Liberty Distillery Trust Whiskey Burgundy

TRUST Whiskey begins with 100% organic hull-less unmalted barley grown in Armstrong, British Columbia. It is triple-distilled in our handmade CARL single copper pot still. For just shy of four years, it has been quietly resting in mature 220-litre French white Burgundy barrels to slowly gain character, complexity and colour.

Alcohol - 42% / 84 proof

Color - Light copper with gold edges

Nose - Compact barley, bright citrusy oak and funky burgundy

Taste - Youthful barley, hints of floral notes (this must be the house style) funky red fruit, complex french oak, spicy and hints of vanilla. While this is a white burgundy cask, I am getting tons of funky red flavors from the wine

Finish - Bright and citrusy barley, funky oak and berry fruit, finishes complex with compact barley and oak notes

Best Enjoyed - Neat

BC Spirits "Spirit a Day" #26 - The Spirit of Tea Vanilla Rooibos Liqueur

The sister product to the Earl Grey Gin from #15. The The Spirit of Tea springs with vanilla and hints of tea on the nose and then doesn’t disappoint on the palate with rich vanilla and complex tea as the backbone. Try equal parts of this and the earl grey gin with lemon juice and egg white, tasty twist on the Earl Grey Martini.

Alcohol - 20% / 40 proof

Color - Reddish copper

Nose - Big whack of vanilla with hints of subtle tea aromatics

Taste - The complexity of the tea hits first, aromatic with pleasant tannins, then the sweet vanilla comes rolling through

Finish - Balanced sweetness, not cloying, sweet vanilla and tea aromatics

Best Enjoyed - Equal parts with the Earl Grey Tea Gin in a twist on the Earl Grey MarTeani

Liberty Distillery Trust Whiskey Madeira

TRUST Whiskey begins with 100% organic hull-less unmalted barley grown in Armstrong, British Columbia. It is triple-distilled in our handmade CARL single copper pot still. For three years, it has been quietly resting in mature 220-litre Madeira barrels to slowly gain character, complexity and colour.

Alcohol - 42% / 84 proof

Color - Light golden yellow

Nose - Compact barley, bright citrusy oak and a hint of spice

Taste - Youthful barley, floral notes of violets or rose, then comes the madeira concentration of spice and deep notes of toffee and vanilla

Finish - Bright and citrusy barley, subtle oak and hints of the madeira

Best Enjoyed - Neat

BC Spirits "Spirit a Day" #25 - One Foot Crow Lavender Gin

One Foot Crow Craft distillery out of Gibsons is a relatively new distillery but they make some fantastically eclectic products. The Lavender Gin is a balanced take especially with the love hate feeling that a lot of people have for lavender. Try it in a lavender white lady with honey syrup.

Alcohol - 40% / 80 proof

Color - Clear

Nose - Progressing from sweet malt to classic gin forward notes then finishes with subtle lavender

Taste - Bright, citrusy juniper and subtle botanicals flowing through to fresh lavender, both leaf and flower; like walking through lavender field

Finish - Bright gin botanicals of juniper and citrus are balanced with lavender without being soapy.

Best Enjoyed - White Lady with honey syrup

Odd Society Spirits Blender's Release Single Malt - Editted

“Blender’s Release” single malt whisky was inspired by a visit from our friend Dhavall Gandhi.

Two months ago, we hosted a whisky blending workshop that you mentioned in your video you were unfortunately unable to attend. Eleven fellow distillers from across the province/country gathered to hear Dhavall Gandhi, former blender at The Macallan, and current Director of Whisky with The Lakes Distillery talk blending. It was a remarkable day of camaraderie, education and inspiration.

Armed with Dhavall’s insights, Gordon, Joel and Fraser went back to the warehouse and blended a new release made from a number of different single malt casks. Blender’s Release is a nod to Dhavall, his visit, and his incredibly thoughtful approach to whisky-making.

Alcohol - 46% / 92 proof

Color - Medium copper to gold

Nose - Complex malt and oak on the nose,

Taste - Rich and complex oak, not over extracted; stonefruit, Christmas spice dried orange peel

Finish - Cereal grains and the kiss of well chosen oak, a definite definer for Odd Society’s Single malt program

Best Enjoyed - Neat

BC Spirits "Spirit a Day" #24 - Okanagan Crush Pad Narrative Spirit of the Vineyard

Was pleasantly surprised revisiting this one, Okanagan Crush Pad is famous for their wine but they make some delicious spirits as well. The Spirit of the Vineyard is an amazing unaged grape brandy that shows beautiful aromatics and great grape structure. This is the closest thing to a South American brandy or pisco in the province, a must have for the pisco sour lover.

Alcohol - 40% / 80 proof

Color - Clear

Nose - Funky aromatic grapes, honeycomb, grape leaf, stone fruit and pits

Taste - Grape fruitiness, higher alcohol than expected, musty Germanic aromatic grapes, rain on concrete

Finish - Clean, bright and aromatic, leaving the palate wanting more

Best Enjoyed - In a pisco sour

Episode #14 - Scott Thompson of Mad Lab Spirits

I get to the bottom of the Mad Scientist himself about the story behind Mad Lab Spirits along the epic Viking Vodka social media, the crazy story behind the Ulker Raki (the only Raki made in the country) and what's next for the distillery.

BC Spirits "Spirit a day" #23 - Wayward Distillation House Drunk Hive

Honey "rums" have become a big part of the BC distillery landscape, with a number of distilleries producing some fantastic examples. Wayward is the OG in honey distillation in the province and their caramelised Drunken Hive is a perfect example on how honey can behave. Rich, not overly sweet with hints of spice, I would love to have this in a blind tasting with a number of big name rums.

Alcohol - 42.5% / 85 proof

Color - Rich copper gold

Nose - Clean bright tones of honeysuckle with a little funk

Taste - Rich oak, with caramelised sweetness, hints of honeysuckle on the palate but really leans into a clean, fresh spirit

Finish - Subtle oak with fresh rain on concrete

Best Enjoyed - In a daiquiri

Review #42 - Whisky Part 3

With quarantine shrinking the stocks in the local liquor stores and some out of the way distilleries not shipping everywhere quite yet, I have had a hard time building out the big episodes every week. This week I tackled brand new whiskies from Odd Society, Liberty Distilleries and DeVine Spirits. Great selection of things I have never tasted, love the anticipation.

BC Spirits "Spirit a Day" #22 - Sons of Vancouver Coffee Liqueur Sucks

I love coffee and I love liquor so why not combine my two favorite things into one. This one is from Sons of Vancouver "April Fool's" releases. Partnering with Moja Coffee, it is rich and deep roasted coffee notes with bright acidity, not overly sweet and smooth.

Alcohol - 26% / 52 proof

Color - Coffee brown

Nose - Medium roast coffee, a little New Orleans chicory and a hint of brown sugar

Taste - Really nice roast, deep coffee tones but with bright acidity, balanced and complex with hints of brown sugar

Finish - Like a lightly sweetened espresso

Best Enjoyed - Behold the dude my friend

Resurrection Spirits Rose Gin

Our Rosé Gin starts with our 100% rye base which is distilled a third time with nine botanicals; Juniper berry, coriander seed, angelica root, lemon peel, rose petal, grapefruit peel, ginger root, cassia bark and cubeb berry. The gin is then aged in Cabernet Sauvignon barrels for six months pulling the colour and flavour from the barrels.

Alcohol - 45% / 90 proof

Color - Watermelon pink

Nose - Sweet dried red fruit, hints of vanilla with a definite rye note

Taste - Distinctive rye bread, rose petals, dried red fruit like plums with hints of spicy oak balancing out the palate

Finish - Rose garden with sweet red fruit and spicy rye oak

Best Enjoyed - Gin & Tonic with Fever Tree Cucumber Tonic

BC Spirits "Spirit a Day" #21 - Wood's Spirit Co. Limoncello

Influenced by a post from a friend, wanted to revisit the Wood's Limoncello. The uniqueness of the Wood's products is their use of the vacuum distillation which allows the liquid to boil at a lower temperature and to keep the delicate flavors of base ingredients to stay intact. Full of candied lemon flavor with hints of spice box with the addition of peppercorn and chili peppers.

Alcohol - 30% / 60 proof

Color - Cloudy yellow

Nose - Lemon candies with hints of spice cupboard

Taste - Candied lemon, the whole thing, peel, rind and flesh, giving flavors from sweet to slightly bitter. Spicy peppercorns and chili pepper accentuate the lemon sweetness like seasoning.

Finish - Sweet but not cloying lemon with hints of the spice in the back palate

Best Enjoyed - Serve chilled or try it in a Lemon Drop of all things

The Liberty Distillery Barrel Aged Old Tom

Endeavour Old Tom Gin begins with our 100% organic BC triple-distilled wheat spirit. (10) traditional botanicals are slowly infused during re-distillation in our single copper pot still. The gin is then further macerated with a blend of five additional local and traditional botanicals before resting in 220-litre French Oak barrels for several months, to slowly gain character, complexity and colour.

Alcohol - 45% / 90 proof

Color - Deeper orange brown with copper edges

Nose - Sweet cut grass with hints of grapefruity juniper

Taste - Complex sweet wood with the grapefruit notes of juniper following on the palate, with hints of dried spices like cardamon, cubeb and the like on the back

Finish - complex sweet oak with juniper and botanicals on the breath out

Best Enjoyed - Give this a go in a classic Martinez with Esquimalt Rosso

BC Spirits "Spirit a Day" #20 - Lohin McKinnon

Happy Easter to all, wanted to do a chocolate themed episode and couldn't feel like a better candidate than the Lohin McKinnon Cocoa Aged Single Malt. Classic Lohin McKinnon single malt notes of bright citrus and twangy hops mixed with complex chocolate tones of bitter, spicy and sweet. A perfect whisky for Easter.

Alcohol - 43% / 86 proof

Color - Dark brown with copper edges

Nose - Deep chocolate notes with hints of both bitter and spicy on the nose, the Lohin McKinnon signature citrus and hops are in the background

Taste - The backbone of the Lohin McKinnon Single Malt is through with bright notes of citrus and hops but then that Thomas Haas chocolate starts flowing, spicy, bitter, sweet cocoa given the whisky an overall deep note.

Finish - Like whisky filled chocolates you would have gotten as a child but reverse

Best Enjoyed - Neat but if you want to be adventurous, you could try this in an old fashion or sour

Odd Society Wallflower Oaken Gin

Once distilled, this gin is aged for several months in oaken whisky barrels to impart it with the smooth smoky flavours of its confines. These qualities intermingle with the complex Wallflower botanicals to create a wholly unique and unmistakable personality.

Alcohol - 44% / 88 proof

Color - Light copper with golden edges

Nose - Spicy almost menthol notes

Taste - The Wallflower Gin and the barrel marry perfectly, the barrel has bold and rich flavors but the gin stands up to it. Classic juniper with floral notes paired with rich oak.

Finish - Barrel complexity in the front but classic clean, juniper and citrus in the finish

Best Enjoyed - Old fashioned style with chai syrup and Bittered Sling Moon Dog bitters.

BC Spirits "Spirit a Day" #19 - Arbutus Distillery

Arbutus Distillery in Nanaimo have an amazing lineup of underrated liqueurs that I don't think get enough attention which I will be fixing over the next few weeks. The lavender liqueur is like walking through a lavender field, the leaf and flowers come through beautifully, with a hint of bright lemon peel. Got to try this in an Aviation variation.

Alcohol - 20% / 40 proof

Color - Gorgeous blue green

Nose - Lavender flower and leaf with hints of lemon and honeysuckle

Taste - Like walking through a lavender field, a blend of leaf and flower, bright lemon peel and honey

Finish - Clean, not cloyingly sweet, left with lemon acidity and lavender floral notes

Best Enjoyed - Sub in a aviation for violette

Noteworthy Barrel Rested Gin

Our Barrel Rested gin is our signature New Western Dry that has been aged in select oak barrels for more than a year. Each barrel release develops unique complexity and depth through maturation. It entices you to contest convention and explore new sensory sophistication.

Alcohol - 43% / 86 proof

Color - Light wheat gold

Nose - Light oak with undertones of floral notes of lavender and citrusy juniper

Taste - Bright citrus, grapefruit pith, juniper and floral tones lead into subtle but pronounced light oak

Finish - Clean, bright citrus and strong floral tones

Best Enjoyed - Sub for their regular gin to give it a boot up in your cocktails.

BC Spirits "Spirit a Day" #18 - Pemberton Distillery Apple Brandy

I continue to delve into my craft spirit collection and revisit the Pemberton Apple Brandy. Pemberton is most famous for their potato vodka and as a very distinct terroir specific flavor profile. The apple brandy is complex and dry, a blend of sweet, tannic, sour and tart apple profiles along with subtle oak and that distinct Pemberton twang.

Alcohol - 44% / 88 proof

Color - Light straw gold

Nose - Like mowing the rows between cider apple trees

Taste - Complex apple profiles with rich tannins, intense tartness and sour and hints of sweet apple, all balanced with the drying element of the 14 months in oak.

Finish - Dry and complex whole apples from skins to apple leaf

Best Enjoyed - Neat or subbed for any calvados cocktails

Stillhead Distillery Barrel Aged Gin

Our signature international platinum award winning London Dry Gin has been barrel aged for one year in a bourbon barrel. The aging process has changed the flavour profile giving it mulled notes of holiday spices. The oak barrel has brought out the nostalgic tastes of cloves, star anise, cinnamon, and added a hint of vanilla.

Alcohol - 43% / 86 proof

Color - Very light golden yellow

Nose - Subtle christmas spice with hints of oak vanillin

Taste - Sweet juniper with balanced vanilla on the front with cloves, star anise and cinnamon in the back

Finish - Balanced citrusy juniper with clean, not overly pronounced oak

Best Enjoyed - Gin & Tonic with Fever Tree Mediterranean Tonic

BC Spirits "Spirit a Day" #17 - Deep Cove Distillers Barrel Aged Akvavit

A bit of a unicorn from Deep Cove Distillers, their barrel aged akvavit is only released every few years and in limited quantities which usually never make any liquor stores. Hugely flavorful, big and round mouthfeel full of tropical fruit, subtle Scandinavian spice and rich oak.

Alcohol - 42% / 84 proof

Color - Deep copper with golden edges

Nose - Tropical fruit, subtle but dense oak, hints of caraway

Taste - Rich oak but not woody, crazy banana and tropical fruit tones with underlying complex herbal tones of the dill and caraway

Finish - Toasty oak, tropical fruit and subtle herbal notes

Best Enjoyed - Neat with a Deep Cove IPA