40 more often than not. I can’t bring myself to use the cask strength version for a cocktail. Also, I’ve made exactly ONE Old Fashioned with Wiser’s Dissertation, and it was phenomenal. But I’ve only got 2 bottles of Dissertation left, so that won’t happen again.

5 years ago 2Who liked this?

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