Glen Breton Rare 10 Year

Glen Breton Rare 10 Year Old is bottled at 43% ABV and costs about $60. This single malt Canadian whisky brings up two general observations: Canada exports terrible alcoholic beverages, and The Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) is a stuffy, insecure, and out-of-touch association. The victory this small Canadian distillery achieved over the giant SWA was for the right of a Canadian distillery to use “Glen” in its name, as if “Glen” is exclusively for Scots. This absurd conflict began in 2001 and continued until 2009, when this Canadian distillery, humorously from a province called Nova Scotia, meaning “New Scotland,” was officially permitted to adopt the Scottish moniker of Glen. This true story, which sounds like a tall tale, is the most appealing aspect of this whisky as I serve it to guests. Most of my whisky disappears into guests nowadays, and most of my guests do not deserve my good whisky. I wonder if the SWA would have objected if this whisky was named Glen Garbage because, like all Canadian products that reach liquor stores in the United States, it is garbage. If the SWA is so insecure that they felt threatened by Canadian garbage, the cool thing to do would have been to force a name change for a Scottish distillery that produces bad whisky, like Tamnavulin, to Glen Eh. This is a whisky to be enjoyed with ice. If a novice was prepared for their first neat single malt, I would likely suggest something like Glenmorangie 10. Glen Breton 10 should not be consumed neat, and it does not belong at 43%. It should have been 40%, or perhaps 5% and carbonated. There is a beer-like quality to this whisky. It is meady, bready, and solvent-like. Sourdough and acetone. There are underdeveloped fruity notes that fade into a stale Cheerios finish. I grew up in Canada, and I am old enough and Canadian enough to know that Canadians are known for being nice, and nice people are all secretly passive-aggressive assholes. It’s a real asshole move, Canada, to export Crown Royal and garbage like Glen Breton. Thanks for nothing, eh.

Glen Breten 10 Year offers a pleasant departure from typical Canadian spirits. This dram possesses characteristics more akin to a scotch, presenting familiar flavor profiles. It is quite light, featuring delicate notes of honey, vanilla, oak, and a very faint hint of fruit throughout. Upon tasting, it initially presents a woody sensation, with sweetness towards the palate's front and a dry, quick finish at the rear. Moments after finishing, a pleasant warmth spreads through your chest, lingering briefly before you sip again. The primary drawback of Glen Breten 10 Year is its scarcity. For a spirit that is both reasonably priced and enjoyable, its limited availability outside of Canada is unfortunate. (Comparison: Highland Park Magnus) (From a share on 3/8/2018)

Great stuff, and if this is what single malt has the potential to taste like in Canada: sign me up for some more! The malted barley and floral notes that hit your nose feel like you're having something from Scotland, though even in a blind taste I knew it wasn't - I just couldn't figure out where the hell it was from! There's also a hint of citrus that in the mouth becomes nutty and oaky; it really all just comes together in a great way that feels balanced. The finish is smooth albeit short, but you really don't come out complaining here. And while throughout it feels light and lively so that you know it's young, it never feels immature or underaged. To Canada!

Nose: Strange and a bit unpleasant. Is it butter? Or maybe a vegetable taste? It's hard to say, but I'm not a fan. Palate: Puckering and that same mystery flavor is there. A little sweetness appears, but the palate is weak. Finish: Brief. The texture is thin and watery. I still can't figure out this flavor. Not certain I'll drink this again, though it was given to me. I'm interested in how the distiller manages their cuts, as it almost tastes like too many tails.

Crisp apple and honey sweetness, followed by palatable floral spice, and a dry finish. It's one of the few Canadian single malts I'm aware of. I believe it's fair to say it holds its own against single malt scotch at a similar price point. $74 in Ontario.

A decade in toasted barrels has imparted some notes of toasted almond and vanilla, but mostly, it hasn't masked the whiskey's natural grainy, grassy character. It's a very approachable, enjoyable drink, though it lacks depth.