Everything You Need to Know About Canadian Whiskey

February 14, 2017 5:00 am
Everything You Need to Know About Canadian Whiskey
(Keith Beaty/Toronto Star via Getty Images)
Everything You Need to Know About Canadian Whiskey
Bartender pouring some Canadian whiskey samples at Pure Spirits Oyster House and Grill in Toronto, Ontario (Keith Beaty/Toronto Star via Getty Images)

 

Although Canadian whiskey is often referred to as “rye whiskey,” there’s actually a big difference between the two.

For one, Canadian whiskey is produced in Canada (yes, Canada) and aged in wooden barrels for at least three years, per Liquor.com. (As you’ll remember, American ryes take a minimum of two years to perfect and require actual rye in the mash that makes them; Canada has no such law.)

The Canadian “rye” moniker is not entirely a misnomer, though; the mash that was used to produce it in the past consisted primarily of the rye grain. Also, early Americans in the northeast, who were the first to get their hands on the spirit (for obvious geographic reasons), called it “rye” to set it apart from the bourbons and other brown liquids of the day.

Taste-wise, Canadian whiskey can summon up vanilla, caramel, toffee, and honey notes. And according to Bloomberg, all in all, Canadian whiskey is “way better than you think.”

To put some of those delicious flavors on display, take a look at the recipe below for a Great White Northern twist on a classic cocktail:

 

Canadian Whiskey Sour

Ingredients
1 oz. Canadian whiskey
1 oz. pure maple syrup
1 oz. fresh lemon juice
Chipped or cubed ice

Preparation
Shake ingredients together and strain into a glass.

For more on Canadian whiskey, watch Liquor.com’s take below.

 

—RealClearLife

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