Forty Creek Port Wood Reserve

John Hall has just announced his Forty Creek limited release for this fall. Forty Creek Port Wood Reserve is back by popular demand. The folks at Forty Creek will open their annual bottle reservations on Monday, May 7th, 2012, at 12:00 noon. Sorry, other deadlines prevent me from reviewing this whisky right now, so I'll just say I love it. I will post a review as soon as my desk is cleared.This 2012 special release marks the sixth from Forty Creek. There are only 6,600 bottles of Port Wood available. Once again, for a limited time, Canadian Whisky lovers have an opportunity to reserve their own special bottle number. Reserve any number between 0003 and 6,600 (bottle # 1 and # 2 as always, are already reserved for you know who!)Reservations for numbered bottles are only being offered from noon on May 7 until 5:00 p.m. on June 7, 2012. Reserved bottles will be available for pickup at the distillery in September, 2012. A more definite date will will be announced later. For those who miss out on the reservation period, general sales will also begin in September. As always, numbers are reserved on a first come, first served basis. Often people choose a number that has special significance – a birth year, an anniversary, a lucky number.Due to provincial and federal regulations, Forty Creek cannot ship bottles. They must be purchased and picked up at the distillery in Grimsby, Ontario.Notes from John Hall, Whisky MakerThis is the second release of my Port Wood Reserve whisky. It is back by popular demand, and because I wish I had made more of it the first time.
My vintage ports are made from Niagara-grown grapes and aged in white oak heavy charred barrels. I must confess I am fond of vintage ports so making my Port Wood Reserve has the added benefit of allowing me to enjoy some very tasty ports.Port Wood Reserve is made in the same style as all my Forty Creek whiskies, in that I do not use a mash bill. My varietal whiskies are aged separately, and once completed, they are brought together for further rounding out. In this whisky, the Forty Creek blend was aged in the vintage port wood barrels for another two years prior to bottling.I am very happy with how this second release has matured. It is every bit as delicious, complex and smooth as my first lot of Port Wood, which won a Gold Medal at the International Review of Spirits in Chicago.John Hall's Tasting NotesAppearance: Rich copper and gold with red flashes.Nose: Ever evolving with concentrated, complex aromas. Dried fruit aromas of orange, black cherry, raisin, fig and date. Intense, yet delicate aromas of vanilla, ginger, cereal malt, and exotic spice.Palate: Full-bodied and smooth, with a fruity oak finish which is nicely framed by fiery cinnamon, chocolate, tobacco, and smoke, and balanced with sweet toffee & honey.Finish: Long, lingering and ultra smooth.I hope you enjoy this release of Forty Creek Port Wood Reserve.You could have in your hands one of only 6,600 bottles. Each bottle is individually numbered. Enjoy!Port Wood Reserve will sell for $69.95.Forty Creek John's Private Cask No. 1 reviewed here.Forty Creek Confederation Oak Reserve reviewed here.Forty Creek Double Barrel Reserve reviewed here.Forty Creek Barrel Select reviewed here.Forty Creek Copper Pot Reserve reviewed here.