BLINK and this one will be gone too - Forty Creek Portwood Release 2nd edition, she said...



Sailing my summer away :)

SHE SAID:  My "real" job is quite hectic and can be very stressful at times.  I'm lucky enough that I had the option to take the summer off, so I did. The point was to relax and simply do the things that made me happy - mission accomplished. I gardened, hiked and I sailed.  After a hedonistic, hot and sunny summer to myself, here is my first blog and I couldn't be more excited. 

It is with great pleasure that I get to write this review with two great distinguished "HE" Canadian bloggers:  Davin de Kergommeaux and Chip Dykstra.  Thank you gentlemen :)

Although I was also on hiatus from writing blogs, I did keep up with what was going on within the whisky fabric. I was quite tickled pink to see not one, not three but FIVE great international reviews about Canadian whisky during the month of August.


  "So what?!", some of you might snicker, "Canadian whisky? Boring, yawn!"  To which I would reply, "You are clearly misinformed because whether you choose to believe it, Canadian whisky is on the verge of a renaissance not seen since the American Civil war days of Canadian whisky glory".  I've known this for about 2 years now, and have repeatedly said so since then. I regularly trade whisky samples with people from all over the world and of the 68 whiskies in my collection I am willing to trade, my most requested are Canadians!  For close to 70 years nothing has really happened in the Canadian whisky industry.  "Bartender pour me a rye and coke":  Around here, you got Crown Royal or Canadian Club. It wasn't broke so it didn't need fixing, right?  WRONG!

And in my humble opinion here is why:  The arrival of John K. Hall.  If you have been living under a rock or simply don't know who he is, let him introduce himself and his distillery (they very recently changed the name to Forty Creek)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Fjn5ddfRyg

In walks Mr. Hall with 40 years experience in the alcohol making business.  The first 20 spent as a reputable and widely recognized leader in the Niagara wine industry.  In 1992 however, he decided he needed a challenge and set out to discover and create a new Canadian whisky. And create a new whisky HE DID!  By 2007 Forty Creek was the fastest growing whisky in North America. He and his whiskies have continuously won prestigious awards year after year since then. 

My personal collection of Forty Creeks :)

My helmsman (the sailboat driver I compete with :) will often say:  "You cannot win a race by following everyone else".  I have a feeling John would subscribe to that belief as well because he calls himself a first generation whisky maker who respects and is inspired by tradition but doesn't feel bound by it.  There are currently other people who have that same mindset and they are also turning the whisky world on its head (John Glaser as an example).  John Hall has given the other Canadian whisky makers a BIG wake up call and they in turn are certainly paying attention.  As a result everyone seems to be stepping up their game which is why I and others believe the next 5-10 years are going to be very exciting ones for Canadian whisky.  JUMP ON THE BANDWAGON NOW!  :)

In 2009, Forty Creek released lot 060, Port Wood Reserve. 3000 bottles, in Ontario only.  It went fast and furious, SOLD OUT in a matter of weeks and left those of us who didn't get any, blinking with mouths gaping open and tears forming.  Ok, so I was that disappointed let's leave it at that.  The reviews of course, were great!  The newest release from Forty Creek was hitting several spots with whisky bloggers and reviewers and I was left feeling quite itchy and empty handed.  Forty Creek lovers started to ask John when more would be released.  Three years later, he delivered.  Here it is. 

Lot 061, Port Wood Reserve, 2nd edition, 6600 bottles (well more like 6598: John keeps the first two bottles for himself, cheeky bugger!) and being released across Canada in limited quantities - September of 2012.  Cost $69.95

Now here is what is fascinating to me:  When John first started out as a winemaker in the 70's the market was heavily dominated by ports and sherries so he became somewhat of an expert with plenty of practice making vintage ports.  He, also being an ideas person, had enough forward vision 15 or so years ago to begin contemplating using his ports (not sherries like alot of other whisky makers) as a type of finish for his whiskies. Done before by others yes, by a Canadian whisky maker - NO!  (Hmmm, what I was thinking of doing almost 15 years ago, ball room dancing maybe???)

Welcome to the 2012 Port Wood Release alchemy:  The Port was made from the best Niagara grown grapes, it was then placed in white oak heavy charred barrels in 1999. The Port quietly matured for 10 years and in 2009 was removed and bottled as a ten year old Tawny (which I hear is absolulety delicious).  Then, the whisky was poured in the empty port barrels and allowed to age for an additional two years.  Bottled in 2012, ready for release in September, lot 061 at 45% AVB. 

6600 individually numbered bottles.  (If you were lucky enough to pre-order one you can get it signed at Whisky Weekend September 15-16, if you go to the distillery) otherwise the rest of the bottles will appear at liquor stores across Canada.

This is a highly anticipated release and although I never did get to try the first Port Wood, I guarantee if you want a bottle of the second release, hurry and do not procrastinate otherwise you and many others will find yourselves empty handed. 

Chip's review:  http://therumhowlerblog.wordpress.com/2012/09/13/review-forty-creek-portwood-reserve-2012-whisky/

Davin's review: http://www.canadianwhisky.org/reviews/forty-creek-port-wood-reserve-2012-45-alcvol.html

My review:

FORTY CREEK PORT WOOD RESERVE, 2ND RELEASE 2012, LOT 061, 45% AVB

COLOR:  Deep copper with hues of ruby.  The legs are plentiful and this whisky is quite viscous. It left a bead of pearls at the top of my nosing glass after I coated it. ( Ishould have taken a picture, it was PERFECT).

NOSE:  I was quite excited to put my nose to this glass and it took every ounce of patience to let it sit for a few minutes.  I am glad I did.  I was rewarded with the most rich and luscious fragrance of a Port (no surprise).  With a bit more time elapsing, it opened to a spicy version of chocolate covered raisins followed by ripe red mouth watering cherries.  Once I added a bit of water, it opened even further with something reminiscent of cooked fruit (not quite stewed prunes, maybe more like a spiced marmalade, yum).

PALATE:  The distinct flavor of the Forty Creek portfolio is the first thing I recognized.  This one however, is more sweet and very complex in nature. It ranged from butterscotch rich to the mouth watering effects of a peppery cinnamon candy and then bits of grapefruit pith appeared.  It is truly a whirlwind of flavors.  Once I added a bit of water, it diminished the cinnamon burn and took away some of the bitterness.  It mellowed out the whisky so well, and a later sip pulled out chocolate again, but more like a dark, deep cocoa. 

FINISH:  Sleek and smooth, but at the same time there is still a spiciness to this whisky that is there for the whole ride.  It does have a bit of a kick, lingered moderately and truly left me feeling; satisfied.

EMPTY GLASS:  The next morning, I removed the cover of my nosing glass to find a few fruit flies (happy demise) and the very distinct smell of brandy.  Still very sweet on the nose.

This whisky is a very complex and probably the most interesting release from Forty Creek yet.  If you like sitting after supper with a nice port, you will DEFINTELY love this whisky.  If you are not big on ports or rich fruity whiskies then you may not enjoy this one as much as the other Forty Creek releases. 

I think it's time to coin the phrase PORT BOMB. A whisky bomb (usually we would say peat or sherry), in blogger circles, is a really great dram.  This is HUGE port! 

I do hope Forty Creek will consider adding this to their regular range as it is truly something new and innovative in Canadian whiskies.  I am so happy John Hall did not decide to make GIN instead of whisky in 1992. 

Amen to first generation whisky makers.  Thanks John!

Walking along the Forty creek trail near Grimsby Canada, come join me because the fall colors and Port Woods are gorgeous!

I remain,

Whisky Lassie