Headlines were made last November when Canada’s Crown Royal Northern Harvest Rye was ranked as the number one whisky in the world.
Leading whisky expert Jim Murray dubbed the $30 whisky the best in the world, which was the first time a Canadian whisky won the top prize in his Whisky Bible.
And now, the Northern Harvest rye is getting some attention again, but this time for different reasons.
The sixth annual Canadian Whisky Awards were held in Victoria, B.C., this past Thursday and to the surprise of many, the Northern Harvest rye wasn’t dubbed the number one whisky in Canada for 2015.
The prestigious title was awarded to Lot 40, of Hiram Walker Distillers in Windsor, Ont., and the distinction was determined by a panel of 10 independent whisky experts in a blind tasting test.
Davin de Kergommeaux, chairman of the judges at the annual Canadian Whisky Awards, called Lot. No. 40, “a rye whisky sensation.” A whisky expert, de Kergommeaux has written for the Scotch Whisky Review, Whisky Magazine, and is also the author of Canadian Whisky: The Portable Expert.
While Lot 40, which retails for $40, took home first place, the Northern Harvest was still awarded a gold medal and an award of excellence.
When it comes to Canada producing excellent whiskies, de Kergommeux says,”interest in rye is surging globally and here is proof that Canada makes the best all-rye whiskies in the world. Canada’s whisky makers have responded to skyrocketing interest in Canadian whisky with a wealth of new high-end releases.”
Northern Harvest was in good company, as fellow Canadian Club’s 100% Rye was named ‘Sippin’ Whisky of the Year.’
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