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Wayne Gretzky No.99 Red Cask

An Almost Great One

1 680

@OdysseusUnboundReview by @OdysseusUnbound

6th Jan 2018

1

Wayne Gretzky No.99 Red Cask
  • Nose
    21
  • Taste
    20
  • Finish
    19
  • Balance
    20
  • Overall
    80

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Distribution of ratings for this: user

  • Brand: Wayne Gretzky
  • ABV: 40%

This is a preview of an upcoming blog post

I'm not a fan of celebrity worship, celebrity obsession, celebrity endorsements, or celebrity-themed anything. But there are exceptions to every rule.More than a few people I know and trust had positive things to say about the wine...and about the whisky. So I gave in and sampled some Wayne Gretzky No.99 Red Cask. But why not call it Hat Trick or M.V.P. or Slapshot, or something hockey themed? I mean, we're talking about the greatest hockey player of all time, right? (Bobby Orr and Mario Lemieux fans, your objections are noted) I'm guessing they wanted to be taken more seriously. From what I've read, they invested in some top notch equipment and even hired a Master Distiller who actually has a Master's degree in distilling.The grains used in No. 99 Red Cask (rye, malted rye and corn) are locally sourced, so they win some PR points there.

Tasting Notes

  • Nose (undiluted): Dark Brown sugar, maple syrup, a hint of roses, a touch of leather. Give it time to rest in the glass and some red grapes, apples and citrus notes appear.
  • Palate (undiluted): surprisingly rich for a whisky bottled at 40% ABV, some oakiness, more maple notes, some vanilla-infused (toasted oak?) red wine notes become apparent with time, as does a touch of rye spice
  • Finish: medium-short finish, with some red grapes and oaky red wine notes initially and a touch more rose/perfume reappearing with time.

Adding water didn't really improve this whisky. Nor did adding ice, unless you find it a bit too sweet when sipped neat. Ice toned down the maple and brown sugar sweetness and brought the floral and wine notes forward a bit. This one develops complexity when it's given the chance to sit in the glass for awhile.This whisky is very easy to drink. If you like big, oak-rich red wines, you will probably like this whisky.

Nose:

Body:

Palate:

6 comments

@paddockjudge
paddockjudge commented

@OdysseusUnbound _ I tried this one and it is okay. I've actually tried it a few times. This bottle does not reside in my cabinet. Perhaps if I sought to catalogue every Canadian whisky into my resource library it would have a place on the shelf. Until that day comes I can read your review. Thanks for posting this one.

6 years ago 1Who liked this?

@Nozinan
Nozinan commented

@OdysseusUnbound Wow! we both gave this the same score. I agree with @paddockjudge, this has no place in my cabinet. Master distiller has a master's degree? Pshaw! Livermore has a PhD...

6 years ago 1Who liked this?

@OdysseusUnbound
OdysseusUnbound commented

@MadSingleMalt I’d be shocked if he did.

6 years ago 0

@Victor
Victor commented

@OdysseusUnbound, didn't you just post in the review that Gretzky hired the distiller for this whisky?

What I want to know is whether Gretzky saw to it that there are splinters of wood from his hockey sticks in every bottle, sort of like mezcal with a worm. You need something like that to make this a real hockey whisky.

6 years ago 2Who liked this?

@OdysseusUnbound
OdysseusUnbound commented

@Victor Maybe Gretzky hired the distiller then tried to teach said distiller how to do a better job. That would be scary; it didn’t work out so well when Gretzky tried to coach a hockey team.

6 years ago 2Who liked this?