Stogie Spirits: Canadian Club Sherry Cask Whiskey
Monday, February 8th, 2010If, for you, Canadian Club conjures images of something your dad used to drink or a simple whiskey to mix with Coke, you’re not alone. But the brand is challenging that stereotype with its new Sherry Cask Whiskey.
On the heals of other higher end releases like the Canadian Club Classic 12 Year and Canadian Club Reserve 10 Year, this one offers a new twist on Canadian whiskey: a sherry cask finish. According to Canadian Club, it is made in small batches, aged a minimum of eight years in white oak barrels, and finished in old Jerez sherry casks.
The Canadian Club Sherry Cask comes in a classic bottle, complete with a traditional wood and cork top. Each bottle of the 82.6-proof spirit is labeled with the individual cask that the whiskey came from.
The whiskey is a deep amber color with a slight reddish tinge. The nose is maple syrup.
When sipping the Canadian Club Sherry Cask, I find a pleasant toffee sweetness, and wheat notes with some subtle spice flavors. While there’s a hint of smooth sherry sweetness, I was pleased to find it not overwhelming. The finish is smooth with rye flavors and more hints of peppery spice.
This is an excellent spirit to prove that Canadian whiskey can be so much more than just an ingredient in a Manhattan. I recommend drinking it straight or with just a splash of water.
It also goes well with cigars, particularly those with a peppery spice. Full-flavored smokes like the Opus X, CAO Lx2, EO 601 Red, or J. Fuego 777 Corojo all stand up well.
Available for around $25-30 a bottle, this is a whiskey that punches above it’s weight class, especially compared to scotch or bourbon of similar cost. And the price also means you won’t be too be disappointed if it ends up in an old fashioned.
For a change of pace for the bourbon or scotch drinker, the Canadian Club Sherry Cask Whiskey is well worth a try.
photo credit: Stogie Guys


1) Indiana’s proposed smoking ban, despite the persistence of anti-tobacco activists, appears dead—at least for this session. While the House passed a “

So, on my most recent trip to the liquor store, I decided to try my luck with another product of the Buffalo Trace distillery, which is located on the banks of the Kentucky River near Frankfort. My choices included Blanton’s, W.L. Weller, Old Charter, and Van Winkle—a lineup that has helped Buffalo Trace win more international awards since 1990 than any other North American operation, not to mention Whiskey Magazine’s “Distiller of the Year” award in 2005 and 2007.
Occasionally, when I read cigar reviews and rankings, I’m reminded of years ago when the New York Times food writer wrote lovingly about a $4,000 meal he enjoyed in Paris. The Daily News followed with a hilarious parody, sending a reporter to dine for a few dollars somewhere like the Bowery. I mean, if you’re paying $4,000 for food—or $20 for a cigar—you’d hope they‘re good, wouldn’t you?






