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Best Whisky of 2017

It has been a great year for whisky in my house in 2017. Most of the expressions I’ve had or picked up have been modest and actually quite affordable, so my list reflects this. Everything I pick here is available for under $80.00 Canadian. However, I would hold up this list against many, more expensive expressions I’ve tried and each one here is a bottle I have enjoyed and so has company. Consider this an easy shopping list if you have not tried these yet! Here are a few short tasting notes.

Top Irish: Redbreast 12 Cask strength rating: ✮✮✮✮✰
Subtle nose with some caramel or toffee sugar, the palate is smooth with a bit of nuttiness, more caramel and some pepper, the finish has a bit of oak and vanilla, not long. Strong, but easy to drink this.

Top Scotch: Wilson & Morgan Barrel pick of Caol Ila 12 year rating: ✮✮✮✮✮
This expression has smoke that goes on for days. When I pour this, my wife always knows! On the palate there is balanced peat, oak spice, and some honey or cereal sweetness. Light fruits, but only barely. The finish is great, with an excellent interplay of peat, oak, and an intriguing sweetness that begs for another sip.

Runner up Scotch: GlenDronach 12 year rating: ✮✮✮✮✰
This is an excellent, full-sherry Scotch. If you are looking for red fruits, but they are still alive and fresh, this is a pour to try. Strong nose with cherry and hint of tobacco, the palate is spicy and with the fruit going deeper or darker, and the finish is satisfyingly dry.

Top Bourbon: Knob Creek single barrel rating: ✮✮✮✮✰
I continue to be surprised at how much I like this bourbon. It’s not terribly complex, but it is frighteningly easy to drink. The nose is rich with toffee or caramel and hints at spice. The palate is creamy and rich with lots of maple syrup and vanilla, but all that sugar is cut by the strong alcohol which helps create a spicy note. The finish is surprisingly long, but I’m left with a combination of oak and toffee that is just tasty. This bottle hits way above it’s price range for me.

Top Canadian: J.P. Wiser’s Union 52 rating: ✮✮✮✮✮
This is probably my favourite whisky this year. The balance between sweet caramel and light fruit with oak spice and a hint of smoke is near perfect. The nose is a little more toffee and caramel, but the palate brings out some rye spice and strong oak flavours. The finish is long and has a bit of citrus that comes along with the oak bitterness and lingering sweetness. I liked this when I first tried it, but as I move through the bottle this has become a wonder.

Top Rye: Lot 40 12 year cask strength: ✮✮✮✮✮
I have said so much about this release already this year. It has a powerful nose rich with dark fruit and floral notes. The palate is simply delicious with caramel, a bit of brine, citrus, and a great spicy character. The finish is long and drying, but hugs you back in the chest. Some cinnamon maybe sweet tobacco and lots of oak again. This is a big drink. If you like rye and all the bold flavours that come with it, you need to try this.


Well, that’s my list for 2017. Not the most expensive expressions out there and probably not as complex as some, but I would gladly share a bottle of anything here with anyone and we’d have lots to talk about! I hope your 2018 is wonderful and filled with good moments with friends and family. Cheers!

Here is a link to my video run down: https://youtu.be/LjsY30oOCDM
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