Big Game 6 Year Old Canadian Whiskey Review.
Big Game Canadian Whiskey wasn’t something I went hunting for, but sometimes the shelf finds you instead. While poking around Big Red Liquor in the Indianapolis area, this bottle caught my eye sitting in a box at a dirt-cheap price. I’m a sucker for unique finishes and interesting artwork, and seeing a Canadian whiskey finished in Belgian style double ale casks was enough to pull the trigger.
Canadian whiskey gets a mixed reputation, but there are some genuinely solid examples out there. Add in a local Indiana connection with the finishing barrels coming from Taxman Brewing Company, and I went into this one with an open mind and cautious optimism. This release is bottled by The Whiskey Ring, an independent bottler closely tied to Big Red Liquor and responsible for several interesting store picks and finishes.
The whiskey itself started as a three-year-old Canadian whiskey aged in Canada, then brought to the United States where it spent an additional three years finishing in Belgian style double ale barrels from Taxman Brewing. The label reads as aged in those beer casks, but in reality this is an extended finishing rather than full maturation. There’s no disclosed mash bill, though the profile suggests a blend leaning into barley and rye.
Age Statement: 6 years (3 year Canadian whiskey & 3 years finished).
ABV: 50%.
Mash bill: N/A.
Area of Distillation: Canada.
Finished: 3 years in Tax Man Brewing Belgian style double ale cask.
Appearance: Pale yellow.
On the nose:
The beer cask finish shows itself immediately with a noticeable maltiness and soft grain sweetness. There’s a creamy vanilla note underneath, paired with youthful ethanol that reads distinctly Canadian. As it opens up, the ethanol backs off slightly, revealing light oak, a touch of char, faint caramel, and an unmistakable metallic note. The malt character is pleasant, but overall the aromas feel thin and restrained, with the finish doing more work than the base whiskey.
Taste:
The palate starts better than the nose, opening with buttercream vanilla, mild oak char, and a welcome wave of malt sweetness from the Belgian ale barrels. Unfortunately, it doesn’t last long. The whiskey quickly turns bitter and metallic, with barley grain and youthful sharpness taking over. A touch of rye spice flashes briefly, but the bitterness dominates the back half, dragging the experience down.
Finish:
The finish is short and grain-forward, leaving behind lingering bitterness, metallic notes, and faint rye spice. The beer cask influence helps soften the blow but doesn’t fully rescue the profile.
Final Thoughts:
This is a whiskey that looks better on paper than it performs in the glass. The Belgian style double ale finish is easily the highlight, adding maltiness and depth that the base whiskey desperately needs. Unfortunately, the youthful Canadian character and persistent metallic bitterness keep this from ever finding its footing.
At $25, you could certainly do worse, but that’s not the same as saying you should seek it out. If the goal was to mask or improve the typical metallic edge of young sourced Canadian whiskey, this finish helps, but not enough.
Rating: D (Below average).
Cost: $24.99 for 750ml.
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