The Most Exciting Whisky Market in the World Is Canada

Canadian whisky has been reaching past its reputation and most people have not noticed yet. Stephen Beaumont says Canada is currently the most exciting whisky market on the planet, beating Ireland for that title, and the evidence runs from Crown Royal's new single malt to Lot 40's cherry wood and dark oak finishes to a hundred percent rye whisky being made right now in Windsor.

What does it feel like to realize the category you wrote off as a mixing spirit has been quietly doing something remarkable? The Glenora Distillery in Cape Breton is the first modern single malt distillery in North America. Okanagan Spirits in BC is making a bourbon-style whisky with 45 percent chocolate malt, something no American distillery can touch under their own regulations. Eau Claire in Calgary has a Stampede whisky. Alberta Distillers just released a 21-year-old.

Twenty years ago Canadian whisky went in ginger ale. Right now it is winning the argument about which country is making the most interesting spirit in the world. Stephen Beaumont has been saying so out loud and International Whisky Day is a reasonable occasion to listen.

Topics: Canadian whisky, International Whisky Day, Lot 40 whisky, Glenora Distillery, Okanagan Spirits BRBN

GUEST: Stephen Beaumont | http://beaumontdrinks.com

Originally aired on 2026-03-27