Forty Creek

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.

Contents

Forty Creek Barrel Select

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.

Awards and accolades

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.

Forty Creek Special Reserves

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
  • Released for sale on Monday, September 13, 2010
  • Celebration weekend: September 18 & 19, 2010
  • Award: Double Gold Medal - 2011 San Francisco World Spirits Competition
  • Award: Canadian Whisky of the Year - 2010 Malt Advocate Whisky Awards
  • Award: Top Ten New Whiskies for 2010 - 2010 Malt Advocate Whisky Awards
  • Award: Gold Medal - 2011 International Review of Spirits, Chicago
  • Award: Canadian Whisky of The Year, Multiple Markets - Canadian Whisky Awards 2010
Forty Creek Port Wood Reserve - Lot 60
  • Released for sale on Tuesday, September 15, 2009
  • Celebration weekend: September 19 & 20, 2009
Forty Creek Double Barrel Reserve - Lot 240*
  • Released for sale on Monday, September 15, 2008
  • Celebration weekend: September 20 & 21, 2008
  • *NOTE: Subsequent lots (batches) of Forty Creek Double Barrel Reserve are now made once or twice per year, in limited quantities (approx. 10 000 bottles each lot)
  • Award: Gold Medal - 2011 International Review of Spirits, Chicago
Forty Creek Small Batch Reserve - Lot 104
  • Released for sale on Monday, September 17, 2007
  • Celebration weekend: September 22 & 23, 2007

See also

References

External links