Hiram Walker whiskies

History

Hiram Walker, an American merchant, settled in 1858 on the Canadian bank of the Detroit River and founded a distillery that gave rise to a whole town, Walkerville, with houses for the workers, a church and services. Canadian Club was born there and would become famous worldwide. During American Prohibition, the proximity to Detroit made the area a key smuggling point. Over time the distillery changed hands several times, and today it makes whisky for the Pernod Ricard group’s Canadian brands and for other houses, with a highly regarded team of blenders. The distillery remains a symbol of the city.

House style

Hiram Walker distils each grain separately, with column and copper stills, and then blends the whiskies, something typical of Canada. That allows it to make very different styles: light, sweet blends such as Wiser’s Deluxe, four-grain whiskies such as Gooderham & Worts and intense ryes such as Lot No. 40. In general they are smooth whiskies, with caramel, vanilla and the spice of rye.

Where to start

To get to know the house, start with Wiser’s Deluxe, simple and affordable. Then try Pike Creek 10, fruitier and rounder, and Gooderham & Worts Four Grain, the most complex. And if you like rye, Lot No. 40 is one of the great Canadian ryes. They are whiskies enjoyed neat, on the rocks or in cocktails, and they show the variety of Canadian whisky.

• J.P. Wiser's DeluxeBlend · 40% ABV
• Pike Creek 10 Year OldBlend · 42% ABV
• Gooderham & Worts Four GrainBlend · 44.4% ABV