Whisky No.3
Four year Quebec rye finished in a 30 year old Oloroso sherry barrel.
Whisky No.3 is the third whisky in CIRKA’s series of small batch releases and the follow up to Premier Whisky. It is a four year rye whisky made from 93 percent local Quebec rye and 7 percent German chocolate malted rye, finished in a 30 year old Oloroso sherry casks imported from Spain. Bottled at 46 percent, with no added colour and no chill filtration, it is a bold, characterful rye that shows how much depth a carefully made young whisky can have. A true classic.
46 percent alc./vol.
750 ML
Style: Four year rye whisky, sherry cask finished
Base: 93 percent Yamachiche rye, 7 percent German chocolate malted rye
Casks: Initially matured in American white oak, finished in 30 year old Oloroso sherry casks from Spain
Filtration and colour: Non chill filtered and no colour added
Nose: Notes of leather, toasted hazelnut and fig, with hints of candied date and dried fruit.
Palate: Cocoa, raisin, toffee and hazelnut, with rich dried fruit and dark chocolate tones. Full and warm, with good texture.
Finish: Long persistence with a warm finish on spice, caramel and creme brulee notes.
A four year Quebec rye shaped by sherry casks
Whisky No.3 shows what happens when a focused mash bill meets thoughtful maturation. The core is rye from Yamachiche, with 93 percent local Quebec rye bringing structure and spice, and 7 percent German chocolate malted rye adding depth and cocoa like richness.
The whisky is first matured for four years, then finished in a 30 year old Oloroso sherry casks imported from Spain. These seasoned casks layer in dried fruit, nut and toffee notes without overwhelming the rye character. Bottled at 46 percent, without chill filtration or added colour, Whisky No.3 keeps the natural texture and colour that come from grain, wood and time.
Grain, cask and character
As the third whisky in CIRKA’s small batch series, Whisky No.3 follows in the footsteps of Premier Whisky but speaks with a rye accent. It is a Canadian rye in origin and composition, but the addition of German chocolate malted rye and old Oloroso casks gives it an almost European sense of dessert like complexity.
On the nose, you will find leather, toasted hazelnut, fig and candied date. On the palate, cocoa, raisin, toffee, hazelnut and dark chocolate lead into a long, warm finish on spice, caramel and creme brulee. SAQ employees describe it as a beautiful 100 percent local whisky, rich in dried fruit and nut flavours with a persistent finish.
The result is a rye that feels familiar enough to drink straight away, but distinct enough to stand out on a shelf crowded with bigger distilleries.
Distilled by CIRKA
Whisky making as an accumulation of details
CIRKA pays close attention to all of the spirits it produces, but whisky gets a little more love. Visitors to the distillery are often surprised by how much complexity can be found in whiskies that are four years old by the calendar. The answer is that whisky making here is treated as an accumulation of subtle details, from grain sourcing to yeast selection, distillation and cask management.
CIRKA selects the finest corn, rye and malt, and pairs each grain with the right yeast strain, a tradition that many craft distillers have moved away from. In Whisky No.3, that mindset is applied to rye and chocolate malted rye, then finished with carefully chosen Oloroso casks to coax out subtle flavour and complexity rather than relying on heavy handed finishes.
FAQ
Whisky No.3 is a four year rye whisky made from 93 percent local Quebec rye and 7 percent German chocolate malted rye. It is finished in 30 year old Oloroso sherry casks from Spain and bottled at 46 percent, with no colour added and no chill filtration.
In Quebec, you can find Cirka No3 at the SAQ under code 14713343, and at the CIRKA distillery shop in Montréal.
Outside Quebec, it is available through select partners such as Arvida Signé Québec in France and specialty retailers in Europe and North America, depending on local regulations.
Whisky No.3 is designed first to be enjoyed neat or with a splash of water, where its rye structure, sherry dried fruit and nutty notes can be fully appreciated. It also works very well in classic rye forward cocktails like an Old Fashioned or Manhattan when you want a richer, more sherry influenced profile.
No. There is no peat smoke in Whisky No.3. The flavour profile is built around rye spice, chocolate malt, Oloroso sherry casks and American oak rather than peat.
No. Whisky No.3 is bottled without added colour and is non chill filtered. The colour and texture you see in the glass come from the grain and the casks, not from caramel colouring or filtration.
Get your bottle