Canadian Whisky Awards 2010 - Connoisseur Whisky, Export

Connoisseur Whisky of the Year – Export Market: Caribou CrossingCaribou Crossing Single Barrel whisky was released in the U.S. early in 2010 to high acclaim from whisky writers and connoisseurs. Consumers and critics alike were impressed with this complex and richly flavoured new whisky. As a single barrel whisky, Caribou Crossing introduces American consumers to a new Canadian whisky in a style much admired by connoisseurs.Single barrel is about as close as you can get to sampling whisky right out of the barrel, without actually visiting the distillery. And because unions, liability insurance policies, and various health and safety regulations tend to keep visitors out of most Canadian distilleries, Caribou Crossing is as good as it gets. And that is some good! If the whisky is this appealing at 40% alc./vol., a cask strength version would be staggering (hint, hint).Sazerac Company, which bottles Caribou Crossing, has spared no expense in bringing it to market as a premium whisky. This is a situation where a distiller’s intent and the connoisseur’s taste really line up.Presented in a substantial domed cube bottle, with a hologram of a caribou stag standing, head erect, framed by aurora borealis – the Northern lights – a maple-leaf-crowned metal stopper sealed with blue wax, the package fairly screams “Canadian arctic.” This, you imagine, is a whisky to nurture as you warm up by the fire after a long day mushing the dog team. Well, clichéd images of Canada aside, this is also a whisky Canada can be proud of, and so much the better that people can tell even by the look of it where it actually comes from.Sazerac promises more high-end releases, cherry picked from among its growing stockpile of more than 200,000 barrels of Canadian whisky. Good news for U.S. whisky drinkers. Now if only we can convince the powers that be to bring some Caribou Crossing home to Canada. What a joyful return that would be!To a growing list of accolades, Caribou Crossing now adds the award, Connoisseur Whisky of the Year – Export Market.Caribou Crossing is reviewed here.All Canadian Whisky Award winners for 2010 are listed here.