Lot No. 40 Dark Oak

I see Canada Day as an opportunity to show gratitude towards local innovators, makers and distillers. In the international whisk(e)y community, I am frequently asked for Canadian whisky suggestions (since most folks are exposed to one or two "mainstream" brands that fail to do us justice!). The Hiram Walker & Sons distillery in Windsor Ontario has been in operation for >160 years and has one of the largest distillery capacities in North America with 37 fermenters. One of the whiskies produced is Lot 40. Lot 40 Dark Oak is aged in new American Oak and finished in a second, heavily charred new Oak barrel. Similar to the standard offering, it's 100% rye that is pot still distilled. Lot 40 Dark Oak is bottled at 48% ABV, unlike the 43% standard Lot 40. Let's dig in, eh? I can smell orange, syrup, vanilla, nutmeg and vintage oak must. Though there might be some Canadian bias, I swear that I can smell some maple sugar over time as well. This amber coloured offering is subtle to start. The mouthfeel is rich and full with sweet cherry paired with oak bitterness. A wave of spices build gradually; anise, cinnamon and black pepper. The spices wane to a medium finish. It's nicely belly warming, lightly drying, with a wisp of menthol and echo of oak on the palate. I like Lot 40 Dark Oak's namesake oak-forward profile and think that it would play well in an old fashioned too. I appreciate how versatile the use cases for this offering would be: neat, on a rock or in a cocktail. 7.75/10

My favourite whiskey to date. LOT40 Dark Oak does everything a whiskey should do. It smells great and provides a full smooth tasting experience from beginning to end. I get an immediate menthol rush on the nose, it then dissipates and opens up with fruity maraschino cherry, spice, and charred oak notes. I find that the longer the whiskey sits in my Glen Carin the more the oaky notes start to come to life. I thought it smelt so good during my first experience with the bottle that I took the empty glass and placed it on my night stand, filling my room with subtle oaky notes. A little weird… I get it. I love the spicy explosion on the palette. The combination of spice, cherry and dark chocolate notes is very delightful. To top it off, I was then left with a tingling almost minty cooling effect as the whiskey slowly faded away. I think the branding looks great. It is a classy modern unique look that stands out at the store and on my shelf. The overall experience combined with the value per bottle ($65CAD) makes this a must have on my shelf for as long as it is available. I also love that it is Canadian! Overall: 9.75/10

I'm a fan of Lot 40 but generally for me it's a cocktail whisky. I was excited to pick up this new release and see if it will hold up neat. It's certainly a delicious looking colour! Nose: Lots of vanilla initially. Strong caramel notes here too. I'm also getting a bit of orange peel coming through. Palate: Really rich and full. Nice oily mouth feel. Much smoother than I had anticipated with mild alcohol burn. Slightly burnt French toast is the initial impression with the cinnamon lingering. Anise and black pepper then join the party. Finish: Medium. The best part is the delicious tingling and a minty coolness hanging out at the back of the palate. The black pepper also lingers for some time. I then tried a small taste of regular Lot 40. The Dark Oak is much smoother and richer despite the higher ABV. The mouthfeel is much nicer with Dark Oak as well. Overall I'm very impressed and definitely will enjoy this both neat and in cocktails!

Nose: Right off the bat, it lives up to the name. Deep and dark. Heavy rye spice that feels mature. It doesn't need to punch like most Ryes do, it's mere presence grabs attention. Lots of spearmint. Some rich oak and molasses. Heavily toasted dark rye bread where the edges are a little burnt. Palate: Pretty oily viscosity. Rolls around and sticks to each surface of the mouth without being cloying. An immediate pop of dark brown sugar and barrel char is followed by a rush of heavy rye spice, spearmint, and savory dried herbs. As the sip calms down the rich oak returns with cocoa. Finish: Satisfying and lingering. Oak, barrel char, spearmint, and semi-sweet chocolate. Summary: I feel like I just wrote a love song. This is a Rye lovers dream. Has all the best parts of the category with none of the faults. Truly worth every penny of it's approachable price. Exceptional

The nose is what a rye whiskey is intended to be. Rye spice and mint come across immediately followed by bittersweet chocolate and a light German pumpernickel. Not much sweetness on the nose, just pure rye. Upon tasting, black pepper and rye spice hit the back of the throat with brown sugar and vanilla notes coating the roof of the mouth creating a salivation and the want for the next sip. Dark semi sweet chocolate is also apparent. This is a wonderful rye from Lot 40. Superb. Nose: 4/5 Taste: 4.5/5 Overall 4.25/5 Repurchase: Yes Type: Friday Night Pour

Lot 40 and Lot 40 Dark Oak side by side. Both are very good, classic expressions that highlight everything good about rye whisky. Rye spice notes, lots of black licorice and a hint of apple on the Lot 40. Lot 40 Dark Oak is higher abv yet softer and creamier on the palette. More spice, dark fruits like cherry, molasses and a bubblegum powder like Topps gum from a pack of 1983 baseball cards. The Dark Oak is a bit sweeter and has a much longer spicy finish. Regular Lot 40 is an excellent rye bomb and Dark Oak is a step better and worth the extra cost.