Whisky Review: Canadian Club 100% Rye Whisky

. While Canadian Club Rye uses some new cooperage, based on the nose, I would guess that the ratio of whisky aged in new cooperage to whisky aged in used cooperage leans heavily towards the used cooperage end of the spectrum. In this case, toasted cereal notes, attributable to the grain, dominate the nose. Vanilla and light spearmint notes appear underneath. Palate: The front of the palate leads off with light baking spice notes and cream. As the flavor develops, the toasted grain notes from the nose emerge with a slight bitter edge. In the mid-palate, a light floral note from the rye grain balances with the spice notes, and a sweet undertone of caramel and vanilla rounds out the flavor profile. For the finish, a toasted grain note mixes with less pronounced notes of cinnamon and clove. At 80 proof, it isn’t surprising that the finish is light and short. Final Thoughts and Score: Overall, Canadian Club 100% Rye Whisky is acceptable, but not memorable. The flavor profile, due to some of the rye whisky being aged in used cooperage and the low bottling proof, is very light. Compared to other popular ryes, such as Sazerac rye and Rittenhouse bottled-in-bond rye, Canadian Club 100% rye lacks the strong rye and barrel notes. In a mixed drink, the Canadian Club rye would be quickly overwhelmed by mixer flavors. Editor’s Note: A sample of this whiskey was provided to us by those behind it. The Whiskey Wash, while appreciative of this, keeps full independent editorial control over this article.