Canadian Club - Chronicles 43 Year
$239
Canadian Club – Chronicles 43 Year
Collection: Chronicles
Proof: 90
Age: 43 Year
Distillery: Hiram Walker (Beam Suntory)
Type: Canadian Whiskey
Mash: 100% Corn – I believe
Website: Canadian Club
*Disclaimer: A score of 5 is the midpoint for my reviews. Above 5 I like it. Below 5 I didn’t for some reason. Most of my reviews are between 4-7. It takes something really really special to go above 7 or below 4. See the methodologies for rating at the end of the article
Nose: Wet Oak, Leather (Musty Like an Old Book Store), Toffee, Brown Sugar, Prunes.
Taste/Palate: Oak and Leather right off the bat. It isn’t subtle, but it’s not too much either. Following the Oak and Leather you get a creamy Caramel Butter and Some Sweet Fruits (Pear, Raisins, & Prunes).
Finish: The Oak and Leather is Dominant. Once again not subtle. The alcohol heat finally shows up in the finish, but it’s still mild. After a long Oakey finish the fruit sweetness shows back up – Sweet Apple & Raisins.
Verdict: This had the Oak I was expecting in a 43 year. If you don’t like Oak stay away from this and grab something else or the CC 42. If I had one complaint is that the 43 has the right amount of Oak until you hit the tail end of the finish. It get’s just a tad too much, but nothing 1 more sip can’t cure. This is excellent in my humble opinion, with 1 minor gripe. The CC 42 is somehow “fresh” with light Fruits. The 43 has the maturity you would expect out of something that’s sat for almost a half century.
MSRP: BUY for a special occasion Price Ceiling: Not above MSRP ~$250 (The most I’d pay for this bottle)
The Story: I’m fortunate to have friends who are also into Bourbon / Whiskies and sometimes don’t mind spending money on a bottle. Canadian Club 42 and 43 are part of that story. My friend decided to purchase the bottle of CC 42 after my group of friends gifted him a bottle of the 43 for doing repair work to our snowmobiles and never accepting money. So we pay him in fine drams. At first I scratched my head as to why did he buy the 42 when he had the 43 from us. I mean 1 year in a barrel can make a huge difference, but when it’s 42 vs 43 that isn’t much of a difference in the grand scheme of things. I can confirm 100% the 42 and 43 taste completely different.
The Distillery’s Story: Back in the Mid 1850’s Michigan American Hiram Walker was producing spirits in the Detroit area. Out of fear of temperance and a prohibition ban Hiram moved his distillery across the border into Windsor Canada. It was there Canadian Club under the Hiram Walker and Son’s Distillery began producing fine spirits. They offered great spirits and pushed the boundaries on aging. Fast forward to 2017. On the 150th anniversary of the distillery they released the Canadian Club Chronicles 40 Year. This was the oldest Canadian Whiskey ever released. The popularity of that bottle lead to the 41, 42, and 43 year.
Current Premium Canadian Ranking:
1. Canadian Club – 43 Year
2. Crown Royal – XR – Blue (LaSalle)
3. Canadian Club – 42 Year (02)
4. Crown Royal – 18 Year
Methodologies for Rating:
1. Dump it down the drain or regift it to someone you don’t care for.
2. This doesn’t even belong in a mixed drink. Use in case of an emergency.
3. It’s really not for me, but I heard some people like it.
4. Its only good when I’ve had too many and it’s decent in a mixer.
5. Solid. It hit all of what’s expected.
6. Above average. Good to bring to an event and you wouldn’t expect any guff from it.
7. Buy two if you see it to make sure you have one on reserve.
8. Very Very good. Constantly a GREAT POUR.
9. Superb. If I were to drink this and only this from now on I’d be a happy person.
10. Perfection is impossible. But this really comes as close as you can possibly get.
Reviewer: David S
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