Wayne Gretzky No. 99 Ice Cask 750ML

Wayne Gretzky No. 99 Ice Cask 750ML is a 41.5% ABV Canadian whisky finished in Vidal icewine casks, produced at the Wayne Gretzky Distillery in Ontario, Canada. This expression has earned Gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, validating the distillery's unique approach of marrying whisky with its own estate-produced icewine barrels.

Quick Facts: ABV: 41.5%  |  Origin: Ontario, Canada  |  3 Years + 4 Month Icewine Cask Finish  |  Distillery: Wayne Gretzky Distillery

Production & Heritage

The Wayne Gretzky Distillery operates in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, where it produces both wines and spirits — a dual operation that gives the Ice Cask its defining character. The whisky begins with a mashbill of rye, malted rye, and corn, with each grain individually distilled before being matured for three years in ex-bourbon barrels. The liquid is then finished for approximately four months in casks that previously held Vidal icewine from the Gretzky winery, a step that imparts a distinctive residual sweetness and fruit complexity rarely found in Canadian whisky.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Opens with prominent toffee and caramelized sugar, followed by clove, raisin, and a backbone of rye spiciness. A touch of oak emerges as the whisky opens up in the glass.

Taste: The entry is smooth and round, with immediate baked apple sweetness and mixed berry notes from the icewine cask influence. Mid-palate, the rye grain asserts itself with cinnamon-tinged spice and nutmeg, while subtle vanilla and butterscotch undertones add depth. Hot white pepper and mild barrel notes build toward the peak.

Finish: Long and lingering with a smooth, coating texture. Toffee, caramelized apple, gentle smoke, and allspice persist well after each sip, leaving a balanced interplay of sweetness and spice.

How to Drink Ice Cask

Neat or with a single ice cube is the best starting point — the icewine cask influence reveals its full range of fruit and spice at a slightly cooled temperature. For cocktails, the Ice Cask's sweet-spice profile opens up several strong options: an Old Fashioned, where the toffee and baked apple notes replace the need for heavy sweetening; a Whisky Sour, where the berry and fruit character from the icewine finish pairs naturally with citrus; and a Toronto Cocktail (whisky, Fernet-Branca, simple syrup, bitters), where the inherent sweetness of the Ice Cask balances the bitter herbal component beautifully.

Best For

• Hockey fans and sports memorabilia collectors seeking a spirit with genuine Canadian provenance
• Canadian whisky drinkers looking to explore cask-finished expressions beyond standard offerings
• Gifting someone who appreciates wine-influenced spirits or unique finishing techniques
• After-dinner sipping alongside desserts, where the icewine sweetness complements rich flavors

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Ice Cask taste like? Ice Cask delivers baked apple, toffee, and mixed berry sweetness from the icewine cask finishing, balanced by rye spice, nutmeg, and a subtle smoky undertone on the finish.

How does Ice Cask compare to Wayne Gretzky Red Cask? Both share the same base whisky of rye, malted rye, and corn, but while Red Cask is finished in red wine barrels for a drier, tannic character, Ice Cask uses Vidal icewine casks that contribute noticeably more sweetness, fruit, and dessert-like richness.

Is Ice Cask good for sipping neat? Yes — the 41.5% ABV is approachable, and the icewine cask finish provides enough natural sweetness and complexity to make this a rewarding neat pour without requiring dilution.

Where is Ice Cask made? Ice Cask is distilled and finished at the Wayne Gretzky Distillery in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada, where the distillery operates alongside the Wayne Gretzky winery that supplies the icewine barrels.

What foods pair well with Ice Cask? Try it with apple tart or crumble, where the baked apple notes in the whisky mirror the dessert; aged cheddar, which contrasts the sweetness with sharp, savory depth; charcuterie with dried fruits; butter-glazed pork chops, where the toffee and spice complement caramelized meat; or dark chocolate truffles, which amplify the caramelized sugar and allspice on the finish.

What sizes does Ice Cask come in? The standard and most widely available size is the 750ml bottle.

Is Ice Cask worth the price? Ice Cask positions as a mid-range Canadian whisky with a genuine point of differentiation — the icewine cask finishing is not a common technique, and the Gold medal from the San Francisco World Spirits Competition supports the quality at this price tier.

Why Ice Cask?

The defining feature of this whisky is something very few distilleries in the world can replicate: finishing in icewine casks produced on the same estate. Icewine is a labor-intensive, weather-dependent product unique to cold-climate wine regions, and using those spent barrels imparts a residual sweetness and concentrated fruit character that standard wine cask finishes cannot match. The Gold medal from the San Francisco World Spirits Competition confirms that the technique translates into a genuinely well-made spirit, not merely a novelty. For anyone exploring Canadian whisky beyond the conventional blended category, Ice Cask represents a distinctly Ontario expression that ties grain and grape together in a way that reflects its terroir.