Are these 6 Canadian Whiskeys worth buying? 

As a Canadian Fan, I appreciate you including some our local products

Thank you so much for doing this show! I haven't ventured into the Canadian territory aside from the likes of Crown Royal, CC, Seagram's 7 and VO (I really like VO and Ginger Ale with a lime as my go to Summer whiskey cocktail). I always thought of these Canadian whiskey's as being kind of light and one-dimensional, so I'm very glad to hear that I was wrong. I put these on my list of bottles to look for in the future and can't wait to try them. Thanks again!

Pike Creek 10 is an absolute bargain for a 10 year finished whiskey . It's $27 by me and tastes amazing. They also make a 21 year and I'm still on the hunt for that finished in a Speyside single malt casks.

As a young Canadian just getting into whiskey, this is great for letting me know what’s avalible from my country. Copper Pot is my all time favourite so I’m glad to see it getting a good review.

Wow! I haven't delved much into the Canadian whiskeys and hadn't even given them much thought. Excited to learn there are some real gems out there! Thanks for another terrific video, Kurt! I am Patreon supporter #2! I'm excited to see where your channel goes, and I'm thrilled to have been there from almost the beginning. Don't ever change!

👏 Here in southeast Michigan, bordering Canada, we grew up with Canadian whiskey. Still enjoy me some, and have been eyeballing that Lot 40 & others. Thanks for doing this one!

Thank you. I'm just getting into whisky and am building my collection. I'm from Canada yet I only had Crown on my shelf. I was able to pick up all but the Unity, and they are wonderful!! Thank you!

Thanks for the video. Canadian Club has been my choice when drinking Manhattans or rye and ginger for the past 50 yrs. My Total Wines has a couple of these (Lot 40 & Pike Creek) that I have just put on the "to try" list.

You have the best subjects. The actions of reviewing viewer input and invest in that feedback is admirable. Great channel.

I'll need to try the Pendleton again. When I really started getting into brown liquors back in early 2017 it was one of my first pours, so it has a bit of sentimental value for me. Of course, my inexperience may have been the primary reason for liking it. I haven't had it in awhile, but I will say I do enjoy the Pendleton Rye. Perhaps you won't like that either but there's something about its easy drinking style (and price point, of course) that I really like. Cheers.

Been really enjoying the channel and the humour and family connections of the basement bar. Myself and a few friends have had whiskey tasting Thursdays for a number of years, and dry January for over 30 years now. I live within crawling distance of Forty Creek, and have had samples and bottles of their various specials and versions for years, as well as dozens of your bourbons and whiskeys over the years. We get many you don’t, but you get lots we don’t….and we all dream of sipping Pappy one day. Thanks for tipping me off to Old Forester…even with the exchange rate, a deal, easily available in basic form, and a solid performer. We developed a way of rating our available choices, which we call the Gretzky Scale, after the Wayne Gretzky Red Cask Whiskey we can get here. In essence, sub $40, a whiskey should be as good or better than the Gretzky to be a regular shelf item in our bars. The next level is sub $80, with Basil Hayden as the benchmark, and above that are those ones we only occasionally will buy, but few have ever been bought more than once at that level. With exchange rates, your numbers would likely be about 75% of our levels. That first one you put on the bar I wouldn’t call a Canadian Whiskey, I’ve never seen it up here, and after your comments, I am happy about that! If you ever see Bearface, it recently passed the Gretzky scale….

I can not tell you just how glad I am that I stumbled onto your videos, I just picked up your recommendation of the Lot 40, a whole new level of Rye.

Wow! You nailed it on the head regarding ads. I’ve stopped watching multiple channels because they’ve become running ads. I will consider supporting your channel because you’re not going to bore me with ads on top of the RU-vid adds. Thank You!!’ I enjoy your channel. I am curious about Canadian Whiskies, but I don’t want to waste money. This video helps. I don’t like that Canada allows up to 10% of additives to be added to their whiskey. I’ve heard good things about Crown Royal ultra aged Rye. I’ve been looking for such a bottle, but no luck yet.

Wow great content Kurt. Glad to see you got hold of the Pike Creek.Happy that you enjoyed it . Can’t wait for the next video👍🥃🇨🇦. Extra 🥃🥃to Trent for all the work he does behind the videos . Thanks guys

"I have been working my butt off...drinking whiskey for you." 😂 You need an intern?

Awesome Kurt ! As an Alberta boy I'm glad you enjoyed ! Actually a fan of some Forty Creek whiskeys as well ! Thanks for the vid !!

Good video, good selection. Next we need to get you some small production Canadian Whisky.

Great review. I just bought my 2nd bottle of Alberta Premium Cask Strength. It is fabulous, and doesn’t drink as hot as it’s 132 proof. I heard AP is where Whistle Pig sources their ryes from.

You guys are great--a breath of fresh air on the whiskey scene--but please please please don’t go down the advertisement path, or you’ll just be another boring channel. Again, and as always, I truly appreciate your honest reviews. You’re not apologetic about expressing your genuine opinions; a commendable trait in my book. Please keep up the great work, and we’ll see about the Patreon idea.

Try mixing Crown Royal Apple with Crown Royal Salted Caramel and a splash of 7Up and WOW tastes like a caramel apple. Delicious 🎉

Picked up the Alberta Premium Cask Strength Rye Whisky for $63.99 and I'm tempted to go back and buy the other 2 bottles on shelf. Really great Rye whiskey and even with the massive proof it is very drinkable neat. There are a ton of flavors on that whiskey and it's something I want to keep in stock to share with friends. The only problem with the bottle... it looks like a cheap whiskey. Absolutely dunks on Caribou Crossing. Dunks on most American ryes, too.

Awesome video Kurt!!! I got my eye on that Forty Creek now! Sounds like some tasty juice!

Forty Creek sounds right up my alley! Tried the Alberta Premium on another video you had, Great bottle! Thanks to your brothers suggestion.

You also need to look at the JP Wiser offerings. Seasoned Oak, Dissertation, Last Barrels, and their 15 and 18yr offerings are wonderful as well. Keep up the great videos! All the best from Windsor, Ontario

Awesome vid, Thanks. Great plains whisky, 18year old in brandy cask, second favorite is 23 year wiser cask strength.

We need some batch holiday drinks for the holidays coming up!! Somthing simple everyone may love. Great video as always!

Great content Kurt and I am glad to support the channel on Patreon.

I am glad that you tried some of the whiskeys that our great country has to offer. I am particularly glad that you tasted Lot 40 as this has won a bunch of blind tastings alone, but the "Big Brother" version of it Lot 40 Dark Oak is an over the top beauty right at the top of my list of best ryes period. I find it so good that I have stopped putting it into blinds as it always seems to win. The Alberta Premium Cask Strength is of no surprise to me that you loved it as it won whiskey of the year in 2021 at San Francisco......still not available to me where I live in Canada so I can't make a comment yet. As always, I love your show. Keep up the good work. And my vote is for you never to advertise. That has put me off other shows. Just my opinion.

Saw Pike Creek in my local liquor store, and was really interested in trying it. Might get a bottle soon!

Once again I appreciate your directness when reviewing--Pendleton "is just not that good". The only Canadian I've ever had is Crown Royal, which put me off Canadian, but I might try the Pike Creek or Lot 40 next time I need to get a bottle of rye.

I bought a 375 ml bottle of Pendleton and the nose was very sweet like caramel and brown sugar...palate was sweet and spicy toward the end...very good and mixed w sprite it went down a little too fast.

Currently having Pike Creek and must say its pretty good! Now I'm just getting into the whiskey scene so my nose & pallet is not refined at all but I do like the sweetness and rum influence! Cheers

Love the down to earth authentic and honest presentation of the products in your videos! Agreed 100% on the Alberta Premium. Beautiful product in every way. Have to ask how Crown Royal missed your 5 completely? It's the proverbial Canadian flagship and has a few excellent products especially above the baseline. The Black, XO, XR, Reserve are all superior products even at the primarily 80 proof bottling ( except for the Black @ 90 ) Give a couple a try when you get a chance. Thanks for pointing out some excellent lesser known products!

If you can find them, Gooderham and Worts makes a good dram. The Four Grain has a nice orange cinnamon candy finish.

Highly recommend Found North, I have batch 5 and 6. Batch 5 is probably my favorite pour so far this year.

Lot 40 is my go to always, if you can get your hands on the Dark Oak or the Peated Quarter Cask I highly recommend them, also Signal Hill is one of my favorites, Canadian Club makes a beautiful 100% Rye that is dirt cheap that if you like rye you should deffinelty pick up if you can get it. Another one of my favorite Canadians you should try is Bearface out of British Columbia, such a good pour. Thanks for doing Canadian most people only get to try our bottom shelf stuff, Crown isn't terrible and they have some good bottles but we have some amazing whiskeys that I hope people get to try and one point or another.

Kurt, Have you tried the 40 creek Single barrel select? It’s quite good Honey and butterscotch on the nose which follows nicely to the palate. Nice coating on the tongue!

I don't know if you could get it where you are but try to find one called "Sortillege" (French for Curse). It's a Maple Syrup flavoured sipping whisky. It's really good!

Gooderham and Worts is another great option. Definitely has more going on then anything 40 creek.

It's always been such a bummer to me that all we seem to get in the States is bottom shelf Canadians. One of my local stores got two Canadian IBs called Found North recently though - both 16 year age stated, mashbills right on the label (batch 1 is 66% rye, 30% corn, 4% barley. Batch 2 is 80% corn 20% rye), both cask strength, both fantastic. Spendy at ~$130 each but I love seeing better options starting to come down here from Canada.

Whiskey research - tough job but someone has to do it.

Keep your eye out for the Lot No. 40 cask strength releases! Also, the older J.P. Wiser's are great - the 23 yo and 35 yo are fantastic. Not sure if they make it south of the border, but Two Brewers and Shelter Point are making some fantastic single malts and ryes.

I love crown royal maple finished whiskey goes down smooth

Forty Creek whiskey is worth a try. My husband is a scotch drinker, but his alternative is Forty Creek Spike whiskey.

Thanks for the solid coverage on Canadian Whisky. You covered a few of my favourite bottles. Are you e struggling or put off by the fact that Canadian Whisky masters have few limitations on what they can do? Treat it like wine where part of the fun is exploring the creative expressions and finding your own treasures.

Nice video! I don't have many Canadian but Lot 40 and Alberta Premium is great. My other favorites are Crown Royal Northern Harvest Rye ($35). Similar to the Lot 40 but a bit more punch (45% vs 43%). Also Crown Royal Barrel Select has a higher corn mash bill and 50% ABV. Reminds me of Nikka Coffey Grain.

Just picked up a Pike Creek 22 year old select oak aged and finished in px sherry casks at 90 proof

Years ago, when I was young, I visited rellies in London Ontario. Among some of the things I did, I tried a Rye Whisky that I rather liked. Dunno the brand, but I remember it was distilled in Canada. It was my cousins whisky. dunno how old it was either.

Am I your first Patreon? Either way, can't wait to see the channel grow

Great video, thank you as a Canadian fan of yours I do appreciate it.My fav Canadian distiller is JP Wisers who produce Lot 40 and many other amazing expressions that you may not be aware of,cheers from Downtown Goulais River,Ontario Canada....Rob

Yes to the Alberta Premium Cask Strength and the Forty Creek Copper Pot. The Pike Creek is interesting, but you have to like that rum finish. I heard Pike had a port finish years ago as well. Hear good things about Lot 40 Dark Oak..and that will be a future try, and JP Wiser's 15 and 18 yr olds.

Alternative to Pike Creek - Barn Burner (Ontario), finished in Oak Bourbon barrels. Crown Royal Black, yum! My go to rye - Wiser's Triple Barrel.

I have been to the Hood River Distillery a couple times. The last time I tasted a 20 year cask strength Pendleton. Very good but I didn't have $200 for a bottle. I agree, the regular Pendleton is crap. The Alberta Premium has been a regular in my bar for at least 10 years

I still got my Wisers cask strength from a a few years back still corked and sealed.

Alberta Premium won World Whisky of the Year 2021..nice to see it validated by you. Congratulations on your success.

Excellent show! I need to expand my Canadian whiskey shelf!

By far my favourite Canadian whisky, and superb bang for the buck is Wayne Gretzky "Red Cask", coming in around $38 CDN. Outstanding flavour on its own or in an Old Fashioned.

Great White North Eh🇨🇦. Back in the day, Dads special pour, Crown Royal. Nothing against it but not a favorite. Gonna go hunting with your suggestions. Thanks again 👍

Thanks for your Reviews and your Knowledge of Whiskey in general !!

That Alberta Premium is fantastic. If you can find the Crown Royal 16 Year Noble Rye, grab one! It's delicious and around $60.

Glad to see your impression on Canadian Whiskey. My few experiences with it leads to me say, it may be good as a light mixer, but not a straight up sippin whiskey. I find the nose and pallet about as empty as a glass of spring water. I noticed Canadian Club is not on your list :-) Lot 40 sounds interesting and worth a try for my preferences.

Just picked up a bottle of Rare Perfection 15 year... Amazing

Thanks for the input on the Canadians with Rye Mash Bills. I'll have to look at those. A suggestion: how about doing a review on the $20 and under Canadians? These are very popular in the Northeast where I am from, especially in the wintertime, and their main use is as a mixer for cocktails (Manhattans in particular) and EggNogs. I know they don't necessarily have the snob appeal, but they are the hot sellers. This is a wholly different category than Bourbons, and the person buying a Canadian usually gets it in a 1.75 liter size to make sure they have enough on hand for the holiday party events. Or for the Uncle who will drink nothing but Manhattans (yes, I had one of those).

To be bluntly honest, I didn’t know that Canada produced good rye whiskey. I grew up in southeast Michigan right across the river from Windsor and Amherstburg, with some family still in the Amherstburg area. All we ever saw was Canadian Club, VO, etc… I’m glad to see that there are good rye whiskeys coming out of Canada. That Lot 40 is appealing. Hopefully, my local store carries this brand.

Another great Canadian whiskey I recommend is the Double Barreled whisky from Shelter Point. I had the one aged in American oak and finished in Blackberry wine barrel and it has such interesting rich dark fruit flavour combined with great mouthfeel.

Wisers 18 yr old is wonderful. Pike Creek is nice with coffee & forty creek nanaimo bar cream.

I want to try more Canadian whiskeys but, despite being right next door in Maine, I can't seem to find very many. Of the six in this episode, all I can get here are Pendleton's (agree it's not that good) and Lot 40, which I've only seen a couple of times and haven't tried yet. Hopefully our selection will improve going forward.

I love Gibson's Finest for the price point. For a long time, it was cheaper than the base 40 Creek and Crown Royal bottles (more or less on par with Canadian Club price-wise), while being far nicer to drink neat.

This was good. Thanks man 👍

I saw Pendleton for sale at my local liquor mart, I left it on the shelf. I picked up a bottle of regular Alberta Premium Rye and give it a go, what is the best way to drink rye?

Please do try to get your hands on Indian whiskies too. Brands like Amrut, Paul John, Rampur and Kamet should be available in the US.

It's a shame I just don't have the palate to taste the subtle flavors of these liquors, but I certainly enjoy the way you describe them

Spot on with your reviews. The Unity is a limited release, ie only for one year while quantities last. They switch it up. There's 'Victory', 'Master's Cut', and the current release 'Cherrywood'.

I got that Lot 40. It’s nice. I’d like to find a barrel proof single barrel offering. I’m still wrapping my head around Japanese whiskys.

KURT, in the lower end of Canadian whiskies, I have tried Canadian Hunter and Canadian Mist! I find an aftertaste that stands out but, I can’t identify it! Can you help me? Fran

40 Creek Copper Pot is an excellent Canadian whiskey for the price. Lot 40 is terrific. Have never seen Pendleton, but I live in Eastern Canada so it might be available out west. An excellent one is a Rye from Okanagan Spirits Craft Distillery. At 80 proof and $60 can. for a 750ml. I buy it on line and they ship. Some of the Wiser products, with the blue and green labels are very good, along with some of the Gibson products. Check em out.

Nice video. I'm not a Canadian whisky guy at all. I'm 100% with you on the regular Pendleton. About half my buddies love the stuff and I just don't get it. That said, if you see the Pendleton 1910 rye don't let your experience with the regular stuff put you off of it. It's 40 bucks in my market, sometimes 30 on sale and I quite enjoyed the bottle I got as a gift some time back (never would have bought it due to my opinion on the regular stuff but I'd certainly consider buying it now). Based on my experience with 1910 and your video here, I'm staring to think maybe our neighbors to the north need to just stick with high rye bills. Cheers.

They just released the new edition of the Alberta Premium Cask Strength so I picked one up this weekend along with several bourbons at the fall special release in our government liquor stores.

l haven't tried the cask strength Alberta Premium; but there is a 40% version available from the local BC Government Liquor Store in my hometown. l like it!

Only two of those are available where I live in AL & one is the 1st one. So I guess I'll look up the Forty Creek Copper Pot.

Everyone always taks about Pendleton being great but I always felt the same way you do about it.

What’s y’all opinion on Pendleton Rye 12 year?

I just acquired a bottle of Caribou Crossing. Have yet to open it. Any experience with it?

See if you can get your hands on a bottle of Bearface! I think you’ll find it a great value

Pendleton, whiskey from Canada, bottled in Oregon.

I'll have to look out for them at Total Wine. Which one would you suggest for making Manhattans?

At New Hampshire liquors Stores that Alberta Premium rye is $20.00 750ml !

JP Wiser. I will try a couple you recommend.

THE BEST adult beverage channel on RU-vid.

As a canadian, these things used to put me to bed and almost ruined me after work.. been staying away from 'em. But with that time and hellhole job behind me, i really really appreciate this video

Excellent as usual. Please do a deep dive into Japanese whisky.

Hi Kurt, I just subscribed. I'm assuming you are in the US. I work at Forty Creek and could get you a bottle of Confederation Oak, but don't think I can ship it over the border lol. This year's limited release is called Master's Cut.

i never was a big fan of canadian whiskies but Lot 40 Rye is just delicious

Oh my… I’m trying to buy a birthday gift for my boss who drinks crown royal. I’m going to research more on the last two bottles you showcased!! I don’t drink but man you made me thirsty 😂

I am a Canadian whiskey drinker and my drink is rye & coke. I prefer Gibsons 12 yr, Wisers 15 and Canadian Club 18 = nothing too special but great for mixing!

Thanks for the leads.

I want to share a couple of Canadian Whiskey that you must try. Found North Cask Strength 18yr Bourbon aged in Hungarian Oak (Mashbill 80% corn, 19% rye and 1% barley) 62.4% abv and Found North Cask Strength 17yr Rye aged in American oak (mashbill 64% rye, 32% corn and 4% barley) 55.1% abv. These two bottles are OUTSTANDING!!

I got a bottle of Alberta Premium cask for a gift. Beautiful tasting whiskey. Could you please explain what cask is for a Muppet who drank JD #7 most of my days.

Lot 40 cask strength is another great one.

As a Canadian you got some good ones there. Sorry to say we don't send our best stuff outside of Canada.