This was on my list. Not a 'bucket list' item, because if this were one of my life's aspirational experiences, I might as well give up. Anyway, it was inexpensive, and foolishly, my friends let me pick this round, so we each had one. A friend commented he thought I was joking when he heard me order the "whiskey for those that don't like whiskey" (was that their former slogan?) or brown vodka, as it's known. Don't worry, I told him it's 20 years old, not the cheap, bad stuff... oh wait, what if it was the cheap, bad stuff left to sit for 20 years, slowly draining the life from a poor maple tree barrel... perhaps I didn't think this through very well. Well, let's say apparently not in this instance. It was like a sweetly insipid, low-alcohol bourbon had an illicit affair with a questionable blended whiskey, and this is what emerged 20 years later. So, no, not a 4-star experience.
Canadian Club 20 Year
Whiskey Canadian Whisky Ontario 20 Year 40% ABV
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About this bottle
Hiram Walker established a distillery in Windsor, Ontario, across the Detroit River, after relocating from Detroit in the late 1800s due to prohibitionist pressures. For over 150 years, this facility has continuously produced blended Canadian whiskies, initially termed "club" whiskies for their smooth character. During the Prohibition era in the United States, Canadian Club was distributed by Al Capone. Now under the ownership of Beam Suntory, this offering is aged for a minimum of twenty years and bottled at 40% ABV.
How it tastes
Measured across 14 flavor axes. Tap a note to find other bottles that lead with it.
Reviews
Showing the most detailed of 5 parsed reviews.
The aroma is typical for the distillery, sweet and honeyed, with hints of clove and caramel. The alcohol notes are well-controlled or rather, well-integrated. Nice fresh, vanilla-infused oak, nothing bold. The palate is where things get complex; it retains that sweetness, but the spiciness makes it a bit rough. After this passage of spice and alcohol, everything calms down, and you can finally enjoy it. Honey, pear, caramel, and vanilla, with pleasant oak that has a slightly toasted quality, creating a slight astringency. The texture lacks body and the smoothness could be better for a 20-year-old. I can't be this disappointed considering the price I paid, but I expected more, especially since the 12-year-old is one of my regular purchases.
Most ryes offer a peppery bite that dominates the palate and finish, but whether due to age or another factor, this is an exceptionally smooth, almost sweet rye. Considering the cost, it's a very worthwhile 20-year-old to keep at your bar.
Brown sugar on the nose. Sweet on the palate, again reminiscent of brown sugar, like a large chunk of it. There are also some woody notes and perhaps a touch of pepper. The finish seems to go on indefinitely.
So uninteresting that it makes one question what the spirit was doing for 20 years in that barrel...
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