I’m drinking Old Fashioneds with all sorts of Canadian whiskies lately.
Is it as good? Not quite*, but it’s still good and I’ll be drinking them long after this shit show is over. I would love to see some better Canadian options though.
- I’m specifically talking about how I like my Old Fashioned, NOT neat whisky, which I also enjoy and would of course love recommendations on.
What’s been your favourite Canadian whisky for an old fashioned? I normally have my whisky neat but I enjoy the occasional cocktail
So far, I’d say it’s the 100% ryes I’ve had. Lot 40, in particular, but Canadian Club 100% rye is not bad, too.
Crown Royal has a harvest rye that is 90% rye and (I’m guessing) the remainder is 5% rye and 5% barley that I’d like to try.
There are some solid Canadian whiskys if you go looking. I see you already mentioned the Crown Royal Northern Harvest Rye, but I also recommend the Dillon’s Single Grain Rye, and the Alberta Springs 10 Year Vintage.
But if none of those tickle your taste buds right, may I suggest that you look to our more reliable trading partners and try a rum old fashioned or a mezcal old fashioned. I can also recommend Writers Tears for an affordable and excellent Irish whisky.
(sidebar: While Canadian whisky is definitely at “improving”, I want to note that Canadian gin is incredible. Ungava, Dillon’s, Georgian Bay, and Empress all belong in your cabinet. If you can find it, the Dillon’s Unfiltered No. 7 is the best gin I’ve ever tasted.)
Thanks for the suggestions. I’m in Saskatchewan and I’ve heard of Dillon’s, but I don’t remember seeing it in stores.
I do enjoy a rum old fashioned (with split Angostura and black walnut bitters and maple syrup) and a Oaxaca old fashioned. Rum old fashioned hits pretty close to bourbon old fashioned for me, but also leaves me with a terrible headache the next day when I have too many of them 😅.
Can you guys get Scottish whiskeys fairly easily? There was one we had years ago while in Europe that we really liked, Highland Bird.
I’m not a whiskey person. But I detest Jack Daniels (paint thinner notes) and like Jameson Irish out of what I can get in my state.
Scotch is accessible and popular here. That said, I generally wouldn’t consider it a sub for bourbon, though I have done an Old Fashioned with Famous Grouse Smokey Black and good God that was delicious.
