I ran across this at 'my' liquor store and the bottle appeared to have been opened although there was no whiskey missing. I tracked down Nikko and had him take a look and he assumed that the outer wrapper had somehow come off.
Being the nice guy that I am, I said let's see if the cork is loose, and if it is, let's us just give it a smell. The cork readily came out and the aroma was quite nice. The topnotes were sherry (label says it was double matured in sherry casks), but there was some nice rye and a goodly snatch of vanilla. The color is the darkest I have every seen in a Canadian whiskey.
Nikko offered me the bottle for $20, so I brought same home, slipped a skosh in one of my IKEA $1 glasses, throwed up (my feet), and laid in a sip. It is 82.6 proof and follows the nose very closely. A nice touch of sherry, a bit of vanilla, and a bite of rye.
I like this whiskey a lot, it pleases me plenty. I happen to like a lot of Canadian Whiskies and although this one is not as full bodied and flavorful as Lot 40, it is of excellent sipping quality. I need to learn me some Canadian Cowboy songs to break out into when I get the urge from a Canadian Whiskey like this one. How do you say Yippee Tie Yie Yo in Canadian? Do they call cows doggies and do they punch 'em?
Gary Gillman, our resident Canadian, might be willing to share his opinion about this one. I must have been only 5 or 6 years old the last time I tried any Canadian Club whiskey (and I no doubt poured a drib into a glass of Coke), but I would gladly pour you a sip should you find yourself at my doorstep some dark and rainy night.
Imo lay in another small sip..........watch me now, watch me!!