Fraser & Thompson North American Whiskey Review & Tasting Notes

It seems as if every week, another celebrity announces they’re releasing a whiskey. In my experience, most of them are not worth the investment. Mind you, a handful of stupendously delicious ones are worthy of purchasing. But that’s the exception to the rule.

 

Today, we put the spotlight on Michael Bublé. If you’ve been living off the grid, he’s a Grammy-winning musical artist with a considerable following. Mrs. Whiskeyfellow is a huge fan. He’s Italian and Canadian; he holds dual citizenship. If you peruse his biography, he seems like a genuine class act.  

 

His whiskey is called Fraser & Thompson. Bublé partnered with co-founder and Master Distiller and Blender Paul Cirka. Cirka is also the founder of Cirka Distillery, a microdistillery in Montreal, Canada.

 

“I spent many summers with my grandfather at the confluence of the Fraser and Thompson rivers in British Columbia. When I heard Paul’s vision for creating a new kind of whiskey, I knew instantly what I wanted to call it. For the last three years, we worked together to perfect a whiskey blend that is equally elegant and approachable. We can't wait to pour you a glass!” -  Michael Bublé, founder

 

Fraser & Thompson is a North American Whiskey made from a blend of 92% Canadian whiskies and 8% Kentucky Bourbon. It is bottled by Heaven Hill under the moniker Two Rivers Distilling. I’ll go out on a limb and suggest that while there is no disclosure of either distillate, it seems reasonable that Cirka Distillery provided the Canadian portion and Heaven Hill the American. No mashbills were disclosed.

 

Here's where things get interesting. Many celebrity whiskeys command super-premium prices. A 750ml package, weighing 42% ABV (84°), is priced only at $29.99. The proof is low but not at the bare minimum of 80°, and most people can afford it. As such, good or bad, we’re starting off with my respect.

 

How does this whiskey taste? The only way to know is to #DrinkCurious. But first, I must thank Fraser & Thompson for sending me a sample in exchange for my no-strings-attached, honest review. Let’s do it!

 

Appearance: I poured this into my Glencairn glass and sipped it neat. Inside, the liquid was a bright, golden color. A medium-thin rim formed a wide, fast curtain of tears, leaving sticky droplets behind.

 

Nose: As I kept the rim of my glass against my lower lip, I smelled caramel, oak, vanilla, orange citrus, and figs. When I inhaled through my lips, the oranges became more pronounced.

 

Palate: The first sip revealed a creamy mouthfeel. A heavy dose of butterscotch slammed into the front of my palate. Midway through, I tasted nutmeg, marshmallow, and orange rind. The back provided flavors of clove, oak, and leather.

 

Finish: Long and lingering, the finish consisted of leather, clove, thick caramel, and orange citrus.

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: Despite being only 84°, Fraser & Thompson possessed an exciting character. There was enough oomph to keep me captivated. At the same time, neither my hard palate nor my brain buzzed. I discovered that the more I sipped this whiskey, the deeper my mind became cheerfully lost in the drinking experience. It was well-balanced and flavorful, and I poured myself another glass. It was like a beautiful melody running across my tastebuds.

 

This is only a $30.00 whiskey? Really? Fraser & Thompson may be one of my more shocking experiences in 2023. I’m proud to have this in my whiskey library and am thrilled to crown it with 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 to do so responsibly.