LCBO Whisky Season Gift Guide - 2019 Issue 1
/Fall is, for many in the whisky industry, known as whisky season. This season accounts for a majority of whisky sales for the year. That also means, the LCBO has plenty of whisky offerings to satisfy gift buying consumers. Let’s have a look at some of the best buys at the LCBO as of today! This is issue 1 of 3 or so, coming to you weekly.
The Ultimate Client & Office Gift: Get Japanese whisky
Japanese whisky is all the rage, but we really haven’t had any terrific reasonably priced whisky from Japan at the LCBO. More is coming. But there are pit-falls you need to be cautious of. With in-laws, as with a boss or partner at the office, the key is to buy them something that they didn’t know you could buy at the LCBO. Nikka is under new distributors within Ontario, and they’re coming back with a terrific line-up.
Nikka From The Barrel (my review) is high proof and at a great price-point for someone that’ll drink it neat or make a high-ball out of it. Either solution is great. Miyagikyo Single Malt (my review) is a softer fruity malty whisky that is made at a historic Japanese distillery that makes both grain and single malts.
Both are available for online purchases at the LCBO:
For the Bourbon Fan, Buy One for Them and One For You
(More recommendations next issue, but for now, this is the one)
You can read my review about Weller Antique 107. It’s my house cocktail whisky because of how cheap it is. This whisky used to be priced at $35 at the LCBO. It was cheap. It sold out within days. People bought cases of it at a time.
The owner of the brand, Sazerac Company, upped the list price of their Weller products. They were selling-out in the US, and in the free market booze business, this whisky was going for upwards of $80. Weller 12 Year Old has been seen for as high as $150.
LCBO is now selling it for $64.95, around the recommended list price. It’s still a great buy. Best of all, I can finally recommend it because it hasn’t sold out within 48 hours. This is the only Bourbon to get for right now, because I have no idea how much longer it’ll be available at this price point. You can buy it online:
Weller Antique 107 Original Wheated Bourbon
It’s the Season for Holiday Whisky (and gin) Calendars!
Sam Simmons (known as Dr Whisky)is Canadian, used to be The Balvenie Brand Ambassador (both in Canada, and later globally), and he now works for the Boutique-Y Company! If you’re curious about the company, there’s a lot to know, but essentially they buy barrels of scotch on the free market and blend them as unique offerings. Think of it this way—sometimes distilleries like Laphroaig sell barrels because they’re not ‘Laphroaig’ enough, and the Boutique-Y Company finds a home for these barrels.
I was thrilled to see That Boutique-Y Whisky Company Whisky Holiday Calendar (there’s even a gin version of this) is at the LCBO! 24 unique bottles bottles of whisky, 30mL in size, ready for you to taste. It’s like a holiday calendar, but instead of cheap sugary chocolate that you want to eat in one sitting (maybe that’s just me), you get to taste twenty-four whiskies in the month of December! (Don’t have them all at once)
Boutique-y company’s website has a list of what’s inside. Note: LCBO box might be different than what’s listed on the website.
Northern Border Rare Collection is Here. And there are too many options.
Northern Border Rare Collection is an annual release from Hiram-Walker Distillery (Windsor) that features the best of Canadian whisky under the Corby’s brand. Each year, Lot 40 Cask Strength takes the show. This year, though, it’s a little more complicated because the growing consensus is the French Oak finished 2019 release (review) isn’t reminiscent of previous releases. If you loved it before, you might not like this release. If you didn’t, and love French Oak finishes (who doesn’t, though, really?), this is the year for you!
While Lot 40 Cask Strength from 2018 (review) sold out, the LCBO found some product and has released it as a creative gift pack. This is a very tempting buy. It also includes Gooderham & Worts from last year, and Pike Creek 21 Year Old from 2018. These three are bundled with J.P. Wiser’s 18 Year Old, and not the 35, but Dr. Don Livermore personally signed it! It’s expensive, but you’re getting some of the best Canadian whisky released in 2018:
Northern Rare Collection 2018 Online Exclusive
Most of the exclusive Canadian whisky is out, and it’s hard to choose
Note: Brand links go to LCBO’s website.
Speaking of Canadian whisky, J.P. Wiser’s 35 Year Old is still available from 2018. It’s a great buy at it’s $199 price-point. I’m having a hard time choosing between that and this year’s J.P. Wiser’s 23 Year Old 2019 release (review). Plus there’s Pike Creek 21 Year Oloroso Sherry Cask Finish (review) and of course Lot 40 Cask Strength 2019 (review). Plus the newly posted Alberta Cask Strength (review) release is here to compete in this space. Love age statements? Alberta Distillers released a 20 year old whisky (review) at a great price per-year. The most expensive ($309) and oldest Canadian whisky out there is Canadian Club’s 42 Year Old (review).
So how do we make sense of all this? It’s tough! Read the reviews and see what sounds best. Toronto Whisky Society also has a great wrap-up of the rye collections. I agree with their conclusions. So let’s summarize.
If you love old scotch, get the Canadian Club 42 Year Old. If you want a cask strength rye that’s affordable, Alberta Cask Strength is the way to go. It’s not as complex at Lot 40 Cask Strength 2019, but it’s a little friendlier on the palate. If you love high-proof oaky whiskies, get this year’s Lot 40 Cask Strength. Pike Creek 21 Year Old at $80 is a terrific buy if you love cask finishes. It’s my favourite Pike Creek release of all-time.
Either way, if it’s within your price range, definitely buy J.P. Wiser’s 23 Year Old because (Cask Strength Blend) it’s the best whisky of the group. It’s boozy, though, at over 64% ABV. If you don’t normally drink high-proof whiskies, J.P. Wiser’s 35 Year Old from 2018 is a better purchase.
Not all are available online, but stores are just starting to stock up with supplies.
