Canadian whisky

Canada is one of the world’s great whisky producers, with a smooth, light style of its own based mainly on blending whiskies made from different grains. By tradition, Canadian whisky is called rye even when it contains little rye. Brands such as Canadian Club and Crown Royal are found all over the world, and distilleries such as Hiram Walker also make true rye, like Lot No. 40.

In the catalogue
15 whiskies
Distilleries and brands
7
Most common type
Blend
Peated
0 of 15

History, style and where to start

15 whiskies

Guide to Canadian whisky

History

Distilling in Canada grew in the 19th century alongside the grain mills, and houses such as Hiram Walker, in Windsor, and Gooderham & Worts, in Toronto, were born at that time. Settlers added rye to flavour their wheat whisky, which is where the custom of calling it rye comes from. During American Prohibition, Canadian whisky was smuggled across the border and won a market it kept afterwards. Today there is renewed interest in rye whiskies and older releases.

What the law says

Canadian whisky must be made from grain, matured in Canada for at least three years in small wooden casks and bottled at a minimum of 40% ABV. The law allows caramel, flavourings and up to 9.09% of other spirits or wines, such as wine or brandy, to be added. Canadian whisky, Canadian rye whisky and rye whisky are equivalent names.

Style and flavour

Most Canadian distilleries distil and age each grain separately and blend them at the end. A very smooth corn base brings sweetness and a light body, and small amounts of rye whisky bring spice. The result is smooth, sweet and friendly, neat or mixed. Whiskies made only from rye, such as Lot No. 40, are much spicier and have more body.

Average flavour profile of Canadian whisky in the catalogue (15 whiskies)

Sweet
3.2
Fresh fruit
2.0
Ripe and dried fruit
1.1
Floral and herbal
1.2
Cereal and malt
1.7
Vanilla and creamy
2.4
Oak
1.8
Spicy
2.4
Toasted
1.3
Smoky
0.0
Maritime
0.0
Body and intensity
2.1

Where to start

Canadian Club is the country’s light, sweet classic, and Crown Royal Fine De Luxe offers a little more body and vanilla. To see the other side of Canada, Lot No. 40 is an intense, spicy rye that shows the country can also make whiskies with plenty of character.

This text was generated and translated by AI and may contain errors.

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