Gooderham & Worts is a Canadian whiskey legend

Gooderham & Worts Four Grain Whisky | Ontario | LCBO Code # 428417 | $42.75 | 44.4% alc. 750 ml

Gooderham & Worts distillery first established itself in the early 1800s but was dwarfed in output by the juggernaut known as Molson’s, which for more than 25 years was the largest distiller in the British Commonwealth. There’s a wealth of this history to enjoy in Davin De Kergommeaux’s book Canadian Whisky, which I can only recommend.

The original Gooderham & Worts still stands in some form and is now better known as Toronto’s Distillery District. Because of its roots, the district has often been used in both American and Canadian film and television for period pieces set in the 1800s.

As for the whisky, you’ll enjoy nosing this as there’s so much going on. Upfront a little buttery note, followed by sweet corn and caramel, followed by stewed peach which is also quite apparent on the palate. The four grains on the label include: rye, wheat, corn and barley.

On the palate, it also shows allspice, cinnamon and black pepper and a floral note that comes in at the finish. It’s a dry but fruity whisky that will make a fine end-of-day sipper or an elegant Manhattan

This is an all-rounder of a whisky. Good enough on its own but versatile enough for mixing. In case you’re wondering, it made a killer spiked ginger beer using the Bear ‘n Beaver from Giant Tiger.