#181-184: Wayne Gretzky Estates

Good afternoon everyone! Simon here from S&P. Got the opportunity to tour the Wayne Gretzky Estates in Niagara On The Lakes Ontario and try all 4 of their whiskies as well as a couple beers, a wine, and an ice wine.

Here are my thoughts on their whiskies:

Wayne Gretzky Red Cask: 40% ABV, $35 CAD, finished in red wine casks from the Wayne Gretzky winery. No age statement.

Nose: Caramel, butterscotch, with a typical Canadian rye aroma (kind of nailpolishy vanillaish ryeish note)

Palate: Same, butterscotchy with a little rye note.

Overall/review: The body on this is pretty weak, and it's pretty simple. That said it's OK for the price. I don't really get any cask influence here. 70.

Wayne Gretzky Maple Cask: 40% ABV, $35 CAD, finished in maple syrup casks. No age statement.

Nose: All maple syrup.

Palate: Pure maple candy maple syrup. A little bit of heat.

Overall/review: This tastes like a flavored whisky but a pretty good one. 73.

Wayne Gretzky Ice Cask: 41.5%, $60 CAD, finished in ice wine casks. No age statement.

Nose: All butterscotch ice cream, caramel, werthers.

Palate: Big butterscotch ice cream with a little rye spice.

Overall/review: This is a fuller version of the Red Cask. The flavors are much bolder, the body is more put together. Very nice, yet simple, whisky. Not really any clear influence from the ice wine. 75.

Wayne Gretzky 99 Proof: 49.5% ABV, $99 CAD, aged in ex-bourbon barrels and finished in cab sauv casks for 100 days. No age statement.

Nose: Butterscotch, nutmeg, baking spices.

Palate: Butterscotchy red wine. Rye spice. Some herbal rye notes, some Canadian rye notes. Very flavorful and well put together.

Overall/Review: Finally a whisky drinker's whisky. This is actually really good and well put together. The grain comes through, the cask influence, some nice age to it, all well balanced. 80.

Over-overall: The Maple Cask and Ice Cask would make great gifts for your bud light drinking uncles. They're full bodied sweet profiles, great for mixing, for drinking neat, or enjoyed on the rocks. That said they are not an enthusiast's whiskies and you won't see them on my shelf. They're pretty boring and over-sweet. The 99 Proof is the opposite. Definitely something for an enthusiast to appreciate. It's punchy, flavorful, well intergrated, and well balanced between the casks and the grain. I would like it on my shelf but I would want to pay $50-$60 for this type of Canadian Whisky, maybe a bit more. So unless it gets gifted you probably won't find it here.

BONUS Review: Rosé Grape Spirit. 40% ABV.

Both nose and palate: Peaches and bananas. Pretty refreshing on the rocks. Would make good cocktails. 74.

Cheers!

Simon from S&P.