Sometimes you taste a whisky that completely resets your expectations. That was my experience with the latest releases from Yukon’s Two Brewers. I originally purchased their Release 49, a special rum cask finish, but the distillery generously included a sample of their landmark Release 50. The moment I tasted it, I immediately went online and bought two more bottles. That alone should tell you where this review is headed.
First, let’s talk about Release 49. This is a fantastic whisky in its own right, a blend of 10 to 14 year old single malt finished in rum casks. What makes Two Brewers so distinctive is its consistently fruit-forward distillate. I believe it comes from their choice of brewers yeast, and that character shines here. The rum cask enhances the spirit’s natural sweetness, creating a beautiful profile of mango custard with incredible viscosity and creaminess. It’s a really, really nice whisky, easily an 88 point bottle that will win a lot of people over.
As good as the 49 is, Release 50 operates on another level entirely. This is a 14 year old single malt, matured for over a decade in new oak before a finish in bourbon casks, and bottled at a bold 56 percent. The result is a profile that reminds me of a top-tier bourbon but elevated with that signature Two Brewers fruitiness. The palate is just phenomenal. Imagine notes of banana crème brûlée, peach cobbler, and a rich, syrupy flavour like a cooked-down Coca-Cola used in a dessert. It is an absolute fruit bomb mixed with the best kind of brown sugar and oak notes.
I don’t make this claim lightly, but this is quite possibly the best Canadian whisky I have ever had. It is a banger. I have been saying for years that Two Brewers is in a league of their own, and this release proves it. I gave it a 90, and I have a funny feeling that score might even climb as I get further down the bottle. Both whiskies are incredible, but Release 50 is an out-of-this-world experience that I urge every enthusiast to try. What’s the most impressive Canadian whisky you’ve tried recently?
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For more detailed tasting notes, watch my YouTube video.
