What
does Canada require for its whisky to be considered Canadian? Many people get
this one wrong – and I used to be one of them. I used to believe the rules were
fast and loose. I was schooled by none other than Davin
de Kergommeaux,
a respected whisky author who, in 2009, founded the Canadian Whisky Awards and is one of the most respected gurus regarding
Canadian whiskies.
Canadian whisky must begin with the mashing
and distillation of cereal grains (corn, rye, wheat, etc.). It must age at
least three years in small cooperage – less than 700 liters), all of which must
occur in Canada. It can have added flavors – up to 9.09% and can have added caramel
coloring (e150A). The added flavors must be from a spirit at least two years
old or wine. Contrary to popular belief, not a single grain of rye must be used
for a Canadian whisky to be called Rye.
Them are the rules.
Something else you need to know is my bias
when it comes to Canadian whisky. Simply put: I don’t like it. I want to like it. I’ve been on a mission to find
an enjoyable one for several years. The closest I have come to is the Gray and
Gold Labels of Barrell Seagrass.
Yet, those are so unusual (and expensive) I don’t even count them as a win.
So, here I am, once again, staring at a
bottle of Canadian whisky and wondering if this will be the one that changes my
mind. It is a unique bottle containing a 21-year-old blend called Good Day. Good Day comes to us from Proof and Wood Ventures out of
Bardstown, Kentucky. I’ve reviewed several whiskies from Proof and Wood. It was
founded by Dave Schmier, the
gentleman who started Redemption Rye.
Dave has a habit of finding stunning barrels, mainly from MGP (now Ross & Squibb).
If there was something in the United States called a Master Blender, you’d have to hand that title to him.
Good Day began with corn, rye, and barley
whiskies, each distilled in 2000 or later and sourced from the Lethbridge distillery
in Alberta. If you know your Canadian distilleries, that would be Black Velvet.
You may notice that I used the word “whiskies”
because that’s how things are done in Canada. One grain is distilled and aged
before being blended with others. Eight barrels were used, making the final
formula 97% corn, 2.7% rye, and 0.3% malted barley. Dave then took that
concoction, brought it to Bardstown, and finished it for an additional three
weeks in vintage American Rye barrels.
Good Day comes in a 700ml, 52% ABV (104°)
package with a suggested retail price is $99.99.
Before I begin this adventure, I must thank
Proof and Wood for providing me a sample of Good Day in exchange for a no-strings-attached,
honest review. Time to psych me up and #DrinkCurious.
Appearance: In my Glencairn glass, Good Day looked like
pale straw. That may seem strange for a 21-year whisky until you remember the
rules of Canadian whisky and the penchant for using vintage wood. A nearly invisible
rim was formed, yet the thick, wavy legs were easy to see.
Nose: The very first thing I smelled was green
apple. Not Jolly Rancher green apple, but the kind you cut up and put into a
pie. Corn and vanilla were present, along with floral rye. As I drew the air
into my mouth, I found honey and more green apple.
Palate: A
thick, syrupy texture filled every crevice in my mouth. Raw honey, vanilla, and
brown sugar were introduced on the front. Caramel-covered apples formed the
middle, while the back featured cinnamon, clove, and oak.
Finish: A freight train finish left cinnamon spice
and clove all over my tongue and throat. Except for those extensive spice
notes, there is nothing in terms of burn
to contend with.
Bottle, Bar, or Bust: I’m going to do something I’ve never done
before. I’m going to congratulate Proof and Wood. You have finally ended my
quest for an affordable, drinkable Canadian whisky. Yeah, in this case, $99.99
is “affordable” when you consider it is 21 years old. I’ve paid far more than
that when it comes to similarly-aged Scotch, and that becomes almost a Walmart
price when you bring Bourbon into the picture. Today was a good day to drink
Good Day, and it snags my Bottle rating.
Cheers!
My Simple, Easy to
Understand Rating System
- Bottle = Buy It
- Bar = Try It
- Bust = Leave It
Whiskeyfellow encourages
you to enjoy your whiskey as you see fit but begs you do so responsibly.
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