Canadian whisky is whisky that by law must be mashed, distilled and aged at least three years in Canada in a wooden barrel of not greater than 700 L capacity.[1][2]
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Overview
Most Canadian whiskies are blended multi-grain liquors containing a large percentage of rye, typically lighter and smoother than other whisky styles. While the use of rye is not dictated by law they are often generically referred to and may legally be labeled as "rye whisky" in Canada.
Alternatively, the U.S. definition of "rye whisky" prevents low rye content whiskies from being labeled "rye." Since the U.S. definition does not have an aging requirement, younger U.S. versions, even those qualifying as "straight rye" in the U.S., may not legally be labeled "rye whisky" in Canada unless they meet Canadian aging standards.
Canadian whisky featured prominently in rum-running into the U.S. during Prohibition. Hiram Walker's distillery in Windsor, Ontario, directly across the Detroit River from Detroit, Michigan, easily served bootleggers using small, fast smuggling boats.[citation needed]
Other whiskies made in Canada, such as "single malt" and "Quebec Maple", do not fall under the traditional umbrella of "Canadian whisky".
Popular Brands
Popular Canadian whiskies include:
- Wiser's whisky
- Crown Royal
- Canadian Club
- Seagrams VO
Other Canadian produced whiskies
While not Canadian whiskies in the usual sense, a few small batch distillers in Canada produce their own distinctive liquors. Among them:
Glen Breton Rare single malt
Since 1991, Glenora Distillers, an independent distillery in Glenville, Nova Scotia, on Cape Breton Island, has been producing unblended malt whisky in the Scottish style. Their product, Glen Breton Rare, was as of 2008[update] the only single malt whisky produced in Canada, and the oldest of the few produced in the Americas.[3]
Quebec maple
In Quebec, Maison des Futailles produces two so-called maple whiskies. The first one, Fine Sève, is made from the distillation of maple wine (which is then aged in oak barrels, giving it a distinctive taste). The second, Sortilège, is a mix of Canadian rye whisky and maple syrup[4]. While these two products are not whiskies per se, they have often been described as such.
Examples
- Forty Creek
- Canadian Club (The only North American distiller to have been granted a Royal Warrant (now withdrawn)[citation needed])
- Glen Breton Rare (single malt)
- Alberta Premium (100% Rye)
- Crown Royal
- Black Velvet
- Wiser's whisky
See also
References
- ^ "Canadian Food and Drug Regulations (C.R.C., c. 870) - Canadian Whisky, Canadian Rye Whisky or Rye Whisky (B.02.020.)"
- ^ "Canadian Food and Drug Regulations (C.R.C., c. 870) - Definitions (B.02.002.)"
- ^ "Canadian single malt wins battle of Glen Breton". Reuters. http://www.reuters.com/article/consumerproducts-SP-A/idUSN2631535720070205. Retrieved on 2008-08-10.
- ^ http://www.futailles.com/engl/2_4/index.html
External links
- Forty Creek Whisky
- Glenora Distillery
- Nova Scotia Whisky Society
- Best of Whisky - Whisky Industry News
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