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When you think of the world’s most renowned whisky-making regions, Canada might not be the first place that comes to mind – but it should be. In fact, Canada once produced some of the most prestigious whisky in the world, and it’s making a remarkable comeback.
In 1939, King George VI became the first reigning monarch to visit Canada. Joined by Queen Elizabeth, the royal couple were presented with a single case of Crown Royal whisky upon their arrival. They were so impressed by the quality of the whisky – made by the shore of Lake Winnipeg in Manitoba – that they returned home with 20 more cases. For decades after, Canadian whisky was widely recognised as ‘fit for a king’, only to have the prestige fall away with time. That’s about to change.
At a recent launch for another partner in London, the Oeno team had the pleasure of meeting John Cote and Barb Stefanyshyn-Cote of Black Fox Farm & Distillery. For these fifth-generation farmers, agriculture and taking care of the land is in their blood. So is whisky. They, as Barb puts it, embrace the “crop-to-connoisseur philosophy”, growing their own grains and overseeing the entire whisky-making process.
“We are only the current caregivers of this land; we are not the owners,” says Barb. “Our job is to leave it better for the next generation.”
Their dedication is undeniable, considering they’ve amassed more gold medals than any other Canadian distillery in recent years. Their secret lies in a special grain – triticale – and in the ageing process. Triticale is a hybrid of wheat and rye and is very uncommon in the whisky world.
John Cote and Barb Stefanyshyn-Cote of Black Fox Farm & Distillery
What’s more, their whisky is aged outdoors, where temperatures fluctuate between a staggering minus 40 and plus 40 degrees Celsius. This extreme variation creates intense pressure within the barrels and results in a spicy yet delicate character, beautifully balanced with a long finish and subtle hints of clove, cinnamon, and cherry.
Now they are on a mission to raise Canadian whisky back up to its rightful place. But they aren’t interested in just quality, appreciating there’s always more they can do to look after this planet.
“When you’re sipping on our whisky, you’re having a positive effect on the world”, says John. “For every barrel of whisky we make, it’s like taking a car off the road in terms of CO2 emissions we can save. The plan is to keep getting better and improving our carbon footprint.”
The couple has admirable pride for Black Fox: “We see ourselves as one of the top recognised distilleries for the quality we make, the story that we tell, and the experience people have.”
In fact, they’re so certain of their vision that they’ve decided to sell just 30 barrels for $15,000 USD each and buy it back in seven years time from anybody who wants to sell it back – if they want to sell it back, that is – for $30,000 USD, subject, of course, to specific terms and conditions being met. If you’re interested, Oeno is the only place you can buy it because it’s just secured exclusive cask distribution rights.
See more at oenogroup.com
