The sales and marketing people at Corby Distilleries are betting they can buck the trend. The three were formulated in the mould of established Canadian whiskies, but with extra dimensions and more flavor. The man at the heart of the project is its master blender D. Michael Booth. His ancestor Joshua was a miller-distiller who lived on Ontario's Bay of Quinte shore in the late 1700s. Booth the elder created the recipe for Lot No. 40, named for his homestead.
Pike Creek is perhaps the most unusual member of the guild.
It's formulated to serve as an exemplary all-round Canadian whisky. I had the opportunity to taste these premium products in Toronto recently. If there's any justice, they'll fly off the shelves. The nose reminded me of muscat raisins and dried orange peel, with generous notes of vanilla, caramels, lavender and ginger. In the mouth it was smooth, full and delightfully warm through a lingering flavorful finish.