CANADA · ONTARIO · CANADIAN RYE REVIEW
Lot No. 40 Canadian Rye Whisky
Canada's rye reference point.
A copper-pot Canadian rye with mint, pepper, toasted grain, and maple-leaning oak.
Lot No. 40 is the Canadian rye to pour when you want grain character instead of softness: herbal, peppery, dry enough for cocktails, and still easy to sip.
Buy Online FROM $38 Read the full review →
Official site · lot40rye.com
THE SHORT ANSWER · LOT 40 REVIEW
Herbal Canadian rye with real backbone.
Lot No. 40 earns its place because it tastes like rye first: dark grain, mint, black pepper, orange peel, and enough oak to stay composed neat. It is not luxurious, but for spice-first sippers and rye Old Fashioneds it is honest and extremely useful.
FOR: rye Old Fashioneds and drinkers who want spice over blend sweetness.
NOT FOR: anyone wanting a plush, dessert-sweet Canadian blend.
OUR SCORE
89/100
BUY FROM
FROM $38
FROM $38 · USUALLY $35–$45 · JULY 2026
I Origin
CHAPTER ONE · ORIGIN
From Windsor, with rye at the center.
Produced at Hiram Walker in Windsor, Lot No. 40 helped reset expectations for Canadian whisky by putting rye grain back in the foreground.
The regular bottle is approachable in proof but old-school in profile: copper-pot rye spice, dry oak, baking spice, and a lean finish that works especially well in cocktails.
THE SHORT VERSION
HOW IT'S MADE — IN FIVE STEPS
100% RYE MASH
Built around rye grain rather than Canadian blend softness.
COPPER POT DISTILLED
Pot still character brings spice, grain, and texture.
OAK MATURATION
Oak adds caramel and dry spice without burying the grain.
86 PROOF
Approachable proof for neat pours and mixed drinks.
COCKTAIL BACKBONE
Strong enough for Old Fashioneds, Manhattans, and sours.
THE SPEC SHEET
| REGION | Ontario, Canada |
|---|---|
| STYLE | Canadian rye whisky |
| AGE | No age statement |
| ABV | 43% · 86 proof |
| MASH | 100% rye |
|---|---|
| CASK | New charred oak |
| FILTRATION | Not stated |
| TYPICAL PRICE | ~ $35-$45 |
II On the Palate
CHAPTER TWO · ON THE PALATE
Mint, pepper, toasted rye.
Leaner and more herbal than bourbon drinkers expect, with enough sweetness to keep the spice approachable.
NOSE 8.9 / 10
Spearmint, dill, toasted rye, orange peel, and pencil-shaving oak. Herbal without turning sharp.
PALATE 8.9 / 10
Rye bread, black pepper, caramel, and baking spice. Medium-bodied, dry, and very cocktail-ready.
FINISH 8.8 / 10
Clean and peppery with mint, dry oak, and a touch of maple sweetness. Not long, but nicely resolved.
EDITORIAL TRUST
Why this score is defensible.
The grade weighs rye character, balance at 43% ABV, cocktail utility, current US pricing, and how strongly the bottle represents Canadian whisky beyond the soft-blend stereotype.
III Is It For You?
CHAPTER THREE · IS IT FOR YOU?
Who this bottle is really for.
FOR
You want Canadian whisky with actual rye bite
You make rye Old Fashioneds and Manhattans
You like mint, pepper, grain, and dry oak
You want a classic bottle without trophy pricing
You need a rye that works neat or mixed
You are exploring Canada beyond Crown Royal
NOT FOR
You want high proof or cask strength
You prefer soft, sweet Canadian blends
You need a luxury gift presentation
You dislike herbal rye notes
You want an age-stated bottle
You are chasing sherry cask richness
IV How to Drink It
CHAPTER FOUR · HOW TO DRINK IT
Old Fashioned first, then neat.
OLD FASHIONED
Use a lighter hand with sugar. The rye mint and pepper do most of the work.
NEAT OR ONE CUBE
Give it ten minutes and one small cube if you want the oak and grain to soften.
MANHATTAN READY
Dry vermouths and spice-forward bitters flatter the rye-led profile.
THE MOVE
The move is a rye Old Fashioned with orange oil and aromatic bitters. For a softer Canadian contrast, try a richer blended whisky next to it.
THE SERVE
The serve
SERVE NEAT, WITH ONE CUBE, OR IN A RYE OLD FASHIONED
BUYING COMPARISON
Where it sits among rye bottles.
88 / 100
| BOTTLE | SCORE | PRICE | ROLE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alberta Premium | 88 | $30 | Canadian 100% rye peer |
| Lot No. 40 | 89 | $40 | Classic benchmark |
| Crown Royal Northern Harvest | 87 | $35 | Softer blend contrast |
| Sazerac Rye | 89 | $30 | American rye contrast |
| WhistlePig 10 | 90 | $70 | Higher proof upgrade |
V Where to Find It
CHAPTER FIVE · WHERE TO FIND IT
Where to buy Lot 40 — or try a pour first.
ReserveBarPREFERRED RETAILER
Ships where law allows · price varies by market
Total Wine & MoreNATIONAL RETAILER
In-store and online · varies by state
CaskersONLINE SPECIALIST
Online specialty retailer · availability varies
Prices sampled July 2026. Lot No. 40 is usually easy to find in Canada and more variable in the U.S.; expect the standard bottle around the mid-$30s to mid-$40s depending on market. Superior Whiskey may earn a commission from retail links, but commissions never influence a score.
VI Ask Forge
FORGE
SUPERIOR WHISKEY'S AI TASTING GUIDE
Why does Lot No. 40 matter?
Because it helped make Canadian rye taste like rye again for modern drinkers: grain-forward, herbal, peppery, and useful behind the bar. It is not the loudest bottle Canada makes, but it is one of the clearest introductions to the style.
ASK FORGE
Lot 40 vs Alberta Premium? Is it 100% rye? Best cocktail?
THE VERDICT
“Canadian rye with the rye turned back up.”
The Canadian rye baseline.
Lot No. 40 is not trying to impress with age statements, barrel proof, or luxury packaging. Its argument is simpler: rye grain, copper-pot spice, dry oak, and enough balance to work neat or in a drink. If your picture of Canadian whisky is soft and blended, this bottle is the correction. It earns an 89 because it is distinct, useful, and still broadly accessible.
COMMUNITY PULSE
What drinkers tend to agree on.
Best for cocktail people, rye fans, and anyone curious about Canadian whisky with more grain character.
CONSENSUS
Consensus centers on minty rye spice, dry oak, and excellent cocktail utility.
WATCHOUT
The 43% proof can feel restrained if you prefer cask-strength rye.
BEST USE
Use in Old Fashioneds, Manhattans, and neat side-by-side tastings.
IF YOU LIKE THIS, TRY
FREQUENTLY ASKED
Lot No. 40, answered.
Answered by Mae Sinclair · The Pacific Seat
Is Lot No. 40 worth it?
Yes, if you want a clear Canadian rye profile at a reasonable price: mint, pepper, toasted grain, and enough oak for structure.
What proof is Lot No. 40?
The standard Lot No. 40 Canadian Rye is 43% ABV, or 86 proof.
Is Lot No. 40 really 100% rye?
The brand is widely described as a 100% rye Canadian whisky, which is the core reason it tastes more grain-forward than many Canadian blends.
Is it better neat or in cocktails?
Both work, but cocktails are where it shines. It keeps its herbal rye identity in Old Fashioneds and Manhattans without overwhelming the drink.
What does Lot No. 40 taste like?
Mint, dill, toasted rye, black pepper, orange peel, caramel, and dry oak. It is leaner and more herbal than bourbon-adjacent ryes.
Who makes Lot No. 40?
It is produced at Hiram Walker in Windsor, Ontario, one of the major historic centers of Canadian whisky production.