Forty Creek Double Barrel Reserve with Dan

The fourth Forty Creek. So that’s, like… A Hundred And Sixty Creek, I guess. And we’re not even half way through the brand.

This time out we’ve got the Double Barrel Reserve, specifically lot 240 distillery no. 54sl46. It’s a blend of individually aged corn, rye and barley whiskies mixed into and aged in second-use bourbon barrels. The website mentions lots of awards that it has won, several of which are from the Beverage Testing Institute, which coincidentally is where I claim my fake medical degree is from. Anybody need palpating?

Anyway, ideally the blending and second aging allows a better co-mingling of the whiskies for a more coherent and structured flavour. In this case it’s a success, a good showing from a brand we haven’t been very kind to.

colour
Dan – amber, fresh pressed apple cide
Simon – seems fake

nose
Dan – dry wood, much alcohol, almost floral, faint sweetness
Simon – caramel mocha

neat
Dan – disappears, butterscotch, vanilla
Simon – definitely some rye, but smooths out, chest warm, butter

finish
Dan – settles well, not too much lingering
Simon – lingering warm tingle

splash
Dan – same as neat, no burn, less finish
Simon – slightly toned down

Forty Creek Double Barrel Reserve – 40% 750ml – $59.95 – Ontario

Try it? Yes. Buy it? Yes.