Corby Corby's Lot No. 40 2012 Release

The 2012 Release is the second release of Corby's Lot No. 40. The whisky is made at the Hiram Walker Distillery, from a single copper pot still. The mashbill is reported to be 100% rye grain, with 90% unmalted and about 10% of it malted, no doubt for the enzymes released. The reviewed sample is courtesy of @Pudge72. The bottle was opened March 13, 2013, sampled two days later, and this sample was re-tasted 10 weeks after that time. I found No Age Statement on the bottle. This review is in sequential format

Nose: this is a very highly perfumed rye, both perfume of fruit and perfume of flowers; there is beautiful rose and a little carnation. The fruits include raisins, plums and black cherries. The rye manifests on the nose as more fruits and not as much as spices. Some wood flavours are noticeable in the nose, seeming to be of re-used, but of good quality, wood, with a little vanilla, and hints of oak and natural caramel. Score 23/25 All whiskies; 24/25 Canadian Category

Taste: very pointed rye flavours, much more pointed and much more spicy than in most Canadian whiskies; the baking spices of nutmeg, cinnamon/cassia, and cloves combine with some serious black pepper here. The fruity flavours are not as strong in the mouth as they were in the nose. The wood flavours are solid. Score 22/25 All whiskies; 22/25 Canadian

Finish: this stays steady, long and strong, adding a bit of bitterness from the wood. Score 21/25 All; 21/25 Canadian

Balance: this is a nice solid rye whisky. The flavours are strong and of good quality, the parts work together, and nothing distracting is thrown in.

How would a blind taster know the difference between a Canadian rye whisky like Lot No. 40 and a typical (i.e. non-wine-influenced) US straight rye? Any wine-cask aging is a give-away. (and yes, I believe that you can taste wine-cask on Alberta Premium) Otherwise it is a matter of tasting the difference between new and used wood flavours. Even this is changing somewhat with Canadian distilleries like Forty Creek using much more new wood than previously. You can taste the re-used wood here, but it is subtle to notice it. Overall, Corby's Lot No. 40 is quite a nice Canadian whisky, in the rye-centric category. As a lover of rye whisk(e)ys I am always happy to see Canada making more of these high quality ryes, untainted by additives and wines. Score 22/25 All; 23/25 Canadian

Total Scores: 88 All Whiskies; 90 Canadian Category

Next step, Corby/Wiser's/Hiram Walker/Pernod-Ricard: would you bottle some of this at 50% ABV and also at 63% ABV and sell it to me?