Canadian Whisky Awards 2014 - Canada's Top Whiskies

VICTORIA, Jan. 16, 2015 – The verdict is in. A whisky distilled more than two decades ago, then tucked away and forgotten, is the best Canadian whisky of 2014.  A jury of nine independent whisky experts named Collingwood 21 Year Old Rye the Canadian Whisky of the Year at the fifth annual Canadian Whisky Awards. They announced the results of this annual blind tasting competition Thursday evening, January 15, at the Victoria Whisky Festival in Victoria, B.C.Chairman of the judges, Davin de Kergommeaux, described Collingwood Rye as: “A Canadian whisky connoisseur’s dream come true.” Only fifty barrels of Collingwood 21 Year Old Rye were distilled at the Canadian Mist Distillery in Collingwood, Ontario. Canadian stocks are almost gone, though limited quantities are still available from select U.S. liquor stores.Other top winners include Lot No. 40, Canadian Club Chairman’s Select 100% Rye, Forty Creek Double Barrel Reserve, Masterson’s 10-Year-Old Rye, and Crown Royal Monarch. Forty Creek distillery’s John Hall received a lifetime achievement award.“Interest in Canadian whisky continues to grow and Canada’s whisky makers have responded with a wealth of new high-end whiskies,” said de Kergommeaux as he revealed the winners. “For the first time a major legacy brand, Canadian Club, has released 100% rye grain whisky as a core offering. Canada’s best-selling whisky, Crown Royal, became the first major brand to release high-proof single barrel whisky, and Collingwood bottled long-aged rye whisky. Overall, distillers have released more small batch and top-end deluxe whiskies than ever before.”Sales of flavoured whisky also remain strong with Forty Creek, Centennial, and Sortilège making strong gains.The Winners:

Whisky of the Year: Collingwood 21 Year Old Rye

Lifetime Achievement Award: John K. Hall. Forty Creek Distillery

Connoisseur Whisky of the Year Domestic Market: Canadian Club Chairman's Select 100% Rye Connoisseur Whisky of the Year Export Market: Masterson's 10-Year-Old Rye batch 5 barrel A2-062 Connoisseur Whisky of the Year Multi-Markets: Collingwood 21-Year-Old RyeBest New Whisky: Stalk & Barrel Rye Whisky Sippin’ Whisky of the Year Domestic Market: Crown Royal Limited Edition Sippin’ Whisky of the Year Export Market: J.P. Wiser's Rye Sippin’ Whisky of the Year Multi-Markets: Royal Canadian Small Batch Value Whisky of the Year Domestic Market: Highwood Canadian Rye Whisky Value Whisky of the Year Export Market: Canadian Mist Value Whisky of the Year Multi-Market: J.P. Wiser's Deluxe Flavoured Whisky of the Year Domestic Market: Forty Creek Cream Flavoured Whisky of the Year Export Market: Peach Mist Flavoured Whisky of the Year Multi-Market: Tap 357 Flavoured Whisky of the Year: Forty Creek Cream Award of Excellence Canadian Whisky Profile: Crown Royal Hand Selected Barrel Program Award of Excellence Innovation: Masterson's 10-Year-Old Rye Barrel Program Award of Excellence Line Extension: Canadian Club Chairman's Select 100% RyeGold MedalsAlberta Premium Dark HorseCanadian Club Chairman's Select 100% RyeCentennial Dark ChocolateCollingwood 21-Year-Old RyeCrown Royal Limited EditionCrown Royal MonarchForty Creek CreamForty Creek Double Barrel ReserveLot No. 40Masterson's 10-Year-Old Rye batch 5 barrel A2-062Sortilège Maple CreamStalk & Barrel Rye WhiskySilver MedalsCanadian Club Classic 12Caribou CrossingCrown Royal MapleCrown Royal XOForty Creek 2014 EvolutionForty Creek Barrel SelectForty Creek Spike Honey SpicedJ.P. Wiser's RyeMasterson's 10-Year-Old Rye Batch 1 barrel F2-038Royal Canadian Small BatchTap 357Tap 8 RyeWiser's Red Letter 2014Wiser's Spiced Torched ToffeeBronze MedalsCanada GoldCanadian MistCanadian Rockies 21 year old Batch 2Crown Royal AppleCrown Royal De LuxeCrown Royal XR  LaSalleForty Creek Confederation Oak ReserveForty Creek Copper PotGibson's 12 year oldGibson's 18 year oldHighwood Canadian Rye WhiskyHighwood Ninety 20 year oldJ.P. Wiser's DeluxeJP Wiser's Spiced Whisky Vanilla No 5Legacy Small Batch (Sazerac)Maple MistPeach MistPike Creek 10 Year OldPike Creek NASR&R ReserveSortilègeSortilège CaramelSortilège PrestigeSpicebox Gingerbread Spiced WhiskySpicebox Spiced WhiskyWiser's 18 Year OldWisers LegacyAbout the Canadian Whisky AwardsThe Canadian Whisky Awards recognize the very best Canadian whiskies and encourage distillers to maintain the highest standards for making whisky. To qualify, the whisky must be distilled and matured in Canada. An independent panel of whisky writers, bloggers, and journalists selects the winners after tasting each whisky blind. Operated on a not-for-profit basis, the Canadian Whisky Awards are fully independent of the Canadian whisky industry.The Judges: Jason Debly, New Brunswick, Davin de Kergommeaux, Ontario, Chip Dykstra, Alberta, Mark Gillespie, USA, André Girard, Quebec, Graham MacKenney, New Brunswick, Johanne McInnis, New Brunswick, Blair Phillips, Ontario, Kris Shoemaker, Ontario.Canadian Whisky Awards 2010 are reported here: http://www.canadianwhisky.org/news-views/canadian-whisky-awards-2010.htmlCanadian Whisky Awards 2011 are reported here: http://www.canadianwhisky.org/news-views/canadian-whisky-awards-2011.htmlCanadian Whisky Awards 2012 are reported here: http://www.canadianwhisky.org/news-views/canadian-whisky-awards-2012.htmlCanadian Whisky Awards 2013 are reported here: http://www.canadianwhisky.org/news-views/canadian-whisky-awards-2013-winners.html