NEW ORLEANS, May 23, 2013 /jm/ -- Forget the tie – this year give dad what he really wants – whisky! Two premium Canadian whiskies from The Sazerac Company are sure to make dad's eyes light up upon opening – Caribou Crossing, the world's first single barrel Canadian whisky, and Royal Canadian Small Batch Canadian whisky.
The premium and super premium Canadian whisky category continues to show strong growth, as consumers are re-discovering this category and realizing there are some strong players in it who have upped the ante when it comes to quality," said Kevin Richards , Canadian whisky marketing director.
"The smooth, easy taste of Canadian whisky makes it easy to sip neat or with your favorite mixer. With the addition of single barrel and small batch whiskies likes Caribou Crossing and Royal Canadian, more and more consumers are taking a second look at the Canadian whisky offerings and becoming interested again," adds Richards.
Critics seem to agree with this, as both brands have won a myriad of awards since introduction, most recently at the Ultimate Spirits Challenge, where Caribou Crossing won its second straight Chairman's Trophy and a "93" rating, and Royal Canadian Small Batch was given a "very good, strong recommendation" by the judges.
The 2013 San Francisco World Spirits Competition also produced some medals, with both brands winning silver medals at the highly competitive tasting.
Other accolades for the brands include:
Caribou Crossing: "93" rating from John Hansell at Whisky Advocate; "2010 Canadian Whisky of the Year" by canadianwhisky.org; Double gold medal at the 2010 San Francisco World Spirits Competition; a gold medal and "90" rating from Tastings.com (Beverage Testing Institute); a gold medal and "90" rating at the 2010 Ultimate Spirits Challenge; a silver medal and best in class at the 2010 International Wine and Spirits Competition; and a bronze medal at the 2010 Los Angeles International Wine and Spirits Competition.
Tasting notes for Caribou Crossing describe it as "primarily vanilla, with some creme brulee, toasted marshmallow, tangerine, peaches and cream, and gentle rye spice..." ( John Hansell , Whisky Advocate.)
Royal Canadian Small Batch has its own set of hardware. In the 2012 Ultimate Spirits Challenge the brand achieved a "90" rating; a gold medal and "90" rating from Tastings.com (Beverage Testing Institute); a "90" rating from Wine Enthusiast; a silver medal in the 2011 Ultimate Spirits Challenge; and a bronze medal at the 2011 World Spirits Competition.
Royal Canadian Small Batch has been described as "sweet and smoky like a Memphis BBQ. The initial sip is velvety smooth with huge flavors. There is a nutty praline sweetness that slides through the creamy rich sensations. The finish is a bold reminder that this is whisky and the citrus-spicy conclusion just leaves you with the desire for the next notable sip."
Both brands were created by native Canadian Drew Mayville , Sazerac's master blender. Mayville himself hand-selects the barrel used for Caribou Crossing, choosing the most mature and flavor-rich samples available and overseeing the bottling of each individual barrel. The Royal Canadian Small Batch undergoes a similar stringent selection process under Mayville's watchful eye. The barrels themselves are from Sazerac's 300,000 plus Canadian whisky barrel inventory.
The two Canadian whiskies make ideal gifts for Father's Day, and are at price points for discriminating budgets. The Caribou Crossing retails for $49.99 for a 750 ml and the Royal Canadian Small Batch is $19.99 for a 750 ml.
The Caribou Crossing is also already wrapped in an elegant gift box, making it an even easier choice than a necktie.
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