Glen Breton Rare 10 Year Old Canadian Single Malt Whisky (700ml)

Bruce Jardine was a local businessman not afraid to think outside the box. After envisioning the concept for a whisky distillery in Cape Breton he traveled to Scotland and sourced out the needed equipment. While there, Jardine acquired a pair of copper pot stills that were hammered out by A. Forsyth & Sons of Rothes, a mash tun and 3 wooden washbacks. As water is a key ingredient in the making of whisky, Bruce and his team researched and sourced out a site at the base of Glenora falls but finally opted for a site further down MacLellan’s Brook, set in an apple orchard amongst a natural stand of maple trees.

Shortly after the construction of the distillery, the nine room inn, the original warehouse, and the erection of the distillation equipment, production began in 1990 yielding a miniscule 20 barrels. Three years later, after aging in oak barrels, the spirit could technically be referred to as North America’s first Single Malt Whisky.

Considering single malt whisky typically matures in the warehouse for at least eight years, cash flow can become a burden. The company (Glenora) was restructured and led by Gary Widmeyer, a local businessman. As Glenora continued to be financially stressed it again was forced into receivership after three more years. Then, in 1994, Glenora and its maturing whisky was once again saved from financial downfall. The new and present group is led by Lauchie MacLean, another Bedford businessman.

To add to the struggle, the company's Single Malt Whisky, known as 'Glen Breton', has been the focus of a legal dispute with the Scotch Malt Whisky Association over the use of the name "Glen". Not distracted from their main cause, Glenora has pushed on regardless. In the midst of all these adversities, Glen Breton has been named as one of the 50 top spirits worldwide by Wine Enthusiast Magazine and was recently awarded a Gold Medal at the '2011 International Review of Spirits' held in Chicago (see the review below).

Other reviews... Bright golden yellow color. Aromas of buttery praline, granola smores, lemon blossom, and delicate baking spices with a round, satiny dry-yet-fruity medium-to-full body and a long date bread, peppery spice, wet stone, and subtle peat moss accented finish. A captivating and elegant whisky, vaguely reminiscent of a fine lowland Scotch.
International Review of Spirits Award: Gold Medal
RATING: 95 points (Exceptional) - www.tastings.comsize>

...an impressive whisky, one of the best bottlings of this age for some while and showing the malt at full throttle. 89.5 points 43% bottling reviewed. - Jim Murrays Whisky Bible 2013size>