Pendleton Midnight Canadian Whisky

Following my review of the standard Pendleton, here's my review for Pendleton Midnight Canadian Whisky. It's essentially the same spirit, but a portion was aged in brandy barrels. Let's see if it's any better. Nose: Like the original, there are still excessive sweet solvent notes, though not as much as you might expect given the increased 45% ABV. It's fruitier, with starfruit (a note I've never detected in a whiskey before) and musty bubblegum. The alcohol burn is still too strong. Palate: It has a light body, with a slightly more refined type of cloying, artificial sweetness. It presents as non-specific fruitiness, vanilla, and spice. Finish: It's short, but again, that familiar, unpleasant aftertaste lingers for too long. It tastes like bitter, vanilla-grape cough syrup with a hint of green pepper. Verdict: This is another one I'll pass on. While slightly more bearable than the standard version, this is still not good, and the lingering aftertaste is truly off-putting to me. 1.75 liters ~ Poor.

Nose - alcohol and a peculiar earthiness. Not much else. Palate - starts thick, with sweet cherry wood, a hint of artificial vanilla frosting. Mid-palate and finish begin to dry out and feel like a rye. Spicy dry cinnamon disk. The beginning somewhat lingers and remains sticky at the end. The sweetness and stickiness, along with the spicy dryness, seem to conflict before settling together. I believe this is a decent rendition of a classic. The sweetness is present like the original, but the aged brandy-finished whisky introduces some interesting dynamics.

This Canadian whisky is bottled in Oregon. It has a 45% ABV and no listed age, though a portion is finished in brandy barrels and is at least 3 years old. The aroma has minor sweet notes and leather. The taste features plenty of brandy notes, which fade over time to reveal more oak. In my experience, it's very one-dimensional, but it's a decent offering from its brand, definitely worth trying again. It costs $28.99 plus tax for a 750 ml bottle. Grade: B-/B.

Terrible! I have never encountered a whiskey or whisky I couldn't handle until now. For my taste, I can't comprehend how the staff rated this an 81. It's more like a 61. I've often said, '...if you don't like it, mix it with a cola.' It's bad even with Coke. One ounce of this spirit with five ounces of Coke and a lot of ice was the only way I could get it down. I seriously considered pouring it out.

Mild, delicious, and spicy, without the intensity described here. It's reminiscent of a cinnamon bun with a peppery kick! With only a small amount remaining, the harsh alcohol may have dissipated? That will be my approach if I purchase this again -- leave it open for a day or two!! Then, it's perfect!

A personal favorite on ice. The flavors are not outstanding, with 'metallic' being the most accurate descriptor. However, it tastes quite potent, spicy, and quintessentially Canadian. There's a clear flavor I suspect comes from the advertised brandy cask. For under $30, I would definitely suggest it.