Proudly Canadian makers of award-winning BEARFACE Whisky create a unique take on a classic taste
BEARFACE Whisky’s latest release looks to a familiar style, but the way it gets there is distinctly Canadian.
The makers of award-winning, Elementally Aged® BEARFACE® Whisky (yes, the brand does prefer all-caps for its name) have introduced BEARFACE BEAR-BON™ Charred Barrel Whisky, a distinctly Canadian take on the familiar flavour profile associated with southern-style whisky.
The latest addition to the BEARFACE lineup is the result of years of experimentation by Master Blender Andres Faustinelli, who first pioneered the brand’s Elementally Aged approach in 2018. That process uses Canada’s extreme northern climate and its dramatic swings in temperature to draw intense flavours from select barrels during maturation.
Read Also: Andres Faustinelli is challenging the conventional norms of whisky craftsmanship
With BEAR-BON, Faustinelli has taken the BEARFACE philosophy in a new direction. Rather than focusing on the brand’s signature triple-oak approach, the new whisky puts the emphasis on a triple-grain blend of Canadian corn, rye and malted barley, paired with a distinctive barrel-finishing process.
Master Blender Andres Faustinelli with a bottle of BEAR-BON.
The whisky begins with three aged Canadian single grains, each contributing its own character to the final blend. The spirit is then finished in French oak casks that were seasoned for two years and previously used to mature Bearface whisky. The toasted casks are subsequently hand-charred in Quebec before being filled with BEAR-BON.
The result is a medium-amber whisky with a grain-forward profile. Canadian corn brings confectionary notes and caramel, while toasted oak adds warmth and structure. Malted barley contributes a toasty mid-palate, followed by the lively spice of rye and a dry finish.
“This is jazz for whisky lovers,” says Faustinelli. “We took the scenic route to arrive at a truly southern style flavour. It’s a totally different path.”
That unconventional route is central to what makes BEAR-BON undeniably Canadian.
“This blend is only possible because of the foundation we built with Elementally Aged Bearface Whisky,” Faustinelli explains. “While the profile is similar to Southern-style whisky, the process behind it is unique to Canada, made possible by the flexibility to be creative in how whisky is made here.”
For Faustinelli, that creative approach was also about maintaining a connection to the whisky that came before it.
“We were intentional about preserving the DNA of Elementally Aged as we created BEAR-BON, resulting in a whisky that can only be made in Canada.”
Image courtesy of BEARFACE.
At 45.2% alc./vol., BEAR-BON is bottled at 750mL and is designed to work equally well neat, on the rocks or in a cocktail. And for those looking to put the new release to work behind the bar, Bearface has created a Canadian spin on the classic Boulevardier.
The Bear-vardier
- 1.25 oz BEARFACE BEAR-BON
- 0.75 oz sweet vermouth
- 0.75 oz bitter aperitivo
- Orange twist
Combine the BEAR-BON, sweet vermouth and bitter aperitivo in a mixing glass filled with ice. Stir for 30–45 seconds, then strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice. Garnish with an orange twist.
BEARFACE BEAR-BON Charred Barrel Whisky is available in 750mL bottles, with retail pricing varying by province. In Ontario, it is available through the LCBO for $44.95 CAD.
