Canadian Whisky - VinoZen Society Selection 2025
After a lengthy process, I’m delighted to finally share my selection of Canadian whiskies for the VinoZen Society Selection 2025.
Eighteen whiskies were carefully chosen based on the following criteria:
100% Canadian owned, distilled, matured, and bottled
Available for purchase in BC without the need for special channels
These fall into three broad categories:
Grain whisky
100% rye whisky
Single-malt whisky
Before revealing the results—as we did last year—I’ll first walk you through my thoughts and the selection process behind this year’s lineup.
Scroll Down or click HERE to the Reviews Section, but I would prefer if you take time to read through the following to understand the context.
Thoughts
As a WSET-trained taster and long-time whisky enthusiast, I approached this selection with both objective analysis and personal instinct. Whisky can be enjoyed in many ways—neat, on the rocks, diluted, or mixed into a cocktail. I personally prefer it neat — yes, even at cask strength. My thinking is simple: if the distillers wanted us to drink it at 20%, they’d bottle it that way.
Oof, that preference definitely shaped the time it took to fairly assess 18 different whiskies. High alcohol fatigues the palate far faster and more aggressively than tannins — it’s not even close. So I gave each sample the space and attention it deserved. Eighteen whiskies is a lot to take seriously, and I wanted to do it justice.
Why Canadian Whisky for the 2025 Selection?
Without diving too deep into geopolitics, I believe wines and spirits should be borderless—shared, celebrated, and accessible. But reality rarely matches the ideal.
Seeing rows of empty shelves at BCL is frustrating—especially when they aren’t restocked with more of our own. We don’t lack quality products. Perhaps what we lack is recognition.
It’s definitely a connoisseur’s move to seek out expressive Canadian whiskies—but is it fashionable to do so?
Talking about drinking trends isn’t usually what VinoZen focuses on (drink what’s good, not what’s trendy), but younger generations are already drinking less—and not necessarily better. We need to advocate proper education and mindful appreciation to keep this vital category growing the best way possible.
This project gave me a moment to reflect on something often overlooked:
How difficult it is—even for us locals—to access the very whiskies that once shaped Canada’s early economy and cultural identity.
Before income tax became permanent in 1917, excise duties on whisky were one of the federal government’s main sources of revenue. Canadian whisky wasn’t just a drink—it was a pillar of national income, international reputation, and local pride.
And yet today, many of these whiskies remain hard to find—even within Canada itself, especially across provincial borders. The ones that are widely available are often partially or wholly owned by foreign conglomerates—unsurprising, given the resources and distribution power they bring. That contradiction stays with me. I wanted this selection to quietly honour that history while showcasing what Canadian-owned whisky still has to offer.
And I can’t help but wonder—if Canadian whisky doesn’t command the same global prestige as Scotch, Bourbon, or Japanese whisky, how much of that comes from our own fractured sense of home?
But I digress.
The Process
Canadian whisky still deserves to be evaluated by its diverse styles—each on its own merit, and then together.
Like last year, the bottles that made the cut were the ones that gave me a truly great drinking experience—enough to spark vivid imagery, what I call VinoZen Metaphors.
For a wine or spirit to move me like that, it first has to meet a certain threshold of objective quality. That means balance: the structural elements—body, alcohol, texture—should never overpower the flavour, and vice versa. Either both are elegant, or both are explosive—but they must be aligned, not at odds.
A whisky should showcase its raw material, not be masked by excessive oak. And cut points matter—especially for complexity, clarity, and composure.
After tasting thousands of wines and spirits over the past two decades—some outstanding, some forgettable—my palate has become intuitive. I started out just drinking what tasted good — and gotta be honest, what looked cool. Then I went through formal WSET training and began analyzing everything with a technical lens. And now, funnily enough, I’ve come full circle—back to drinking what I love… but with everything I now understand.
BY FIRST MASTERING THE OBJECTIVES, THEN BEING UNAPOLOGETICALLY SUBJECTIVE.
Unlike wine, whisky bottles come in all kinds of shapes and sizes. Standard blind tasting bags didn’t fit them all, so I had to devise my own solo blind tasting method—ensuring I didn’t know which sample was which.
Here’s how I did it:
First session of all 18, and I thought I could go through them in one day. Had to stagger them over a week and half to give my palate enough rest in between.
Numbered the backs of both the bottles and the glasses
Poured all the samples, then put the bottles away
Shuffled the glasses to randomize the order
As long as I avoided checking the numbers while pouring, I could taste blind.
Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to find a 100% rye that fully met my criteria this year—but I’ll keep searching.
(One of my personal favourites, Lot 40 Dark Oak, was sadly ineligible due to ownership—it’s not 100% Canadian-owned.)
Disclaimer: I could still often identify the general category—and occasionally the brand—with reasonable accuracy. But for a solo session, this was the most impartial method I could manage.
Disclaimer 2: No distillery sponsored this—and I did ask. Every bottle was paid for out of pocket. Just me—chasing clarity… and maybe a little madness.
vinozen society selections 2025
Canadian Whisky
Top eight - in alphabetical order of Distillery Names
WILD AIR - BEARFACE WILDERNESS SERIES 03
Bearface Spirits - BC
Category:
Grain Whisky
Technicals
TYPE: SINGLE GRAIN WHISKY
(99.5% CORN, 0.5% Malted Barley)
ABV: 42.5%
Distilled in Ontario then Aged in BC
Hungarian oak
Ex–Pinot Noir casks
Birch bark–charred ex–Viognier casks
Ex–bourbon barrels finished in maple syrup brûlée casks
Price: $59.99
DISTILLERY WEBSITE
A forest stream teems with life—bear mid-catch, salmon flashing upstream.
PRIMAL | WILD | FRESH
tasting note
Nose:
Pronounced intensity. Layers unfold with richness and depth. Something with refreshing wilderness (yep)
Flavours:
Chocolate-covered corn, ripe peach, apricot, forest wood, hint of rubber, warm tar.
Texture:
Fully formed on entry, with flavour and alcohol in confident harmony. Gradual warmth, oily texture, and lingering clarity.
Finish:
Long and weighty, carrying its forest-born richness to the end.
Commentary: This was one of the few I guessed correctly during the first blind tasting session—it had such a distinct character, a clear identity. Rich, layered, and full of wilderness life. The metaphor it gave me somehow gave me a bear, no joke. The cask treatments were clearly well thought out—four distinct elements blended with real harmony. Honestly, this is the best value find out of the entire selection. Mark Anthony Group’s done it again. Read up on their process—it’s worth the dive.
PROFESSOR PLUM’s
Okanagan Spirits Craft Distillery, Vernon, BC
Category:
Grain Whisky
Technicals
TYPE: Grain Whisky
ABV: 42.7%
Base: Distilled from honey blonde hopped ale
Primary aging: 8.5 years in new toasted & charred white oak casks
Finish: Plum brandy casks
Filtration: Charcoal brûléed casks (Pioneer County Process)
Price: $75
DISTILLERY WEBSITE
Frosh Week — wide-eyed freedom, sweet chaos, and the first sip of adulthood.
PLAYFUL | BRIGHT | UNCONVENTIONAL
Nose:
Pronounced aroma intensity. Beautiful aromatic lift with layered orchard warmth.
Flavours:
Ripe plum, red apple, honey, vanilla, whisper of hop, grassy undertones, dried hay.
Texture:
Slightly watery on entry, then gently warms. Lightly oily and balanced with a mellow core.
Finish:
Long and composed, leaving a sweet, orchard-kissed trail.
Commentary: Straight out of left field, this whisky smells more like brandy than whisky—until it hits your palate. Definitely not your standard pour. It was originally meant to be bottled at 5 years, but got “lost” for 3 more—eventually found and finished in plum brandy casks. Kind of like young adults getting their first real taste of freedom after high school. 😉
An Loy
Macaloney’s Island Distillery, Saanich, BC
Category:
Single-Malt Whisky
No Age Statement
Technicals
TYPE: Single-Malt Whisky
ABV: 46%
60% First-fill Bourbon casks
15% Portuguese STR red wine barriques
15% Oloroso Sherry casks
10% PX Sherry casks
Price: $105.99
DISTILLERY WEBSITE
A boy with a pinwheel runs through open fields, breeze and joy in perfect rhythm.
VAST | NOSTALGIC | FREE
Nose:
Pronounced intensity. Gradual and persistent delivery in layers of complexity.
Flavours:
Apple, apple cider, white peach, fino sherry. Bright and nutty with a touch of honey — orchard fruit, sherry brightness, nutty undertones, subtle honeyed lift.
Texture:
Mostly oily with a hint of lightness; gentle entry that warms steadily. Mouth-coating and well-balanced.
Finish:
Long, with evolving layers of complexity.
Commentary: This is an elegant, expansive, and well-integrated whisky—arguably the most Scotch-like in the entire flight. Its depth and complexity were delivered so gently and matter-of-factly, it nearly slipped under my radar. It also happened to be the very last whisky in the blind tasting (number 18). Thankfully, I caught its nuance during the follow-up sessions, where I revisited each sample with fresh perspective.
Peated Kildara
Macaloney’s Island Distillery, Saanich, BC
Category:
Grain Whisky
TECHNICALS
TYPE: Grain Whisky
ABV: 46%
Mash Bill:
60% unmalted farmers barley
40% malted barley
All locally grown in Canada
Peat Source:
Lightly peated to 21 ppm
Peat sourced from Olympic Peninsula
Peat-smoking done in-house using traditional methods
Triple-Distilled in Pot Still
Maturation:
Natural colour
Non-chill filtered
Price: $109.99
DISTILLERY WEBSITE
Like a supercar built by Rolls, Aston, and F1—luxury, power, and precision in overdrive. Commissioned by Bruce Wayne.
LUXURY | PRECISE | INTRICATE
Nose:
Medium+ intensity, bright and fruity with layered complexity.
Flavours:
Pronounced flavour intensity — apple, peach, apricot, malt, nutty, raisins, sherry, chalk, honey, caramel, toffee, and light floral smoke.
Texture:
Oily, with gently warming alcohol; beautifully balanced with the complexity of flavours.
Finish:
Very long and intricate.
Commentary:
If Bruce Wayne commissioned Rolls-Royce and Aston Martin to build an F1-grade supercar, this would be it—polished, powerful, and engineered to thrill. And yet, like An Loy, it nearly slipped past me. Rookie mistake: I tasted it right after a cask strength… and a few others… during my very first blind session, thinking I could tackle all 18 (in three flights of six) in one day.
I’m a trained WSET educator, by the way.
Professionally humbled.
What makes this even more compelling is its foundation: a traditional Irish-style mash bill using both unmalted and malted barley—executed with unmistakable Canadian soul. It can’t technically be called a single malt… but honestly, who cares?
This ended up being my personal favourite of the entire flight—followed closely by Bearface 03.
OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS
The Dubh Glas DistiLlery, Oliver BC
Category:
Single-Malt Whisky
No Age Statement
Technicals
TYPE: Single-Malt Whisky
ABV: 46%
Cask Composition:
100% Ex-Bourbon barrels
Specifically drawn from two individual casks: E001 and E003
Pure ex-bourbon maturation
Maturation:
Aged entirely in ex-bourbon barrels on-site in the Okanagan Valley
Non-chill filtered, natural colour (not explicitly stated but typical for the distillery)
Price: $97.48
LEGACY LIQUOR STORE
a rustic feel of something both old and new. both seek and found. x marks the spot
RUSTIC | LAYERED | WAITING
Nose:
Bright and pronounced intensity with lifted orchard fruit and resinous character.
Flavours:
Peach, apricot, candied apple, maple, raisin, honey, and toffee—layered with hints of varnish and oil paint for a slightly nostalgic, textural edge.
Texture:
Gentle and oily on entry, with alcohol that gradually builds to carry the flavours forward in waves.
Finish:
Long, with subtle complexity and a warming, lingering sweetness.
Commentary: This one came to my attention thanks to Julie at Stag’s Hollow Winery during my June 2025 visit—right after I mentioned my tasting project plans. I was lucky enough to track down a bottle at Legacy Liquor Store not long after. The whisky delivered that rare sensation: like stumbling across a treasure map, heavy with promise and the thrill of discovery—complete with the scent of aged parchment and wine-stained secrets.
Ripple Rock
Shelter Point Distillery. Campbell River, BC
Category:
Single-Malt Whisky
No Age Statement
Technicals
TYPE: Single-Malt Whisky
46% ABV
Base: 100% Malted British Columbia Barley
Distillation: Double Distilled in Traditional Copper Pot Stills (by Forsyths)
Casks:
Alligator Charred Virgin American Oak
Ex-Bourbon Barrels
Price: $78.25
DISTILLERY WEBSITE
Like gazing at a stone mural in Dunhuang — timeless, SMOULDERING, and quietly transcendent.
BOLD | BROODING | WATCHFUL
Nose:
Medium+ intensity with fresh just-ripe apple, clay, and a gentle incense lift.
Flavours:
Bright orchard fruit layered with chalky minerality, dried and fresh dates, and a subtle earthy note that evokes ancient stone and desert wind.
Texture:
Oily on entry with a slight watery lift mid-palate. Balanced and composed.
Finish:
Long and meditative, with lingering mineral complexity.
Commentary: I first heard of Shelter Point back in 2013—two years after they were founded—drawn by their 100% BC barley sourcing and fully Canadian approach to single malt whisky. I was just getting into single malts then, and waited anxiously to finally taste their first release a few years later. The one I tasted was an Evan’s Family Reserve Rum Cask. It was fantastic.
Still to me, Shelter Point whiskies have always carried this passive-aggressive edge—a kind of quiet brood beneath the elegance. Not a flaw, just a signature. And when it clicks—like with Ripple Rock—it becomes something hauntingly beautiful.
cask strength
Vancouver Costal Influence
Shelter Point Distillery, Campbell River, BC.
Category:
Single Malt Whisky
Cask Strength
Technicals
TYPE: Single Malt Cask Strength Whisky
ABV: 58.7%
Still: Copper wash and spirit stills by Forsyths
Base: 100% malted BC barley
Natural colour and non-chill filtered
Their Classic Single Malt as it comes straight from the barrel
Price: $90
Like a young Shaolin monk—brimming with chi, powerful and precise, just beginning to grasp the quiet strength of restraint.
BOLD | FOCUSED | RESTRAINED
Nose:
Pronounced intensity. Ripe apple, peach, apricot, candied cherry, almond, fino sherry, and a whisper of smoke. A unique baijiu-like character emerges, layered with earthy sorghum and restrained heat from the high ABV.
Flavours:
Bold and complex—fruit-forward (apple, apricot, cherry), nutty (almond), earthy and lightly smoky with distinct fino sherry and sorghum depth.
Texture:
Slightly watery at the front but quickly builds with oily mid-palate weight. Alcohol stings but stays in balance thanks to strong flavour concentration.
Finish:
Long, with fruit-wine character and lingering earthy, nutty tones.
Commentary: This happened to be the very first whisky of my first session—and it came out swinging. Its structure was powerful, but what really impressed me was how the complexity and intensity of flavours held their ground.
For those familiar with Shaolin discipline, monks spend years perfecting a single technique and decades building the foundation. This felt like one of them—just beginning to master restraint and understand the Zen beneath the strength.
Side note: Strangely enough, both Shelter Point whiskies in the lineup drew metaphors from Far Eastern Buddhism. Totally unplanned… but deeply telling.
Glen Breton Rare 14 year old
Glenora Distillery, glenville ,nova scotia
Category:
Single-Malt Whisky
With Age Statement
Technicals
TYPE: Single Malt Whisky with Age Statement
ABV: 43%
Water Source: MacLellan’s Brook (on-site natural spring)
Fermentation: ~60 hours in wooden washbacks
Distillation:
Double distilled
Copper pot stills (originally from Bowmore, Islay, Scotland)
Maturation:
14 years in ex–bourbon American oak barrels
Stored in traditional dunnage warehouses with earth floors (no climate control)
Price: $117.43
DISTILLERY WEBSITE
By a Hawaiian beach at sunset—warm, tropical, and easy, with a touch of sea breeze and depth beneath the surface.
TROPICAL | BALANCED | LAID-BACK
Nose:
Pronounced intensity. Fruity esters with overripe orchard and tropical fruit, gentle smoke, and maple sweetness.
Flavours:
Apple, pineapple, banana, peach, apricot, maple, soft smoke.
Texture:
Gentle entry; flavour and alcohol rise together in harmony. Oily texture emerges toward the end.
Finish:
Medium-long, clean and well balanced.
Commentary: This 14-year-old turned out to be a joyful surprise—relaxed, laid-back, and easy to love. Like sipping a piña colada on a beachside lounger. And yes, I’d happily do just that with this in hand.
Glenora Distillery was the first single malt whisky distillery in North America. While refining my tasting criteria, their name came up—thanks to their 21-year-old winning Gold at the 2025 Whisky Awards in the Best Canadian Single Malt 21 & Over category. Honestly, it was my first time hearing of them. How little I knew. It’s a reminder: we often search across oceans and borders before exploring our own backyard.
Side Note: Glen Breton 21 took home Gold this year—a remarkable achievement, though it quietly underscores the scarcity of long-aged Canadian single malts. Most Canadian whiskies aged 20+ years are blends or ryes—let alone 100% Canadian owned. Glenora’s legacy and patience positioned them as one of the only contenders in this class. It’s less a crowded battlefield and more a quiet summit—but even then, you still have to make the climb. If opportunity allows, I’ll do a separate review on this whisky.