Reviewing Eau ClairE's Canadian Single Malt, Batch 002.
Perhaps there was a bit of presupposition before we actually got into our bottle, #612, of Eau Claire's Batch 002.
Eau Claire Distillery is in Alberta... home of big mountains, big sky big oil, big way of doing things... so naturally, this would be a big whisky!
A humble pale gold sits in my glass.
At first nose, it's airy and open, as if a wide prairie sky... and then the aromas come in:
sweet, fruity, nutty, perfumy.
Again, we may have been predisposed to think big, bold and brawny.
Nope. Not this whisky.
It's rich and delicate, multi-faceted and subtle.
It was a delight to lose myself in the nosing... exploring around the edges....
At 43% abv, there's a bit more alcohol to bring things to the fore however, the alcohol doesn't dominate, in fact it's a well integrated experience.
The tasting mirrors my experience on the nose.
A big airy welcome that doesn't overpower, doesn't shout but rather whispers lovely flavours.
And a finish on the back of the throat that ebbs slowly yet warmly like a lantern being slowly dimmed.
Even a nosing of the empty glass is bright and spacious. The flavours, scents and aromas all have elbow room to move around without getting in the way of each other.
This is an elegant, soft spoken, inviting whisky. It isn't demure. It's just that it doesn't need to yell.
It certainly is... a breath of fresh air.
Well done, Eau Claire. Well done.
Our pairing suggestion:
This is an elegant, soft spoken, inviting whisky. It isn't demure. It's just that it doesn't need to yell. It certainly is... a breath of fresh air. Well done, Eau Claire. Well done.