Ultima Series Release 04

Moon Curser Cask

ABV – 65.6%

Distillation – February 2021

Bottling – October 2025

There is a great range of high quality wine produced in British Columbia, which proves to be of great advantage as we look for opportunities for potential finishing barrels for our whiskies.

Moon Curser winery is located at the southern end of Osoyoos Lake, close to the border with the US and is named after the smuggling operations that were once a part of the fabric of life in that part of the world. The climate is perfect for growing old world grapes, allowing fantastic wines to be grown in its vinyards.  The barrels used to age these wines, French Oak, toasted but not charred, take on some of the flavours of these wines.  The wood gives a little of its flavour to the wine, but takes more than its fair share of flavour back.  

Relocating these barrels to the cooler, damper shores of Vancouver Island allows us to fill them with our whisky, in this case new make, triple distilled from grains grown on site at Shelter Point. The spirit, at a much higher proof than the wine, is able to access the flavours and colours of the Syrah stained wood. Making the most of the sweet, fruitiness of the wine, and also taking an influence from the rich tannins within the French Oak.  The result? A colour that would put many bourbons to shame, a nose that hints at hidden depths, and on the palate a rich, complex dram that delivers on its promise in spades. This barrel was picked by Sarah Jeltema (@whiskynomad) on her visit to the distillery, the rich flavours of this barrel were the reason she picked it.

Tasting Notes:

The nose is rich with red wine and black cherries, orange spiced with clove and cinnamon, and hints of sawdust and sesame oil. On the palate there is a flood of raspberry and sherbert, berry coulis and undertones of salty olive and coriander. The finish is endless, running through a cavalcade of walnut, salt, liquorice, tobacco and glimpse of umami rich blue cheese.