Welcome to day 16. We got ourselves second of my little surprises. I figured you might be getting a little tired of regular whisky and so today we a nice little 21 year old corn whiskey. Do not be fooled by your preconcived notions about Canadian blends though this one has a story and we promise its a good one
Story
It has been about five years since Vancouver’s Fountana Group launched their Canadian Rockies line with a tasty 21-year-old corn whisky from Highwood Distillers in High River, Alberta. The whisky was intended for the Asian market, and bore a number of flavour markers that would appeal to a palate familiar with Asian fruits.
Word spread and soon Canadian whisky fans were asking for the whisky to be released in Canada as well. Thomas Chen, Fountana’s manager in charge of whisky tweaked the cask selection and boosted the abv to 46% for Canadian release. It was a huge success.
Enter Roberto Roberti, a long-experienced whisky distributor. Shortly after Roberti joined the Fountana Group, Chen put him in charge of the Canadian Rockies brand. Roberti had a vision for a Canadian whisky that would appeal to connoisseurs and also to visitors and gift givers.
The label still says 21 years old, but the blend includes some whisky that is significantly older and that really boosts the elegant woody notes. Roberti also commissioned a custom bottle, embossed with the rocky mountains, with one peak punching right up into the bottle from underneath.
And finally he added his trademark Canadian maple leaf to the label. Roberti remembered when he was the agent selling Canadian Club to duty free stores. Sales soared after he added a tiny red maple leaf to the labels.
Canadian Rockies 21 year old is big whisky with plenty of breadth and depth, yet it retains the refined elegance of long-aged Canadian whisky.
Tasting Notes
Nose: Buttery sweet corn with lively hot pepper and sweet rye spices.
Taste: Black tea,dark fruits, peppery heat, dark licorice
FInish: Clean wood, fading pepper, hints of citrus fruit , slightly sweet fruity notes, mild grapefruit pith.
Purchase Links
Can be purchased at Strathcona Liquor
or