Rare Perfection 15 Year Cask Strength Canadian Whisky

This holiday season, I'll be sampling a new whiskey daily throughout December. A personal challenge. December 9: Having reviewed the 14-year expression, my expectations for this 15-year were understandably high. To be clear, this is not a situation where I was deceived once and would be foolish to be deceived again. I purchased both the 14-year and this bottle concurrently. Therefore, after enduring that regrettable swill at a cost of $140, it's difficult to articulate my feelings about opening this $175 bottle. Imagine a person who soiled themselves while hiking, and upon reaching their motorcycle, realizes they must smear their soiled pants all over the leather seat to get home. I'm currently on my ride back, thinking, 'Fantastic. Now I have even more filth to deal with.' The aroma offers some hope. That peculiar pencil eraser scent is present, but far less intense than in the 14-year. I also detect honey and citrus. The nose is not unpleasant. The body: Damn it, Rare Perfection. You teased me with that nose for a few extra moments. I'm hit hard with that unpleasant flavor. Pencil shavings. Sawdust. Perhaps some soil. The worst flavors imaginable in whisky. The finish has cinnamon. A trace of that sawdust remains. It's not awful. Alright. I'm naturally skeptical, and that extends to whisky. I would genuinely appreciate assistance in understanding how to enjoy this. I'm down $315 on this unfortunate product line. My strong desire is to appreciate it. However, until that explanation is provided, this product line is a contender for the 'worst whisky I've ever tasted' award. Is this better than its 14-year sibling? Yes. If consumed quickly, one might find some pleasure in the aroma and finish, only having to endure the body briefly. Is it palatable? My kitchen sink could offer an opinion. This product line should cease to exist. I'm uncertain if I have 22 more new whiskeys lined up, so if you're reading this and there's something readily available that you'd like me to savor or endure this holiday period, please suggest it in the comments.

As noted in my review of another spirit, I sampled this side-by-side. I wanted to discern the impact of an additional year and determine which was superior. I am fond of this distillery's rye and their other offerings. The previous one fell short. Let's see if this one performs better. Accolades: Two critics included this among their top spirits for 2019. A 2020 award for Best Canadian Whiskey. Again, my thanks to a friend for the samples, which allowed me to try before purchasing. Allowing 15 minutes to breathe. Nose (3): Ahhh. Apparently, one more year and a higher proof couldn't eliminate the off-putting scent of burnt plastic. There was also a damp wood aroma. The aromas were much bolder than the previous one. A slight ethanol tingle was present, but not overpowering. I detected many more pleasant scents this time. Butterscotch. Vanilla. Sweet Oak. Some peppermint-like spices. Palate (3.75): Wow. Spice. Sweet brown sugar in creamy vanilla. The brown sugar transforms into caramel cooked to the point of having a sweet smoke note. Surprisingly, no fruit notes emerged. It's like a spicy cupcake. Finish (4.5): The finish is long, deep, rich, and velvety. Full-fat vanilla cream. Crushed roasted almonds and peanuts mixed together. Could even be hazelnuts. A couple of drops of lemon juice with a lot of melted butterscotch dominating. Overall: This offering nearly rectified the issues. At its current price, it's not compelling enough to purchase or to explore their other rye. It is good. Better than the previous one, but that plastic note is a dealbreaker. If it weren't for that, I'd consider buying it at a lower price point. Since I can't, perhaps at a much lower price.

Nose - Vanilla, some rich crème brûlée, hints of metallic off-notes like young whiskey. Some heather and a savory character are also present. A strong alcohol presence on the nose. Taste - Sweet caramel, some kind of canned fruit, spices, and a significant amount of alcohol. Adding water only seems to amplify the alcohol and heat. Overall, it begins with a very creamy, viscous sweetness that is met by assertive spices and then overwhelmed by a metallic and youthful alcohol burn. An extremely disappointing experience given the price and age statement. I'm rating it a 1.5 because the initial sweetness is quite appealing.

Nose - A powerful wave of caramel and vanilla, very sweet and syrupy. Extremely sweet with a hint of floral notes. It's like a spiced dulce de leche cheesecake, very, very dessert-like and sweet. Strawberry cheesecake. Taste - A highly unusual flavor profile, a bit too bitter for my preference and somewhat medicinal, but it has immediate notes of basil, floral, sugar, honey, oak, and leather. There are also subtle hints of cinnamon. Just fascinating. Finish - The finish is quite underwhelming, extremely bitter, almost as if it aged poorly. Bitter with cinnamon.

I sampled about 10ml at Liquors Hasegawa in Tokyo, Japan. The color is not as dark as I would anticipate for a 15-year-old spirit, but I suppose being a Canadian whiskey, it likely wasn't aged in first-fill casks. The aroma consists of candied sugar, brown sugar, and alcohol. The taste is predominantly rubber and caramel. The finish is very sweet, then abruptly bone dry, with a hint of the rubber from the taste. I don't believe this is worth the price of the bottle at all.

The scent offers cake, perfume, and a harsh cleaning agent. It's an unexpected aroma, almost like an uncomfortable pairing. The flavor remains quite sweet, though somewhat deeper than the aroma, with a persistent sharp oil that coats the mouth, adding some intrigue. Strawberries. Vanilla. Even some apricots appear. It's certainly unique, but likely not among the best.