Friday, 20 February 2015

Come to our website! ccwkn.com

Dear Fellow Whisky Lovers,
It has been a great pleasure blogging away over the years. Now that a website has been created, you will have the opportunity to join me at the Canadian College of Whisky Knowledge ccwkn.com as a registered student if you choose to. Tuition is free when you have a one page (200 words) entrance essay accepted. You will then receive a student card, an e-book about solo travel on Scotland's Whisky Trail, and Whisky Life List: a web based app that students use to record their whisky tastings. As of February 20, 2015 the website is still under construction. I have been assured by the technical support team that we will be up and running before too long.

Until you are able to join me in the virtual halls of the Canadian College of Whisky Knowledge,

We remain, United by the Love of Whisky!

Chairman Bill

Saturday, 12 April 2014

A Must Have Resource Book "Canadian Whisky: The Potable Expert."




Davin de Kergommeaux

Author/Writer



Davin is the author of the book "Canadian Whisky: The Potable Expert."
This is an award winning book on the whiskies of Canada

The paperback edition is being released on May 13 and here is  a link.

 http://www.amazon.ca/Canadian-Whisky-Portable-Davin-Kergommeaux/dp/0771027443/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1397239570&sr=8-1&keywords=canadian+whisky+the+portable+expert+paperback 

This may take a second click, but it's worth the extra effort. What a great gift for the whisky lovers in your life!

Chairman Bill
United by the Love of Whisky









Sunday, 29 December 2013

A Heavenly Barbershop



Dear Whisky Lovers,
Can you read the sign in this barbershop's window? It says "Free Whisky with every Haircut." A definite sign of civilization. When a lover of the water of life sees such a sign, there is a deep primal urgency for a haircut. I'd love to know where this barbershop is located and how their business is doing.

Alas I know that it cannot be in Canada due to some killjoy laws we are expected to follow. I would like to take this opportunity to wish you the joy of the season. May your whisky glass get a good workout on New Year's Eve.

Remember if you can't be a proud example, you can always be a terrible warning!

Chairman Bill

Thursday, 21 November 2013

Professor Emeritus Crusty


This Tasmanian whisky was showcased at Crusty's bar. After many years as a full professor at The Canadian College of Whisky Knowledge, the much beloved Professor Emeritus Crusty relaxes in his lovely woodland retreat atop a secluded moraine in Southern Ontario. Smoking is allowed at Crusty's Bar which is very important to some whisky aficionados who are in the habit of enjoying a cigar or two along with their whisky. This is, alas, a dying practice. The College knows that it can call upon Professor Crusty to properly showcase rare whiskies. He has helped to make the College what it is today.

Sunday, 29 September 2013

Tasmanian Whisky Tutorial

Dear Readers,

Chairman Bill here. May this posting find you and your loved ones well.

I had the privilege of joining a select group (two of us) who had the honour of opening a bottle of The Singular Overeem Single Malt Whisky, Port Cask Matured at Crusty's Bar located deep in the heart of Southern Ontario.

This particular bottle was handed to the person who purchased it by Jane Overeem at the distillery in Tasmania. The purchaser, let us all give her a respectful bow, brought this lovely example of the whisky maker's art all the way from Tasmania to Canada and gifted it to Crusty. So when I laid my respectful hands upon the bottle, I was the third person to have handled it post distillery.

To learn more about this whisky have a look at Old Hobart Distillery and Overeem on the net or wherever you research things. The bottle or the box states
 "An exceptionally robust and intense whisky from one of the most Southernly Distilleries in the world."

As we all know there has to be something that differentiates one distillery from another. This whisky is double distilled in copper pot stills and all copper condensers. It is matured in heavily toasted oak quarter casks cut down from sherry casks. This process apparently matures the whisky more quickly.

This must be true because the whisky is only....drum roll..5 years old!

Colour:    A Beautiful Golden Colour

Nose:    The Nose Was Sweet. My smeller was not in top shape, read what the      distillery says for more complete notes.

Taste:   Silky Aromatic Loveliness. Crusty said "It's like an angel p-----g down your throat." I'll take his word for it because his bar is a little piece of heaven so he is familiar with angelic visitations.

Finish:   A Minor Bite at the Back of the Throat - Improved with Three Drops of Water

I would be most delighted to add this whisky to my drinks cabinet.

When asked how this wonderful whisky stacks up to the single malts from Scotland, my comments can only be general ones based on my "Whisky Memory."

It is to some degree comparing apples to oranges since there  are no widely acclaimed 5 year old single malts from Scotland.

The Scottish single malt whiskies that I think are in the same ballpark all have been chosen based on taste. Glengoyne 10 year old, Tullibardine 8 year old Aged Oak, Blair Athol 12 year old, Edradour 10 year old, Aberlour 10 year old with a sherry cask finish.

Crusty and I agree that the Tasmanian whisky makers have been able to achieve some very impressive results regardless of the number of years they take.

So if you get a chance, do try some Tasmanian single malt whisky.
I will post some photos when they become available.

Chairman Bill




Sunday, 1 September 2013

Dear Readers,
My blogging has been done in fits and starts and I hope it has not distressed anyone. Now that all of the distilleries have been described, I will be posting stories of whisky tastings or whisky tutorials as we call them here at the College of Whisky Knowledge.

Keep well eh?

Chairman Bill

Glenmoranghie, the 21st Distillery!


This is a Highland region distillery. Glenmorangie is Scotland's best selling single malt within Scotland. My visit corresponded to the end of a bus tour, so it was awhile before I was taken through. The tour guide was top notch and went the extra mile to drive me into town to catch my bus.

Tasting Notes:
Glenmorangie 10 year old Amber colour, light fruity flavour, light finish
Overall a lovely dram that is welcome to join my drinks cabinet.