Canadian Club 100% Rye

Two points upfront: 1. I never expected to rate a Canadian Club product better than "I had this at a wedding reception because it was the only option, and I didn't die so we're calling it a win," and 2. The four stars reflect the versatility of this whisky; it's more of a 3.5 for flavor, but read on to understand why I'm rounding up. After seeing the high rating here, and as their "Affordable Canadian" list appeared just when I was considering some boozy exploration of Canada, I decided it was worth trying. For $20, you'd be hard-pressed to find a better rye whisky for relaxed, casual sipping with friends or, even better, for making cocktails. The nose is sweet, with clove and freshly chopped dill; meanwhile, the palate manages to be smooth, dill pickle-like, slightly spicy, and a bit sweet all at once without becoming an overly complex mess. That's not a bad balancing act. It's a little too smooth and easy for my personal rye preferences for neat drinking, but I can already envision how excellent this will be in my favorite summer cocktails—Manhattans, Old Fashioneds, and Sazeracs especially. I'd even venture a guess that a (sacrilege alert) mint julep would be quite decent with this as the base spirit.

Brand perception is an interesting phenomenon. A little-known company can suddenly achieve recognition with high-quality spirits, while established names might lead to letdowns and dashed hopes. I was eager to have pride in this rye sample from Canada. Initially, the aroma suggests cherry syrup, grain, demerara sugar, and damp paper, later shifting to toasted sugar and wood scraps. The flavor profile is modest and light, with subdued sweetness akin to simple syrup alongside mild pepper. It has a light tartness and notes of plain vanilla biscuits. The finish is moderately and vaguely bitter, fading like a fleeting conversation, leaving a faint tingle on the tongue with little distinct taste. It's like fading static on a screen, making me miss the initial promise of the aroma. This rye might be best for those who prefer to take shots or dislike the taste of whisky. While not unpleasant, I'd choose other local options at a similar (low) price. 5.25/10

I had not encountered a 100% rye before, so I felt compelled to purchase this. While this is Canadian Club, a blend, and likely not very aged, $18 for a 750ml bottle seemed reasonable, and could aid me in exploring rye flavors further. Appearance: Canadian Club 100% rye has a pleasing amber hue, with golden yellow at the edges, visible in the light. Nose: I detect a significant amount of ethanol, a slight wheat note, mild spice, and a bit of oak. Not very prominent, but this is also a 40% alcohol beverage. Disappointing, to say the least. Palate: The flavor is considerably better. Pronounced rye bread, some subtle oaky notes, almost maple-like. The rye bread is truly the dominant characteristic. Not much cinnamon or pepper until the rye is allowed to linger on the tongue. Finish: The finish is pleasantly sweet, with the rye bread again being the primary note, not really a vanilla or brown sugar like you'd find in a bourbon. Some mild bitterness in the finish, but it is quite short in duration. Overall: For $18, this is quite good. I believe increasing the alcohol content would be beneficial, but I am uncertain if that is a feasible expectation for a CC product. If you have ever been curious about the flavors and aromas rye imparts in a bourbon or mixed-grain spirit, consider Canadian Club 100% rye.

Nose: Subtle peppermint and aged oak, vanilla, candied green apples, a little honey and a hint of butterscotch, candied orange, sweet cinnamon and paprika, sour rye bread, hint of fennel and anise, sweet caramel and molasses, fresh baked chocolate chip cookies (not very buttery ones), sweet peaches, old sweet raisins, hint of bitter asphalt char, wood sugar/sweetness, fresh yet refined rye greenness, sweet berries (raspberry, strawberry), maraschino cherry, a hint of fresh paint, fresh apricots, a little cream/butter. Palate: Lemon citrus, spicy white pepper, apricots, dried fruit (dates, nectarines), fresh rye grain, rye sweetness, hint of toffee, hint of mellow oak, candied fruits (orange, pineapple, bit of mango), light touch of mint, barrel tannins, sour rye bread, vibrant notes of pear and apricot nectar. Finish: Light medium sweet fresh raisins, slightly bitter green paprika spice, rye bread, touch of caramel, hint of tangy wood spice and sweetness, hint of dill, reminder or subtle pepper, well balanced and hearty oak.

This review comes from across the border in Windsor from my brother-in-law's liquor cabinet. This blended Canadian whisky is 100% rye, comes in at the minimum 40% ABV, appears to be a heavily colored dark amber and is most likely chill filtered. The nose is quite interesting. It smells heavily of breaded and baked whitefish. To clarify, it doesn't smell fishy, you can have fish that isn't fishy. Nice rye bread aromas as well. It's not very complex but it is very warm and inviting. Unlike the standard Canadian Club, the palate is very smooth and easy to drink. A bit of rye spice but nothing even close to too much. Again, not overly complex. Given my lack of rye experience I can't really pick out much more in the palate. It does have a sweetness to it. It does have a bit of spice on the finish which is medium short. Not bad for a cheap every day sipping rye or for mixing.

Canadian Club presents as a very solid rye. It has a dark amber color, possibly caramel #40. The aroma is rich with rye spice and vanilla/oak notes. The taste mirrors the aroma, and it's quite smooth. It lacks any dominant characteristics, making it versatile for all standard rye-based cocktails. My son-in-law, who enjoys rye Manhattans, is consistently pleased with this Canadian Club 100% rye, even when I've purchased other more expensive options. It can be found locally for $14-$20 and would serve excellently as a house rye in a high-end bar. While it might not be your preferred rye style, it's unlikely to offend anyone. I generally favor ryes in the 60-95% range, but this is genuinely good, very accessible, and a regular in my home.