Canadian Whisky of the Year - 2012

VICTORIA, Jan. 17, 2013Forty Creek Port Wood Reserve - 2012 Edition - from John K. Hall's Forty Creek Distillery in Grimsby, Ontario has been named Canadian Whisky of the Year in the 2012 Canadian Whisky Awards. A jury of seven whisky writers, bloggers and broadcasters selected Hall's latest special release as best Canadian whisky of 2012, following more than a month of blind tastings.The results of the third annual Canadian Whisky Awards were announced Thursday evening (January 17, 2012) at the Victoria Whisky Festival in Victoria, B.C.Forty Creek Port Wood Reserve, a three-time winner, was also named Connoisseur Whisky of the Year in multiple markets, along with taking home a gold medal. Each year Hall manages to outdo himself with a new special release and 2012 was no exception. Port Wood Reserve is, in many people's opinion, the best whisky yet from Forty Creek Distillery. Given Forty Creek's well-earned reputation for quality whisky, that is saying a lot!Forty Creek whiskies won in so many categories that someone at the awards banquet opined that John Hall would need extra luggage to get all his medals and plaques home to Grimsby. Among other recognition garnered by Hall's distillery, Forty Creek Copper Pot Reserve was named Sippin' Whisky of the year for the domestic market while Canada Gold, also from Forty Creek won Value Whisky of 2012.Other top winners included Gibson’s Finest Rare 18 year old, and Canadian Rockies 21 year old.The awards also recognized the 2012, flavoured whisky phenomenon.  All of the major whisky makers have moved to address the growing demand for flavoured whiskies with Gibson’s, Forty Creek, and Kruger Wine and Spirits being given particular mention. Awards of Excellence went to Kruger Wine and Spirits for Sortilège and Diageo for Crown Royal Maple. Flavoured whisky may be anathema to the hard-core whisky crowd, but it is making a huge contribution to the category by drawing drinkers with other preferences, step-wise, into the whisky fold.Alberta Premium Dark Horse, from Beam Inc. was recognized for taking the already popular Alberta Premium in a new and exciting direction.2012 - what a year to be a whisky lover. Canadian producers have really upped their game and the results came through clearly in the awards they received.  Canadian whisky sales were up four percent in 2012 with double-digit growth in sales of high-end Canadian connoisseur whiskies. The time has come once again, to recognize the excellent quality of Canadian whisky and that is why the Canadian Whisky Awards have drawn such enthusiastic support from industry and drinks journalists alike.Each year the Canadian Whisky Awards recognize the very best Canadian whiskies and encourage distillers to maintain the highest standards for making whisky. To be eligible, whiskies must be distilled and matured in Canada. An independent panel of whisky writers, bloggers, and journalists selects the winners after blind tasting each whisky. Operated on a not-for-profit basis, the Canadian Whisky Awards are fully independent of the Canadian whisky industry.It takes a very special whisky come to the fore of such a strong entry. Congratulations to John K. Hall and his Forty Creek Distillery. In 2012, Forty Creek Port Wood Reserve was just that whisky.For a complete list of all the winners of the 2012 Canadian Whisky Awards click here.Forty Creek Port Wood Reserve 2012 Edition is reviewed here.