The first records of distilled grains spirits appeared in Ireland and Scotland in the 1400’s. Over time, these spirits became known as whiskey, which is the anglicized version of the Gaelic word uisce beatha (Ish-ca Baa-ha) which means water of life. English colonization spread whiskey making it to both Canada and the United States and the types of whiskey they made evolved based on the grains that grew well in those climates and soils. Before the 1800’s, whiskey was largely stored in barrels simply for transportation. But, around the turn of the 19th century, people noticed that whiskey stored in barrels had a better flavor and aroma and so began purposefully aging whiskey before selling it. As distilling technology improved, it expanded the variety of whiskey styles that could be made to match the preferences of the drinking public.
Canadian Whiskey can be made in any province in the country of Canada.
Canadian whiskies are different in a few ways: Unlike the US, Canadian whiskies can be aged in used barrels, which in combination with their generally cooler climate allows them to produce some very long aged whiskies. Additionally, some of the larger producers ferment, distill, and age individual grains separately. These producers vary how low or high they distill the whisky, making it either heavier and more flavorful or lighter in character. They will also age these different spirits in either newer or older barrels and add more or less wood color and flavors to the spirit. This gives blenders an incredibly large array of flavors to draw upon when creating a Blended Canadian Whisky.
A distillate or mixture of distillates made from a fermented grain mash or a fermented mixture of cereal grains, distilled, and aged in wood barrels for at least three years in Canada, and bottled at 40% ABV or higher. Canadian whisky may contain added caramel coloring, and up to 9.09% added flavoring that consists of wine or a spirit aged at least two years in wood.
A US legal term for any Canadian whisky that is made by mixing different whisky types such rye, wheat, corn, or malt whiskies etc.