Highwood 100th Anniversary Calgary Stampede 25 Year Old

They have cowboys out there in Calgary, Alberta on the Canadian plains. And starting in 1912 the Calgary Stampede became a staple annual rodeo, and the largest in Canada. Highwood distillery celebrates the 100th anniversary of the Calgary Stampede with this 100% corn whisky which was matured for 25 years in charred American oak. I assume that the wood was charred before re-use, because this does not taste like 25 years of new oak aging. I thank @paddockjudge once again for the reviewed sample

Nose: a perfection of mellowness--yes, you can actually taste the corn here, which I consider a big plus. Excellent sweet/dry balance, with graceful and very good-tasting wood notes. To say I am impressed here is an understatement. Score: 24/25

Taste: as corn whisky goes this is one of the greats. Beautiful clean consistent corn and wood. Corn does well with used wood, because used wood barrels allow the corn to still express itself. I love that I taste corn in this 25 yo whisky. Like the nose, the delivery is mellow, while still having enough flavour to please. Score: 23.5/25

Finish: a little sourness and oak bitterness creep in at the end, but this stays long and delicious. Score: 22/25

Balance: this is an aristocrat of a whisky. The balance is excellent in the nose and on the delivery, and very good on the finish. Score: 23/25

Water added: 1) punches the nose into a sweet delicious stratosphere, and 2) brings out a sour citrusy quality in the mouth. Nose is great with water added; the palate, not so great

Total Sequential Score: 92.5 points

Strenth: very strong flavours, despite 40% ABV. Score: 23.5/25

Quality: excellent grain flavours; very good wood flavours. Score: 23/25

Variety: enough variety, but you just get corn and oak. Score: 21.5/25

Harmony: excellent in the nose; very good on delivery; good to very good on the finish. Score: 23/25

Total Non-Sequential Score: 91 points

Comment: this is one of the greats, of Canadian whiskies, and among corn whiskies worldwide. Most of us will never see a bottle of this for sale, but try it if you get the chance. The 20 YO corn whisky from Highwood, named Highwood Ninety 20 is also quite an excellent corn whisky, and there are still a few of those around to be purchased