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It’s the end of March, and tonight it’s a brisk 34 degrees in Baltimore (which is friggin’ stupid) and that calls for only one thing: whisky.

I was recently sent two bottles of spirits by a nice woman on behalf of Cruzan Rum, one of which I will be reviewing tonight. To make sure the mood is just right for such a chilly evening, I’ve got the lights turned down low, I’ve put on some Poe and I’m ready to go.

I’ve never had any interest in Canadian whiskies. I like Canada for its beautiful scenery and its kind and generous people. They’ve got great beer, but I’ve never thought to try their whiskey. Now, we shall break our streak with a (hopefully) pleasant glass of Canadian Club Reserve.

Aged ten years, Canadian Club Reserve is a blended whisky matured in white oak barrels. No fancy bells and whistles here; it’s 80 proof and not looking to dance. From the humility of the label, I can tell it simply wants to shake my hand and invite me in. I accept the invitation gracefully.

Unscrewing the cap provides me with a sweet aroma of oak and the subtle sting of whisky burn filling my nostrils. This is going to be a fun ride, and I’m not even a third of the way through Poe’s first album.

I pour a shot or two into my rocks glass and cap it off with three cubes of ice (made from Baltimore’s finest tap water). Immediately the warm golden glow of this whisky entices me. Let’s do this like Buddhists.

The first sip is… interesting. I could get used to Canadian whisky. Instead of a grand departure in flavor from American whiskey, I’m treated to something very familiar. Canadian Club Reserve goes down smooth– scary smooth. When it hits your tongue, you get a mild fire, followed by oak and spice, maybe even vanilla. I don’t know what it is, but it’s sweet, smooth and oaky and I love it.

At this point, I’m disappointed that I opted for having this on the rocks. So, like any professional, I take a sip straight out of the bottle (kids, don’t try this at home). Wow, that’s good. Yeah, don’t be like me. If you’re going to have this, sip it neat because this flavor is very rich and very nice.

Canadian Club Reserve can be had for around twenty bucks and at that price, it’s totally worth it.