Patent 5 Distillery takes home silver for single barrel whisky

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This article was published 30/03/2024 (903 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Whisky hall of fame inductions, distillery birthdays, massive wine giveaways and Chardonnay for a cause — that’s what’s up in this week’s Uncorked…

On March 20, Canadian whisky writer Davin de Kergommeaux became just the second Canadian to be inducted into the Whisky Magazine Awards’ Whisky Hall of Fame.

At the 2024 ceremony in London, de Kergommeaux was among three spirits personalities inducted into the hall. (The first Canadian inductee was John K. Hall, founder of and former distiller at Forty Creek, who was inducted in 2017.)

The updated and expanded third edition of de Kergommeaux’s seminal book Canadian Whisky: The Essential Portable Expert, was published on March 12 on Appetite by Random House. Anyone who is a fan of (or curious about) Canadian whisky should have a copy in their bookcase.

The World Whiskies Awards’ top drams were also announced, with distillers in Ireland, Scotland and the United States nabbing most of the prizes.

The winner of the world’s best Canadian blended whisky category was Gibson’s Finest Venerable Whisky, which is available in Manitoba from Liquor Marts for $99.99.

For a complete list of winners in the whisky categories — including many other Canadian distillers who took home medals (including Winnipeg’s Patent 5 Distillery, which won a silver medal for its single barrel release No. 3) — and more on the hall of fame inductees, see here.

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Speaking of Patent 5, the distillery — located at 108 Alexander Ave. — turns five this weekend with a fifth-anniversary whisky being released at the East Exchange District producer’s facility as well as online at patent5.ca on Monday.

For those who can’t make it in person, some bottles of the limited-release whisky will also be available for purchase at the distillery on April 5 as part of a First Fridays speakeasy event, where a whole bunch of Prohibition-era whisky-based cocktails will also be featured in Patent 5’s barrel room.

In true speakeasy fashion, access to the barrel room requires a password, which will apparently be shared in the coming days on the distillery’s social media pages.

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If your wine rack’s looking a little barren these days, local winery/drinks manufacturer Shrugging Doctor Beverage Co. has just the contest for you.

The producer, which just moved to its new space at 483 Berry St. in February, is giving away 100 bottles of its wine — well, technically a gift card worth the equivalent of 100 bottles of wine.

For more info on the contest, visit its social media pages (@shrugdoc) to see how you can enter, how to get bonus entries, etc. before end of day Sunday when the contest closes.

The wines available in the contest are the winery’s 2023 strawberry rhubarb wine, the red sangria and the 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon (made from not-grown-in-Manitoba grapes, in case you were wondering).

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Today and Sunday are the last days to pick up some Chardonnay from Jones & Company Wine Merchants (1616 St. Mary’s Rd.) and help out a great cause in the process.

Every March, Jones & Co. runs a month-long Chardonnay promotion in honour of Rebecca Lechman, a former employee (and Chardonnay lover) who died in 2020.

Five dollars from the purchase of every bottle of non-listed Chardonnay purchased in March will go into an education fund for Lechman’s niece Aneska.

As you can see at the online shop at wfp.to/yPe, there’s a heaping helping of Chardonnay (still and sparkling) to choose from. Stock up your wine rack or cellar with Chard today (or tomorrow).

uncorked@mts.net

@bensigurdson

 

Wines of the week

S de la Sablette 2021 Rosé (Coteaux Varois-en-Provence, France — $19.99, Liquor Marts and beyond)

A blend of Grenache, Cinsault and Syrah, this pale pink wine made from France’s Provence region offers peach, floral, strawberry and a slight lactic note on the nose. It’s a mainly dry, light-bodied rosé that brings peach and strawberry flavours front and centre, secondary pear and raspberry notes, medium acidity and a modest finish (it’s 12.5 per cent alcohol). Try with salads, mild cheeses, fresh fruit or quiche — or as a last-minute addition for your Easter dinner. 3.5/5

Beronia 2021 Tempranillo (Rioja, Spain — $15.99, Liquor Marts and beyond)

This entry-level Spanish Tempranillo is deep violet in colour, with dried plum, blueberry, cocoa, blackberry and subtle spice aromas. It’s a dry, medium-bodied red with up-front blackberry, plum, tar and cocoa flavours, secondary plum and dried cherry notes, moderate acidity, light tannins and a slightly warm finish (at 14 per cent alcohol) thanks in part to six months in barrel. Drink now with pizza, pasta in a red sauce, medium cheeses or burgers. 3/5

Claude Val 2020 rouge (Pays D’Oc, France — around $16, Jones & Co.)

A blend of Grenache, Carignane, Syrah and Merlot grapes grown in southern France, this fun red brings plum, herbal, blueberry, raspberry and white pepper notes aromatically. It’s medium-plus-bodied and juicy, with up-front chewy red and dark berry flavours, light tannin and acidity and a medium-length finish. Chill this down for 15-20 and enjoy on its own, or fire up the barbecue and get grilling. Available at Jones & Co. 3.5/5