Every year, the Canadian Whisky Awards serve as a kind of temperature check for the country’s whisky scene.
Run by Whisky Magazine and judged by a panel of Canadian and international whisky experts, the awards are focused entirely on Canadian production. That’s important because Canadian whisky plays by a different set of rules than Scotch or bourbon. Producers have broad freedom when it comes to blending, can work with multiple grains distilled separately, and may use small amounts of flavoring or finishing spirits. The result is a category that’s far more varied than many drinkers realize, ranging from classic rye-forward blends to dessert-style cream whiskies to smoky single malts coming out of British Columbia.
The awards exist to sort through that range and highlight the bottles that best represent each style.
This year, the top honor, Canadian Whisky of the Year, went to a name that’s been part of the country’s whisky story for well over a century.
Canadian Whisky of the Year: J.P. Wiser’s 24 Year Old Canadian Whisky
J.P. Wiser’s 24 Year Old took home the title, a win that says as much about Canada’s quiet blending expertise as it does about the brand itself.
J.P. Wiser’s dates back to the 1850s in Prescott, Ontario, and today draws from long-aged stocks largely distilled at the Hiram Walker facility in Windsor. While age statements above 20 years are common in Scotch, they’re relatively rare in Canadian whisky, where the focus is often on lighter, more mixable styles. A 24-year age statement signals something different: exceptionally mature component whiskies that have been sitting in barrels for decades before being brought together.
This is where Canadian whisky’s blending practice really shows.
Rather than leaning into big, aggressive flavors, the whisky is about layering and balance. On the nose, you’ll find baking spice, caramel, and smooth oak, along with hints of dried fruit. The palate leans on toffee, dark honey, orange peel, and a gentle rye spice that hangs around without dominating. The oak from the long aging is present, but it’s soft and integrated rather than drying or tannic.
It’s the kind of whisky you sip slowly, not because it’s overpowering, but because there’s a lot going on if you pay attention.
A Look at the Rest of the Winners
The rest of this year’s winners show just how broad Canadian whisky has become.
Wayne Gretzky Distillery’s Maple Cask Whisky, named Blended Whisky of the Year, embraces cask influence to create a distinctly Canadian profile. BEARFACE’s Triple Oak, which won Corn Whisky of the Year, uses multiple types of oak to bring depth to a lighter grain spirit.
On the more playful end of the spectrum, Forty Creek’s Cinnamon Bun Cream Whisky and Crown Royal Chocolate took top spots in the cream and flavored categories. These styles have a strong following in Canada and show the technical care going into flavored and cream expressions that might otherwise be dismissed.
Meanwhile, smaller craft producers are pushing into more grain-driven territory. Alberta’s Wild Life Distillery picked up awards for Mixed Mash Whisky and Rye Whisky of the Year. In British Columbia, Macaloney’s Distillery won Single Malt Whisky of the Year for a peated expression that feels closer to coastal Scotch than traditional Canadian whisky. Bridgeland Distillery’s cask-finished single malt also took honors, showing how finishing and single malt production are becoming bigger parts of the Canadian landscape.
Taken together, the list reads like a snapshot of a category that’s evolving quickly while still holding onto its roots.
Why This Win Stands Out
In the middle of all that experimentation, J.P. Wiser’s 24-Year-Old stands out for being very traditional and doing that extremely well.
It’s not a flashy whisky. There’s no unusual cask finish or unexpected grain bill. Instead, it’s a signal that Canadian whisky’s long-standing strength has always been balance and blending. The ability to take mature component whiskies and build something layered, elegant, and easy to drink without sacrificing complexity.
The Canadian Whisky Awards spotlight innovation and creativity across the country, but this year’s top bottle is a good example of how compelling Canadian whisky can be when it simply draws on what it’s always done best.
