Forty Creek is an umbrella name for a number of Canadian whiskies produced by John K. Hall, first generation whisky maker, and owner of Kittling Ridge Wines & Spirits. John Hall started making Forty Creek in 1992, beginning with Forty Creek Barrel Select and Forty Creek Three Grain. In 2007 the first of the Forty Creek Special Reserves were released - limited edition Forty Creek Whiskies that vary with each lot. Malt Advocate magazine named John Hall “Pioneer of the Year” because of his contribution to new lines of thought and new methods in the world of whisky. The distillery is located in Grimsby, Ontario, Canada (between Hamilton and Niagara Falls) and is the only 100% Canadian-owned distillery remaining in Ontario.
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Forty Creek Barrel Select is a blended Canadian whisky, 40% alcohol (ethanol) by volume, 80 proof. It is made with rye, barley and Indian corn (maize). Each grain is fermented, distilled, and aged separately to produce a "méritage" of single grain whiskies. After distillation using a small-batch, copper pot still, the whiskies are aged separately 6–10 years in small cask 40-gallon white oak barrels of varying toasting levels. Vintage sherry casks round off some of the aged whiskies after they are blended, for an additional six months.
Forty Creek has garnered a number of awards at Spirit ratings competitions and from rating organizations. The awards include:
• Tier 1 Status – Proof66 Liquor Ratings Aggregator.[1]
• One of the Top 5 best tasting whiskies in North America - Beverage Testing Institute, Chicago
• Double Gold Medal - San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2006.[1]
• Gold Medal – World Selection, Brussels, Belgium
• Gold Medal – 2010 International Review of Spirits, Chicago
• Gold Medal – 2011 International Review of Spirits, Chicago
• Highest Award - International Spirits Challenge, London, England
• Best Canadian Whisky - New England International Whisky Festival, Connecticut
• Editor's Choice Gold Award - Whisky Magazine, London, England
• First Canadian whisky to be articled in Whisky Magazine, London, England
• Highest score for a Canadian Whisky – Whisky Magazine, London, England
In the 2008 Icons of Whisky Canada competition held by London England's Whisky Magazine, John K. Hall was awarded Ambassador of the Year while Kittling Ridge was deemed Best Distiller.
While Forty Creek Barrel Select continues to be the main whisky produced under the Forty Creek brand name, the production of some other limited edition whiskies associated with the brand began in 2007. Typically, the bottles are individually numbered; the public has a period time in which they can reserve a particular number; and the whisky is released in September, followed by a special weekend of events at the distillery.
Forty Creek Confederation Oak Reserve - Lot 1867
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Forty Creek Port Wood Reserve - Lot 60
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Forty Creek Double Barrel Reserve - Lot 240*
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Forty Creek Small Batch Reserve - Lot 104
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