Coming to America via Canada and Iowa
Every so often we try to visit the vast land across the big pond to see what they are doing over there when it comes to whisk(e)y. After starting up with an American whiskey, we will move on to Canada. First stop is Iowa, where we encounter an expression from the 2005-build Cedar Ridge Distillery. Coining the phrase “authentic by nature”, we have high expectations. They do seem to form a multifaced operation, with not only whiskey but also an assortment of wine, rum, vodka and brandy. Browsing through their website, I am tempted to take a plane straight away and visit this place. It oozes tranquillity and an emphasis on the good things of life. Tasting note below!
Before that, let us move to Canada. The bottle on the table today is an O.F.C. 8 years old and also carries the name of Gibson. That is actually a well-known name in the world of Canadian whisky, but Gibson’s Finest is since 2008 produced in the Hiram Walker Distillery in Windsor, Ontario, owned actually by the company behind Glenfiddich and The Balvenie. The whisky we taste today was made at the Valleyfield Distillery, which is nowadays owned by Diageo. Big names at play here. Valleyfield is among other brands the place where Crown Royal is made, or at least an important part of it (the 100 % corn mash) as most Canadian whisky is a blend of several styles. By law, it is allowed to do flavouring on Canadian whisky. I do not know if flavouring was used on the whisky we taste.
Cedar Ridge No. 9, bottled at 45 % abv
First things first: A partnered product of the Cedar Ridge Distillery with the metal band Slipknot. Both hail from the state of Iowa, so a partnering seemed logical. We have seen more groups do these kinds of collabs. Here is the mashbill: 51 % corn (all from Iowa), 35 % malted rye and 14 % 2-row malted barley. This small batch bottling contains young whisky, matured for 3 to 4 years.
Upon Sipping: Beautifully fresh upon first nosing, with the ingredients on the foreground but mingled with light vanilla notes, flowery notes and some honey. The corn makes for a sweet smell and suddenly I long for a good lunch. With your eyes closed you can see the fertile and seemingly limitless fields of Iowa. The arrival on the palate is in line with the nosing, being quite light and gentle, and as consistent as a metal drum riff. It has a buttery character, riddled with ingredients from the country fair that attracts hordes of people. Fried potato on a stick, corn water after boiling, sweet and sticky candy, and a delightful wood spiced finish.
Word to the Wise: As an inexperienced American whiskey drinker, I find this Cedar Ridge an extremely accessible and welcoming pour. My interest in more Cedar Ridge products is peaked, so I will try to source some more of that! (These notes are made to a soundtrack of Slipknot tracks, not bad at all to combine!)
Score: 82 points.
O.F.C. Canadian Whisky / Whisky Canadian, bottled at 43,4 % abv
First things first: This sample comes from a share by my good friend Sjoerd, who is much more adventurous exploring what America and Canada has to offer. This expression from the Gibson Canadian Distillery LTD was bottled in 1981, so we taste early 1970s Canadian Whisky here. Matured under “ideal climate controlled conditions” in white oak casks, bottle coded L 910065.
Upon Sipping: About Canadian Whisky I know even less, so these will be just notes purely based on what I find in the glass. We tasted this interesting one, once bottled by Cadenhead’s. This O.F.C. has quite a floral arrival with whiffs of glue, not entirely unlike a bourbon whiskey from Kentucky (or Iowa, for that matter). Beautiful syrupy tears in the glass when swirled around. On the palate, very silky and full of grainy notes mingled with an corny sweetness. Nosing and tasting again and again, I do feel we are also close to typical Dutch genever with this expression. Mostly a hint of juniper that pushes me there. The corn content is strong too, with syrup, honeysuckle, waxes and a delightful fruity finish. Lots of sugary notes. All is mellow, as it should be with Canadian whisky, and the years in the bottle has made it very balanced and expressive.
Word to the Wise: I am actually quite charmed by this modest whisky. I bet it did not stand out back in the day, but was a fine every day pour after a long workday. But some bottle ageing has lifted it up to something more eloquent. Elegant. This is summer in a glass, watching reruns of Twin Peaks and wishing about living in simpler times, like the late 1980s, early 1990s.
Score: 84 points.