31/03/2023
Available Now!
Price: 4x,###/-Ks
Gibson's Finest Sterling Canadian Whisky
(40% alc/vol)
Rich and creamy mouthfeel with a plethora of sweet fruits and berries, citric zest and pith, a nuttiness, black pepper, and hints of spirit. Soft Corn.
Gibson’s blenders developed a recipe that would continue to express Sterling’s rich and creamy mouthfeel and flavourful palate, albeit with younger, and more readily available whiskies. Like all of Gibson’s whiskies, Sterling is aged in first fill Bourbon barrels from Kelvin Cooperage in Louisville, Kentucky.Gibson’s Sterling is a little less expensive than the ever-popular Gibson’s 12 year old, so many people think of it more as a mixing whisky. And while it’s true that it is a great mixer, it is also quite suitable to sip neat or on ice.
Nose: Sweet and fruity. There’s lots going on here, although it’s gentle and just a little bit restrained. Mild and slightly floral caramel notes evolve into sweet lemon candy, then Grand Marnier, pear juice, Welch’s grape juice, and purple grapes. An uncommon note – berries that last right through to the finish – adds some interest. A faint smell of plastic accompanies sweet rye spices and fresh water plants. And to finish it off, a slight nuttiness wafts up together with just a hint of spirit.
Palate: The luxurious Gibson’s mouthfeel returns: creamy with a slight slipperiness and kind of waxy. Although there are many fruity notes, the fruit – sweet soft yellow apples, berries, just hints of black prunes, and suggestions of cherry ice cream – does not overwhelm the palate. Caramel and barley sugar add sweetness. There are even some hints of marshmallow, but the palate quickly moves to citric zest. A slightly bitter oaky pull underlies hints of walnut, not so much the nut itself, but the walnut’s bitter skin. Black pepper notes fade quickly, leaving a pleasant warmth behind and, as with all good mixers, there is a trace of spirit.
Finish: Medium. Fading on tingly peppery spices and caramel. The berry tones return together with some slightly bitter fruit. Citric notes include both zest and pith. There is something way in the background that feels vaguely astringent.Empty Glass: Not a lot. Elements of oak sugars evoke slight aromas of rum butter, toffee, caramel, and fudge, then prune juice, wood ashes, and a slight sourness.