By: Jay Broderick - In June of 2023, rock and roll legend Rod Stewart (now honorably known as Sir Roderick David Stewart) and international drink expert Duncan Frew launched the pair's own brand of Scottish Whisky in the UK and the United States. Not to be outdone, Canadian drinkers demanded the elixir, and their wish was granted at the end of September 2024, when Ontario's LCBO stores began to stock the spirit known as Wolfie's.
Influenced by Rock and Roll, and Sir Rod's Scottish roots, the idea of "Wolfie's" was born after "A Few Too Many" between the 2 co-founders. With their Scottish Whisky garnering Gold Awards from multiple industry experts, fear not! The brand's promise of enjoying it "however you feel" separates them from the traditional rules of whisky drinking, opening the doors to anybody who wants to seek something new.
One of the greatest advantages for Wolfie's is the fact that their small team is fully committed, and that includes their founders. This isn't just a fly by night operation where Rod Stewart simply puts his name behind a trademark. He is completely invested, and that brings massive credibility to the brand. Distilled at the well respected Loch Lomond Whiskies, Wolfie's is a "Rascal of a thing", as we'll soon find out!
So Let's Have a Taste, Shall We?
I'll preface this by stating that I am NOT a whisky (or whiskey) connoisseur (TRIVIA: whisky is that spirit which originates in Scotland, Canada and Japan, while whiskEy is from the USA and Ireland). Sure, I enjoy a glass with a dash of water and a fine Cuban cigar, and I'll even mix with coke or ginger ale (FOR SHAME), but you won't find me sitting on a panel of experts, picking apart the minutia of the liquid. But I'm able bodied enough to share whether my esophagus gets eaten away, or if the blend is smooth as silk. Frankly, I'm the exact demographic that Wolfie's is catering to. So let's get to it.
On Christmas Day ('tis the season), my son and I pulled out a some glasses, and cracked the cork-capped bottle of Wolfie's sitting in my liquor cabinet. After a quick palate cleanse, we poured a drink. Mine was over 2 ice cubes. My son mixed his with coke. Our immediate reaction, "Damn! That is smooth!". We've both had our share of whisky/whiskey that is far too spicy, and harsh. But this was so easy on the tongue and throat. And it stayed that way after the first taste.
As an easy drinking blended scotch whisky that is aged in bourbon casks, do we care about the apple, and citrus undertones? Personally, I do not, and nor will most of its target audience. True to the brand's promise, Wolfie's is a perfect scotch whisky to drink as you wish, and there'll be nobody on the other end to beat you up about it. For me, I had a second glass with a drop of water (my typical go-to), and Wolfie's rises to the challenge with any other, with the advantage of Rock and Roll!!!!
On the music front, Sir Rod Stewart continues to be a very busy man. Finishing off his 2024 tour on December 18th, Sir Rod will take a couple months off before heading back on the road in February, and will continue playing dates around the world through August. Rod Stewart will make his stop here in Toronto on July 22, 2025 at Budweiser Stage.
Comments