Lot 40 Review

Lot 40 is a Canadian rye with a past, a revival and a very particular style. This Lot 40 review is about a 43% pot-still rye that is bold, peppery and a little oily, and the Caskable score is 70 out of 100. It is a lovely idea of a whisky, and I wish the price were friendlier.

If you like your rye with real flavour and a bit of rough texture, Lot 40 is one of the few Canadian whiskies that will oblige.

What is Lot 40?

Lot 40 has an unusual history. The brand was known to many Canadians years ago before production stopped in the 1990s. Pernod Ricard, through Corby, brought it back in 2012, and it has been revived as a flagship of the new wave of Canadian craft-style rye. My whisky rules compared explainer sets out how Canadian rules work.

The whisky is made from 100% rye, distilled in a copper pot still, which is a rarity in Canadian whisky, where column stills dominate. The pot still gives it an oily, full-bodied texture and a rich rye character. It comes in at 43% and carries no age statement. My pot stills vs column stills guide explains the difference.

The revival story gives it a certain charm. It was a name from a vanished era, brought back by a company that saw an opening. That is both a marketing story and a real flavour story, because the pot-still method gives it a style you do not find in the mainstream.

Lot 40 tasting notes

Lot 40 delivers bold rye spice and white pepper up front, layered with English toffee, caramel, roasted walnut and dark fruit. The finish is mature oak, dried apple and a touch of coffee. That matches the house style.

The Lot 40 Cask Strength releases are a useful guide to the house style if not to this 43% version. From the style and the production method, I would expect an oily texture, a peppery bite and a sweetness that tempers it. That is what you find when you taste a pot-still rye.

The finish is medium to long and spicy, with a dry, oaky end. My score of 70 puts it five points below Forty Creek and below the Crown Royal ryes. The reasons are the price and the fact that the standard bottle is not as complex as the reputation suggests.

How to drink Lot 40

Neat, with a few drops of water, in a tulip glass. At 43% it has enough body to enjoy slowly. A single large cube also works. It is a whisky for a cold evening.

In cocktails, it is a strong base. A Manhattan is rich and spicy, an Old Fashioned has a pleasing pepper, and a Sazerac made with Lot 40 is excellent. A Whiskey Sour is bold and lively.

What to know before you buy Lot 40

The Lot 40 range includes the standard bottle and several cask strength releases, which are different whiskies. The standard bottle is the one on this page. The strength is 43%, which is a nice middle ground between everyday and strong.

It pairs well with smoked meats, aged cheese, roasted nuts and dark chocolate. The pepper and toffee work particularly well with barbecue and rich stews.

The pot still difference

Pot-still rye is rare in Canada, and it is worth understanding why. Most Canadian distilleries use continuous column stills, which produce a clean, light spirit very efficiently. A pot still works in batches, and it retains more of the grain’s oils and flavour compounds. With rye, that matters, because the grain already has a spicy, earthy character that a pot still preserves rather than strips away. The result is a thicker, more textured whisky with real presence on the tongue.

That is the reason Lot 40 stands apart from Crown Royal and Canadian Club. They are made to be smooth and consistent. Lot 40 is made to taste of rye, and that is both its charm and its limitation. If you like a bit of grit, it is a joy. If you want a whisky that slips down without comment, you will find it a little demanding.

Lot 40 as a cocktail rye

I think the best use for Lot 40 is in a glass with vermouth. A Manhattan needs a rye with enough spice and body to stand up to the sweetness, and the pot-still texture gives it that. The oily mouthfeel carries through the dilution, and the pepper cuts through. It is a more interesting cocktail ingredient than most Canadian whiskies, and it is one reason bartenders have taken to it.

Is Lot 40 worth the money?

At about £38 for 70 cl it is on the high side. Forty Creek Barrel Select costs about £32 and scores 75. Crown Royal Northern Harvest Rye sits at about £35 with a score of 74. Sazerac Rye sits at about £38 with a score of 75.

All three score higher, and two cost less. Lot 40 is for people who specifically want a Canadian pot-still rye. Check the retailer link before buying.

Alternatives to Lot 40

If you like the idea of Lot 40 but want something a little different, start with these. Each has a score, a price and a review of its own.

Who should buy Lot 40?

Rye fans curious about Canadian pot-still whisky, cocktail makers who like a bold rye, and collectors of revived brands. If you want the best value, buy Sazerac.

Lot 40 review verdict

A bold, oily, pot-still Canadian rye with real character and an ambitious price. Interesting and slightly overpriced. Caskable score: 70 out of 100.