LCBO Food & Drink Holiday 2023

CANADIAN WHISKY GIFT GUIDE

Good Wood

FOR THE HOCKEY FANS The casks used to age this new whisky from the Great One once held maple syrup, which gives the Wayne Gretzky Maple Cask Finish Canadian Whisky ( LCBO 17885, $35.95 ) a slightly sweet aroma and distinct hit of maple.

Since the maturation process is the single most important factor that drives a whisky’s flavour profile, distillers pay a lot of attention to the type of casks. Traditionally, most Canadian spirits have spent time in American oak barrels but, of late, we’ve seen whisky producers experimenting with wood from Europe as well as barrels previously used for aging rum, wine and even maple syrup.

FOR THE ADVENTUROUS SPIRIT Thanks to the ample baking spice and vanilla notes perking up this smooth and sweet blend, there’s a lot to love about Signal Hill Canadian Whisky ( LCBO 572552, $39.50 ), a blend of whisky aged in new white oak, bourbon barrels and Canadi an whisky casks, and made with pristine Newfoundland water.

FOR THE WHISKY NOVICE

Bearface 7 Year Old Triple Oak Canadian Whisky ( LCBO 573402, $39.95 ) starts off in former bourbon barrels, is then moved over to casks formerly used to age red Bordeaux-style wine, then finished off in Hungarian oak.

Thanks to time spent in Caribbean rum casks, Grace Bay Rum Cask Canadian Whisky ( LCBO 23989, $49.95 ) has a delicious and unique flavour profile with a hint of coconut cream pie.

Elegant and lightly sweet, Tawse Canadian Whisky Pinot Barrel ( LCBO 22125, $39.95 ) has picked up the perfect hit of fruit and tannin from time spent in a cask formerly used to age Pinot Noir wine.

BARREL ECONOMICS Barrel-aging was an accidental discovery. Merchants shipped spirits and wine in casks and, over time, realized that the wood changed the body, flavour and colour of the contents of the barrel—for the better.

LOCAL ACCOMPANIMENTS Gourmet Nuts

Nuts make for delightful nibbling alongside a variety of whiskies, adding an earthy je ne sais quoi to your palate along with a pleasant textural contrast. Sweeter nuts like pistachios and pecans play beautifully off peaty whiskies, while sweeter whiskies call for more bitter nuts like walnuts. Coldwater’s Copperpot Nuts is a superb choice—their nuts are double-roasted in small batches and emphasize ingredients sourced from local producers, plus they even make a holiday box set that’s ready-made for gifting. copperpotnuts.com —By Jessica Huras

202 FOOD & DRINK HOLIDAY 2023