London-based Distillery Wins Canadian Whisky of the Year
The Paradigm Spirits Company, a London-based distillery, was recently awarded Whisky of the Year for its 2022 Heritage Collection whisky at the Canadian Whisky Awards. An award ceremony was held on Jan. 18 at the Victoria Whisky Festival in British Columbia. Nearly 200 whiskies were tasted blind by ten judges.
A website for the Canadian Whisky Awards indicates that the blend is made with 100 percent Canadian corn, aged 19 years in American oak barrels, and features a hint of Oloroso sherry.
Paradigm Spirits Wins Whisky of the Year Award
“This is remarkable whisky,” said Davin de Kergommeaux, chair of the judging panel and author of ‘Canadian Whisky: The Essential Portable Expert.’ “Long maturation in oak imbues it with sublime complexity and elegance, while meticulous blending animates its fresh, fruity top notes.”
Michelle Debus, partner at Paradigm Spirits, expressed her excitement stating, “We are thrilled to receive this prestigious award. As a young distillery, our passion for whisky drives our commitment to innovation. The 2022 Heritage Collection, a 19-year-old, 100% corn whisky, showcases our dedication to pushing boundaries in Canadian whisky making.”
Notably, winning has become a natural part of the hard work pushed forward by the xxx team. Some awards received for their 2022 Heritage Collection Whisky, include
- Gold Award at the 2022 SIP Awards (San Francisco),
- Gold Award at the Bartender Spirits Awards 2023 (Chicago),
- Double Platinum Award at the 2022 ASCOT Awards (Kentucky).
Unlike many whiskies, Paradigm Spirits blends a hand-selected Oloroso Sherry with their whiskies, resulting in an incredibly smooth and approachable flavor.
Debus adds, “It took a very long time to balance the flavor and develop the mouthfeel we wanted to achieve. The positive response from a diverse audience, from newcomers to seasoned enthusiasts, affirms that we are producing something truly special.”
There are also limited releases of other innovative whiskies such as Chapter 1: WHEATED and the 2020 Heritage Collection Cask-strength. Paradigm Spirits produces a variety of other spirits such as Juliet Gin and Latitude 42 Vodka, alongside a line of popular canned cocktails.