Canadian Whiskey
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Canadian whisky is whisky that by law must be mashed, distilled and aged at least three years in Canada[1] in a wooden barrel of not greater than 700 L capacity[2]. Most Canadian whiskies are blended multi-grain whiskies and are usually lighter and smoother than other whiskey styles. They are often colloquially and generically referred to (and may legally be labelled) as "rye whisky" in Canada, though the US definition of "Rye Whiskey" would prevent lower-rye-content versions from being so labelled in the US. Although rye is often a primary component in Canadian whiskies, the use of rye is not dictated by legal standards. In converse, the US definition of "Rye Whiskey" does not have aging requirements, and younger (even Straight) US versions would not legally be labelled "Rye Whisky" in Canada.
Canadian whisky featured prominently in illegal imports (known as bootlegging) into the U.S. during Prohibition in the 1920s. Hiram Walker had a distillery in Windsor, Ontario across the Detroit River from Detroit, Michigan that easily served small, fast smuggling boats.
There are other types of whiskies made in Canada, such as the "single malt" and "Quebec Maple" whiskies described below; but these are more boutique whiskies and are not necessarily included in the general category of Canadian whisky.
Canadian single malt
Since 1991, Glenora Distillers, an independent distillery in Glenville, Nova Scotia, on Cape Breton Island, has been producing unblended malt whisky in the Scottish style. Their product, Glen Breton Rare, was as of 2003 the only single malt whisky produced in Canada, and the oldest of the few produced in the Americas.[citation needed]
Quebec Maple Whisky
In Quebec, Maison des Futailles produces two so-called maple whiskies. The first one, Fine Sève, is made from the distillation of maple wine (which is then aged in oak barrels, giving it a distinctive taste). The second, Sortilège, is a mix of Canadian whisky and maple syrup. While these two products are not whiskies per se, they have often been described as such.
Examples
References
- ^ "Canadian Food and Drug Regulations (C.R.C., c. 870) - Canadian Whisky, Canadian Rye Whisky or Rye Whisky (B.02.020.)"
- ^ "Canadian Food and Drug Regulations (C.R.C., c. 870) - Definitions (B.02.002.)"
