Canadian Whisky Awards 2021

Canadian+Club+Chronicles+43+-+Canadian+Whisky+Awards+Winner.jpg

Canadian Club Named Canada’s Best Whisky

Watch on YouTube

It is official: Canada’s oldest whisky is also its best. On February 25, 2021, nine independent whisky experts named 43-year-old Canadian Club Chronicles as Canadian Whisky of the Year at the eleventh annual Canadian Whisky Awards. Canadian Club 43 also took top honours as Connoisseur Whisky of the Year.

“This is truly a remarkable whisky, so deserving of the accolade,” said Davin de Kergommeaux, head judge and founder of the awards. “Canadian Club has been shortlisted for best whisky in past years, and for 2021, the judges awarded Canadian Club 43-year-old the highest overall score among over 130 Canadian whiskies entered in the competition.”

Other major winners include Pendleton Director’s Reserve which was named Connoisseur Whisky of the Year in the multi-market category. J. P. Wiser’s Triple Barrel Rye, which is a US exclusive, took home Sippin’ Whisky of the Year in the export-only category, while Gibson’s Finest Bold was named Sippin’ Whisky of the Year for the Canadian market.

J.P. Wiser’s 22-Year-Old Port Cask Finished claimed Cask Strength Whisky of the year, while the sensational Lot No. 40 Dark Oak was named Best New Whisky.

Windsor’s Hiram Walker Distillery is the 2021 Distillery of the Year, while Devine Distillery and Winery in Saanich, British Columbia was awarded Artisanal Distillery of the Year. Devine distiller, Ken Winchester received accolades for Lifetime Achievement in distilling. Shelter Point Distillery from Campbell River BC and Two Brewers from Whitehorse Yukon tied for Best Single Malt of the year.

About the Canadian Whisky Awards

The annual Canadian Whisky Awards, broadcast online in 2021, are normally held in conjunction with the Victoria Whisky Festival. The awards recognize the very best Canadian whiskies, and are intended to encourage distillers to maintain the highest quality standards. To qualify, each whisky must be distilled and matured in Canada. 

An independent panel of whisky experts selects the winners after tasting each whisky blind. In keeping with current trends in whisky connoisseurship, the jury includes both women and men tasters, who have made significant contributions to understanding Canadian whisky.

Awards

2021 Canadian Whisky of the Year is Canadian Club 43-Year-Old Chronicles – The Speakeasy

Connoisseur Whisky of the Year Domestic Market - Canadian Club 43-Year-Old Chronicles – The Speakeasy

Best Blended Whisky – Canadian Club 43-Year-Old Chronicles – The Speakeasy

Blender of the Year – Canadian Club Blending Team 

Best Blended Whisky Highly Commended – J.P. Wiser’s 22-Year-Old Cask Strength Port Cask Finished 

Connoisseur Whisky of the Year Multi-market – Pendleton Director’s Reserve

 

Sippin’ Whisky of the Year Domestic – Gibson’s Finest Bold

Sippin’ Whisky of the Year Export - Wiser’s Triple Barrel Rye (US)

Sippin’ Whisky of the Year Multi-market – Pendleton 1910 12-Year-Old

Whisky Value Domestic Market – Alberta Premium

Whisky Value Multi-market – Forty Creek Barrel Select

Cream Whisky – Wayne Gretzky No. 99 Salted Caramel 

Flavoured Whisky – J. P. Wiser’s Old-Fashioned

Best Whisky Spirit - De Vine Wine and Spirits: Ancient Grains

Best Whisky Spirit - Highly Commended – Raging Crow Distillery: Can’t Call It B**rbon

Best Single Malt Whisky a tie: - Two Brewers Yukon Single Malt Release 22 & Shelter Point Double Barrel #5*

Best Single Grain Whisky – Trust Single Grain 

Best Cask Strength Whisky – J.P. Wiser’s 22 Year Old Cask Strength Port Cask Finished 

Best All-Rye Whisky – Alberta Premium Cask Strength

Best Corn Whisky – Last Straw sCorn (yes sCorn – made from malted corn)

Best Mixed Mash Whisky – Ancient Grains (Devine Distillery & Winery)

Best Wheat Whisky - Last Mountain Single Cask 100% Wheat Whisky

 

Award of Excellence – Innovation – Shelter Point Distillery (for peated whisky process)

Award of Excellence – Line Extension – Lot No. 40 Dark Oak 

Award of Excellence - Best New Whisky – Last Straw Straight Ontario Rye Cask Strength 

Distillery of the Year - Hiram Walker & Sons

Artisanal Distillery of the Year – Devine Distillery and Winery 

Lifetime Achievement Award – Ken Winchester (on his retirement Devine Distillery and Winery)

*A transcription error not found until after awards had been presented, placed Double Barrel number 5 in the single malt category where its score tied with another single malt. Double Barrel #5 is actually includes some non-malt whisky.

Gold Medals

1.    ALBERTA PREMIUM CASK STRENGTH RYE

2.    ANCIENT GRAINS – Devine 

3.    BEARFACE ONE ELEVEN SERIES OAXACA AGAVE SPIRIT

4.    CANADIAN CLUB CHRONICLES 43-Year-Old

5.    CROWN ROYAL BLACK

6.    FORTY CREEK BARREL SELECT

7.    GIBSON’S FINEST BOLD 8-YEAR-OLD WHISKY

8.    J P WISER’S OLD FASHIONED  

9.    J P WISER’S ALUMNI SERIES MARK MESSIER

10.J P WISER’S ALUMNI SERIES YVAN COURNOYER

11.J P WISER’S 22-YEAR-OLD CASK STRENGTH PORT CASK FINISHED  

12.J P WISER’S 23-YEAR-OLD CASK STRENGTH

13.LAST MOUNTAIN DISTILLERY SINGLE CASK 100% WHEAT WHISKY

14.LAST MOUNTAIN DISTILLERY SINGLE CASK RYE WHISKY 

15.Last Straw sCORN 

16.Last Straw STRAIGHT ONTARIO RYE WHISKY CASK STRENGTH

17.LOT 40 DARK OAK

18.PENDLETON 1910 – 12-Year-Old

19.PENDLETON DIRECTOR’S RESERVE 

20.SHELTER POINT DOUBLE BARREL #5

21.TWO BREWERS YUKON SINGLE MALT RELEASE 22

22.TWO BREWERS YUKON SINGLE MALT RELEASE 23

23.TRUST SINGLE GRAIN – The Liberty Distillery

24.WAYNE GRETZKY NO 99 SALTED CARAMEL CANADIAN CREAM WHISKY

Silver Medals

1.    BEARFACE CANADIAN WHISKY TRIPLE OAK 7-YEAR-OLD

2.    CANADIAN CLUB 100% RYE

3.    CANADIAN CLUB CLASSIC 12-YEAR-OLD

4.    CARIBOU CROSSING SINGLE BARREL 

5.    CROWN ROYAL RESERVE

6.    CROWN ROYAL LIMITED EDITION 10 YR OLD

7.    CROWN ROYAL NORTHERN HARVEST RYE

8.    Devine - GLEN SAANICH SINGLE MALT WHISKY

9.    Dubh Glas FIRE IN THE SKY CASK STRENGTH 

10.EAU CLAIRE SINGLE MALT WHISKY BATCH 003

11.FORTY CREEK CONFEDERATION OAK RESERVE

12.FORTY CREEK COPPER POT RESERVE

13.GIBSON’S FINEST RARE CANADIAN WHISKY

14.Glen Breton - GHLEANN DUBH GAELIC FOR THE DARK GLEN

15.J P WISER’S SEVEN REBELS CANADIAN WHISKY

16.J P WISER’S WHEATFIELD GOLD WHISKY

17.J P WISER’S 18-YEAR-OLD

18.J P WISER’S DELUXE 

19.J P WISERS ALUMNI SERIES DAVE KEON

20.J P WISER’S TRIPLE BARREL RYE 

21.LAST MOUNTAIN DISTILLERY SINGLE CASK 2020 DISTILLERS SELECT WHISKY  

22.LAST MOUNTAIN DISTILLERY SINGLE CASK RED WINE BARREL AGED WHISKY

23.LAST MOUNTAIN DISTILLERY CANADIAN WHISKY 

24.LOT 40

26.MACALONEY’S OAKEN POITIN

29.PIKE CREEK 10-YEAR-OLD RUM BARREL FINISHED

30.PIKE CREEK 15-YEAR-OLD CABERNET SAUVIGNON FINISH

31.ROYAL CANADIAN SMALL BATCH CANADIAN WHISKY

32.SEAGRAM’S 83

33.SHELTER POINT SINGLE CASK PEAT

34.SHELTER POINT SMOKE POINT 2

35.SHELTER POINT THE FORBIDDEN

36.SHELTER POINT SINGLE CASK VIRGIN OAK

37.SHERINGHAM DISTILLERY RYE

38.SIGNAL HILL WHISKY

39.STALK AND BARREL THREE BARREL CANADIAN WHISKY

40.TWO BREWERS YUKON SINGLE MALT RELEASE 20

41.TWO BREWERS YUKON SINGLE MALT RELEASE 19

42.TWO BREWERS YUKON SINGLE MALT RELEASE 21

43.TRUST SOUTHERN – The Liberty Distillery 

44.WAYNE GRETZKY NO 99 MAPLE CASK WHISKY

45.WAYNE GRETZKY NO 99 ICE CASK WHISKY

46.WAYNE GRETZKY NO 99 NINETY-NINE PROOF WHISKY

47.WAYNE GRETZKY NO 99 RED CASK WHISKY

Bronze Medals

1.    ALBERTA PREMIUM RYE

2.    CANADIAN CLUB 1858

3.    CANADIAN MIST

4.    CAN’T CALL IT B**RBON

5.    CAPITAINE SAINT SIMON – Fils du Roy

6.    COLLINGWOOD

7.    COMMODORE SINGLE MALT WHISKY – Odd Society

8.    CROWN ROYAL FINE DELUXE

9.    CROWN ROYAL XO

10.CROWN ROYAL VANILLA

11.CROWN ROYAL REGAL APPLE

12.DILLON’S RYE WHISKY

13.DILLON’S RYE 1 

14.Dubh Glas – SMOKE ON THE WATER

15.EAU CLAIRE DISTILLERY RUPERT’S WHISKY

16.FORTY CREEK THREE GRAIN 2020

17.FORTY CREEK NANAIMO BAR

18.FORTY CREEK DOUBLE BARREL RESERVE 

19.FORTY CREEK CREAM

20.FORTY CREEK SPIKE

21.FORTY CREEK RESOLVE

22.GIBSON’S FINEST STERLING 

23.GIBSON’S FINEST VENERABLE 18-YEAR-OLD 

24.GOODERHAM AND WORTS

25.GOODRIDGE AND WILLIAMS – 100% RYE GRAINS

26.GOODRIDGE AND WILLIAMS – HIGH RYE GRAINS

27.HIGH RIVER CANADIAN WHISKY – Sazerac 

28.J P WISER’S 15-YEAR-OLD

29.J P WISER’S TRIPLE BARREL RYE WHISKY USA

30.J P WISER’S SPECIAL BLEND WHISKY

31.J P WISERS VANILLA WHISKY

32.J P WISERS APPLE WHISKY

33.KAVI RESERVE COFFEE BLEND CANADIAN WHISKY

34.LAST MOUNTAIN DISTILLERY SINGLE CASK CANADIAN RYE

35.LAST MOUNTAIN DISTILLERY LAKE COUNTRY COOP 80TH ANNIVERSARYT CANADIAN SINGLE BARREL WHISKY

36.Last Straw – STRAIGHT ONTARIO RYE WHISKY

37.LOHIN MCKINNON CHOCOLATE MALT SINGLE MALT

38.LOHIN MCKINNON BORDEAUX FINISHED PEATED SINGLE MALT WHISKY

39.LOHIN MCKINNON NIAGARA WINE BARREL SINGLE MALT WHISKY

42.ODD SOCIETY BLENDERS RELEASE SINGLE MALT WHISKY

43.PROSPECTOR RYE WHISKY – Odd Society

44.SEAGRAM’S FIVE STAR

45.SEAGRAM’S VO

46.SHELTER POINT DISTILLERY – THE COLLECTIVE 

47.SHELTER POINT PATIENCE IS A VIRTUE

48.SHELTER POINT MONTFORT D1 151

49.SHELTER POINT ECHOES OF THE HEBRIDES

50.SIVO SELECTION RYE WHISKY

51.THE FORAGER BOTANICAL WHISKY

52.THE WILD NORTH – Mondia Alliance 

53.TRUST ANCIENT GRAINS

54.TRUST CANADIAN RYE

55.WAYNE GRETZKY NO 99 CANADIAN CREAM WHISKY