Macaloney’s Caledonian Distillery Has Some New Limited Inaugural Whiskies

Award-winning Canadian whisky distillery Macaloney’s Caledonian last month released their inaugural single malt whiskies, available in three expressions.

The distillery, said to be one of the larger craft producers in North America, released 1,276 bottles of Glenloy, a single malt whisky matured in ex-bourbon, sherry and red wine casks. Two versions of their Invermallie single cask single malt whisky were also released: 171 bottles of an ex-bourbon cask expression and 374 bottles of a Portuguese re-charred red wine barrique expression.

Glenloy is what the distillery calls an “island whisky,” with the carton containing an image of Vancouver Island that wraps around all four sides, gold foil and embossing. The drink itself contains, according to official tasting notes, flavors of caramelized orange, vanilla, potpourri, fruit cake, blackcurrant, honey, wood spices, and oak, with aromas of oak, vanilla, malt and sea breeze. This whisky garnered a Gold Medal at the World Whiskies Awards and is set at 46% ABV.

The Invermallie single cask ex-Bourbon is noted as the distillery’s “cleanest expression” of its house style at 46% ABV because the bourbon has little influence, allowing the American white oak from the barrel to shine through. This whisky, noted the distillery, gives off flavors of tropical fruit, lychee, gooseberries, dried apricot, honey, candied orange, cocoa, and porridge oats, developing to a finish of malty chocolate, cereal and dry oak.

The Invermallie single cask Portuguese red wine barrique comes from a select re-charred red wine barrique imported from Europe and gives, said the distillery team, tastes of tropical fruit, wood spices, brandied dark fruit cake, cigar, cocoa, Maltesers, oats and honey, with a dried fruit and oak finish. Red berries, dried fruit, demerara sugar, leather, oak and honey give off a complex aroma. This whisky is set at 46% ABV, as well.

Each bottle is individually numbered and labeled with the cask number, batch number, bottled date and whisky-maker’s signature. Glenloy retails for $124.99 CAD, while the Invermallie single cask ex-Bourbon and Invermallie single cask Portuguese red wine barrique retail at $129.99 CAD. All three limited-edition whisky releases are available at select liquor stores throughout BC and Alberta, as well as directly from the distillery’s website with shipping across Canada.

Macaloney’s Caledonian, for those that don’t know it, is a distillery associated with Twa Dogs Brewery and a “destination craft distillery & brewery crowdfunded by Canadian single malt whisky & beer enthusiasts from coast-to-coast. The Visitor Centre gift shop is open 7 days a week and under normal circumstances offers kilt-clad guided tours & tutored tastings.”