If you’re wondering who the heck this Benjamin Chapman 7 Year Canadian Whisky is in reference to, get in line. All I can find about the guy is what’s in the official press release. Which is then copied verbatim across every single whiskey site that posts press releases as if they were original content. What is that verbatim? Don’t worry, I’ll save you a Google search.
“Benjamin Chapman 7-Year Whiskey was inspired by an enigmatic figure from the 1960s international jet set era. Elusive as he was respected among the international cognoscenti, Benjamin Chapman became legendary for his refined tastes and preference for the finer things. This classically crafted whiskey is a tribute to his legacy.”
The first five pages of Google are about the whisky and after five pages I give up. I assume somewhere there’s something about this supposed person, but heck if I know. So I can’t give you any background on the person, but then that’s not what we’re really here to do. We’re here to talk about whisky and that I can do.
This whisky is a blend of Canadian rye and Canadian wheat whiskies and is marketed as an elevated premium whisky. I’m not the biggest fan of Canadian whisky, but sometimes it can surprise me and be delicious instead of cloying. So let’s get to drinkin’ and see if this blend is a good tribute to Benjamin Chapman… whoever the hell that is.
Benjamin Chapman 7 Year Canadian Whisky – Details and Tasting Notes
Whiskey Details
Non-Chill Filtered | Natural Color
Style: Blended Whisky (Canadian)
Region: Canada
Distiller: Undisclosed
Blend: 51% 10-Year Canadian Rye, 49% 7-Year Canadian Prairie Wheat
Cask: New and used cooperage
Age: 7 Years
ABV: 45%
Benjamin Chapman 7 Year Canadian Whisky Price: $40*
Related Whisky
Alberta Premium Cask Strength Rye
Caribou Crossing Single Barrel Canadian Whisky
Canadian Club 100% Rye Whisky
Forty Creek Confederation Oak
Forty Creek Barrel Select
“This whiskey might possibly be the most tangible connection to Benjamin Chapman that exists today.” – Benjamin Chapman
Benjamin Chapman 7 Year Canadian Whisky Tasting Notes
EYE
Golden
NOSE
Vanilla taffy, spice, dark sweetness, copper, herbaceous, citrus, nuts and baking spice with a slight Play-Doh note.
Pleasant. A light fruitiness slowly arises as it opens, but it doesn’t shift the core profile at all.
PALATE
Grassy grain, toffee, baking spice, herbaceous, vanilla, touch of candied ginger.
This palate is going to be VERY divisive, but at least it will stand out in the market.
FINISH
Medium -> Grassy (almost corn husks), toffee and vanilla pod fade to a grassy candied ginger.
BALANCE, BODY and FEEL
Decent balance, medium body and a soft silken feel.
Benjamin Chapman 7 Year Canadian Whisky – Overall Thoughts and Score
Reminds me of that SiB Wathens from a few years ago with that grassy grain note. It’s so fresh it conjurs images of freshly hewn grains and earth, like harvest time on a farm. This is very interesting and completely atypical of the Canadian whisky we’re used to here in the USA. And I’m 100% ok with that. I’m not a fan of the typical light, cloying, butterscotchy style that comes out of the North.
This won’t be everyone’s dram of whiskey, a lot of people’s if I’m to judge by the Wathen’s reception, but I think this is awesome. It’s weird and perverse in good ways and adds a fairly unique and tasty profile to an oversaturated market. Benjamin Chapman 7 Year Canadian Whisky may not be not super complex or deep, but what’s there is fun.
SCORE: 3.5/5 (above average, worth checking out – B | 83-86)
*Disclosure: The bottle for this Canadian Whisky review was graciously sent to me by the company without obligation. The views, opinions, and tasting notes are 100% my own.
Benjamin Chapman 7 Year Canadian Whisky Review $40
Overall
3.6- Nose (4)
- Palate (3.5)
- Finish (3.5)
- BBF (3.5)
