Forty Creek Resolve

For Forty Creek Resolve, the final panel in whisky artist, Bill Ashburn’s whisky triptych, Ashburn used high-spice oak staves to impart animating tingles to the firm, yet luscious palate. (To jog your memory, Forty Creek Unity and Forty Creek Victory made up the first two panels.) For his final flourish he highlighted ruddy fruit tones with a small portion of starboard wine that he had made back in 1999. He had matured the Port-like wine in barrels that had previously held Forty Creek whisky.

The first sip of this year’s special release whisky begins with fruit for sure, along with peppery, gingery spices, all laid over a framework of old lumber and grainy breakfast cereal.  

With just 6,500 bottles available at the distillery and select liquor stores across Canada in September, be on the lookout. Resolve is a keeper.

 Nose: Mild fruit, hints of red wine and sweet sultanas, pear cider, maple sugar and hints of oak, 

 Palate: Bold with butterscotch on the first sip, becoming quite complex with fruit drops, tingling spices, candied baking fruits, plush creamy barley sugar sweetness and a late hint of red apples. Peppery heat slowly develops into glowing warmth on later sips, with dried fruit leather and dry unsweetened breakfast cereal in the background. The mouthfeel moves from creamy to syrupy then tingly spicy before finishing in slightly pulling pithiness with hints of weathered wood.

 Finish:  Medium finish with barrel notes, some fruitiness, darkest chocolate suggestions and a brisk peppery glow.

 Very highly recommended  ★★★★★