Pendleton Blended Canadian Whisky Review:

She drank Canadian whiskey

Pure blended whiskey

She drank it like wine

Her eyes were the color of Canadian whiskey

Pure blended whiskey

So light brown and fine

- Tom Russell, Canadian Whiskey

I’ve had many requests on particular whiskies people want to see on this blog and I have to say, for some reason, Pendleton is one of the main requests I receive. Maybe the fact that I had been living in Oregon for sometime has something to do with it? I also find there is some sort of religious devotion to the whole drink – whole families will swear by it. You'll just have to decide for yourself whether it is worth the all commotion. 

Pendleton is produced by Hood River Distillers using “glacier water” from Mt. Hood, which is distilled in Canada, and then brought back past country lines to Oregon where it is be bottled. Being distilled in Canada it is appropriately branded as a Canadian whisky. The first thing that I would say about that is that it seems to be a bit much just to make whisky. Yes, I said it. The transportation of the water and distillate past state and country lines seems excessive, and I am never very much a fan of something so unsustainable and not, “of its place.” That being said, I am not making a huge issue of this. And for those who will get up in arms that I even hint any whisky making process as excessive, I don’t apologize. Fresh water is great – but don’t they have any good water up in the untamed land of Canada? Just a thought. So, now that we can move past that, let us turn to the actual whiskey:

Pendleton Blended Canadian Whisky Review:

Price: Around $23.99 for a 750ml bottle. Can’t beat that price.

Packaging/Labeling: The bottle is nicely stylized – it is shooting for a very distinct market.

Alcohol Content: 40% abv, 80 proof – typical Canadians.

Nose: At 80 proof I am surprised at the phenolic introduction, even after the bottle is half gone and allowing time for it to sit at least 10-15 minutes. Smells young and green. New-make on the nose. Unripe lime, lemon, and sour Lemonhead candy. Lime slushy. Not as sweet as I was expecting on the nose.

Palate: The palate is much different than the nose with a creamy Werthers’ and honey arrival. I get a delicate mint and floral note with beach wood and leather expanding into light smoke. There is a hint of buttery rye on the finish. Undemanding, and polite. 

Conclusion: This is a whisky which exceeds that of many Canadian whiskies produced. As John Hansel has said, most Canadian whiskies are too harsh when they are young, but they tend to get too woody when they are aged more than ten years. While the nose is somewhat off, as my wife says, “Smells like hairspray, taste like vanilla,” the age and drinkability allows Pendleton to break away from the mold.  

I do have to say something about their target market: with a label that states, “Let 'er buck!” and being that it is produced in Oregon (/Canada), can we at least up the abv a little bit? But hey, maybe today’s cowboys are a bit more sensitive than they use to be? We know that Canadian whisky is generally going to be a light style of whiskey, but I believe that Pendleton is the perfect agent for changing some views to the betterment of the style by presenting their brand as a true craft product. Mildly recommended.

Whistle Pig: An American Rye Whiskey (from Canada)

“There is no bad whiskey.

There are only some whiskeys that aren't as good as others.”

– Raymond Chandler

Firstly I would like to say hello, and welcome back to the Bourbon Intelligencer! This is the very first blog post since getting back from Europe. Now that everything has all but settled here in our new (old) home in Sacramento, CA. I hope to finally start pumping these blogs out again.

One of the very first whiskies my father introduced to me since I’ve been back has been the WhistlePig Straight Rye. About time right? I’ve been hearing about this fantastic 100% rye for quite a while now. Fashioned by the previous Master Distiller of Maker’s Mark, David Pickerell, and founded along with entrepreneur and a prior contestant from The Apprentice, Raj Bhakta, WhistlePig has quickly gained stardom from everywhere. Sourced in Canada and bottled in Vermont, this is definitely a whiskey which gains its glory post-distillation. Thankfully it appears that things at the WhistlePig Distillery will slowly transition to a fully distilled rye product onsite once they get the whole place in full production. For now, we gain something quite fantastic. While it was still in bulk storage, Bhakta purchased the Canadian rye whiskey and transported it back to the two century old working farm in Shoreham and renamed it WhistlePig Farm in Vermont. Most likely to be used as a blending spirit, Bhakta and Pickerell branded it, bottled it, labeled it, and watched as the excellent reviews came in from all over the country.

As rye has been gaining more success, a comeback from its glory days in the Wild West, it is not easy finding a 100 percent rye whiskey. And honestly I generally don’t always prefer many of the rye whiskies I have tried, so I was a bit skeptical of the hype WhistlePig has garnered. I can say that I have been truly blown away by this product and I can also honestly say it is one of my favorite American (/Canadian) whiskies out there.

I understand that people like rye in their cocktails, I do in my Old Fashioned’s. But please save the WhistlePig for a quiet moment - it deserves the respect. As always I am not entirely happy about mystery whiskey from wherever, but the intrinsic quality inside the bottle is what I ultimately care about and I really do love this stuff.

WhistlePig Straight Rye Whiskey Review:

Price: Around $70.00 for a 750ml bottle.

Packaging/Labeling: The bottle looks and feels like it should for the price. Classy yet modern, and despite the strange drawing of the pig in a top hat and cigar, it all works. Could use some more information on the back label, yet I don’t really take much of an issue with it. Liking the 100-100 design.

Alcoholic Content: 50% abv, 100 proof. This is quite unique when it comes to rye. Note that you will not get any of the traditional malt or corn flavor profiles peeking in.

Nose: Unadulterated rye. The 10 years of aging is a wonderful breath of fresh air. Spearmint leaves, Wrigley’s Chewing Gum, green winter oak, distinct pine needles. Star anise, hinged on mulling spices. Sweet, sugary and airy taffy.

Palate: The palate compliments the nose wonderfully. Bold and confident, yet elegant. Such a distinct and beautiful note of spearmint leaves. More of that Wrigley’s. Menthol, rye, oak and honey from the barrel. Sweet and smooth nutty taffy. Layers of flavor and layers of complexity with a long finish. A true treat.

Conclusion: In many ways, this does not taste like a traditional rye. I loved Jason Pyle’s way of summing it up, saying it is not bourbon like, but it has the rich qualities that bourbon has. This is seriously a humdinger of a whiskey. A game changer for the whole category. This would definitely make a very nice cocktail, but I as I said before this is a sipping whiskey. Grab it while you can.