Forty Creek Barrel Select 750ML

Forty Creek Barrel Select 750ML is a blended Canadian whisky bottled at 40% ABV (80 proof) in a 750ml bottle, crafted from individually aged rye, barley, and corn whiskies. Scoring 94 points from Tastings.com and earning a Gold Medal at the 2014 Beverage Testing Institute Competition, this expression has built a devoted following among drinkers seeking depth and complexity beyond the typical Canadian whisky profile.

Quick Facts: ABV: 40%  |  Origin: Ontario, Canada  |  Aged 6–10 Years, Sherry Cask Finished  |  Distillery: Forty Creek Distillery

Production & Heritage

Forty Creek Distillery sits in Grimsby, Ontario, nestled between Hamilton and Niagara Falls. Founded by the late John K. Hall—a winemaker-turned-distiller who applied winemaking philosophy to whisky production—the distillery takes a distinctive approach: rye, barley, and corn are each fermented, distilled, and aged separately for six to ten years in a selection of toasted and charred white oak casks. This allows the distiller to develop the optimal character of each grain independently. After blending, the whisky undergoes a six-month finishing period in vintage sherry casks, a step that layers additional richness and fruit complexity onto the final spirit—an uncommon technique among mainstream Canadian whiskies.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with warm honey and creamy vanilla before unfolding into ripe apricot and toasted oak. Underneath, black walnut and gentle baking spice round out a layered, inviting bouquet.

Taste: The entry is soft and silky, with honeyed sweetness and vanilla giving way to a robust mid-palate of cocoa, rye spice, and toasted earthiness. There is genuine complexity here—each sip reveals a new detail, from the caramel sweetness contributed by the oak aging to the darker, nuttier notes from the sherry cask finish.

Finish: Medium-long and smooth, the finish trails off with mellow richness and lingering warmth. Soft vanilla and a whisper of dried fruit stay on the palate well after the final sip.

How to Drink Barrel Select

Neat or with a single ice cube is the ideal starting point—the 40% ABV sits at a comfortable proof that doesn't require dilution but opens up nicely with a touch of chill. This whisky also performs well in cocktails:

• Old Fashioned: The honey and vanilla backbone stands up to bitters and orange peel without getting lost.
• Whisky Sour: The apricot and cocoa notes complement citrus beautifully, adding depth beyond what a straightforward grain whisky provides.
• Manhattan: The sherry cask influence gives Barrel Select a natural affinity for sweet vermouth, creating a harmonious, fruit-forward variation.

Best For

• Introducing a bourbon drinker to the Canadian whisky category
• Building an affordable home bar with versatile mixing whiskies
• A weeknight sipper that delivers complexity without demanding attention
• Gifting someone who enjoys Crown Royal but wants to explore further

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Barrel Select taste like? Barrel Select delivers a soft, silky texture with dominant notes of honey, vanilla, and cocoa, backed by rye spice and toasted oak. The sherry cask finish adds a subtle dried-fruit sweetness that distinguishes it from more straightforward Canadian blends.

How does Barrel Select compare to Crown Royal? Both are approachable Canadian whiskies at 40% ABV, but Barrel Select uses a grain-by-grain aging approach and a sherry cask finish that yields more complexity and darker fruit character. Multiple reviewers have noted switching from Crown Royal to Barrel Select as their preferred Canadian whisky.

Is Barrel Select good for sipping neat? Yes—its smooth, mellow character and moderate 40% ABV make it very approachable neat, and the layered tasting profile rewards slow, attentive sipping.

Where is Barrel Select made? Barrel Select is produced at Forty Creek Distillery in Grimsby, Ontario, Canada, located in the Niagara region between Hamilton and Niagara Falls.

What foods pair well with Barrel Select? Smoked salmon works with the whisky's honeyed sweetness; dark chocolate echoes the cocoa notes on the palate; sharp aged cheddar contrasts the soft vanilla; pecan pie mirrors the toasted nut and caramel character; and charcuterie boards with dried fruit highlight the sherry cask influence.

What sizes does Barrel Select come in? The standard and most widely available size is 750ml, though Forty Creek also offers 375ml and 1.75L formats in select markets.

Is Barrel Select worth the price? Barrel Select positions squarely in the entry-level to mid-range tier for Canadian whisky, and the sherry cask finishing, multi-grain aging process, and 94-point rating from Tastings.com represent strong value relative to similarly priced competitors.

Why Barrel Select?

The defining differentiator here is process: aging each grain whisky independently for up to ten years, then blending and finishing in vintage sherry casks for an additional six months. That two-stage maturation creates a depth of flavor uncommon at this price point in the Canadian whisky category. Gold medals from the Beverage Testing Institute and Wizards of Whiskey Awards in 2014, alongside a 94-point rating from Tastings.com, confirm that the approach translates into the glass. For drinkers who find standard Canadian blends too one-dimensional, Barrel Select offers genuine complexity without a premium price tag.