NHL Franchise Boys

For whatever reason there is a product connection between hockey and whiskey. Maybe it is because hockey is a very popular Canadian sport, and given they have a love of Canadian whiskey in that nation, the two go hand in hand. Whatever the case, hockey hall of famer and Stanley Cup winner Ed Belfour is now getting in on the game via the recent launch of Belfour Spirits and an associated line of whiskey.

The Belfour Spirits line of whiskeys, according to those behind them, have a rather interesting back story. It is said that for the past five years, two generations of the Belfour family (including Ed, son Dayn, 30, and daughter Reaghan, 27) have apparently been working toward one goal: to produce a whiskey they feel is “worthy of a championship,” which apparently means one “that tastes as luxurious as its unique packaging: a 1920s-inspired, decanter-like bottle with a pattern that resembles cut crystal.”

Thus, applying lessons learned by both father and son during their respective, professional hockey careers and industry education from attending two whiskey schools (Canadian Craft Distilling Institute in Kelowna, B.C., and Moonshine University in Louisville, Ky.), they have used “teamwork, patience and attention to detail to distill 1,700 barrels of whiskey to date.”

“There are a lucky few who do what they love, not once in a lifetime, but twice,” said Ed Belfour, president and CEO of Belfour Spirits, who retired in 2008 after 21 years of playing professional hockey, in a prepared statement. “For me, this is the perfect career, post hockey. “There are so many similarities in this business to the sport – the competition, the art of distilling, the creativity in barrel selection, the dedication required, the camaraderie of the team. I feel blessed to work alongside my family and work to build what I hope is a second legacy for the Belfour name.”

“We meticulously handcraft in small batches, paying attention to the art of barrel selection, charring and blending, and marrying that with the science of fermentation, distillation and aging,” added Dayn Belfour, vice president of distilling and production for Belfour Spirits, who played professional hockey as a goalie until he was 26. “Our whiskey is intentionally well balanced, not too heavy with sweet or spice, and every bottle is infused with our family’s shared, immense passion.”

What this all translates into from a release perspective are three new bottlings, as detailed below for your consideration. Plans call for these whiskeys to be released initially in Illinois and Texas.

Rye Whiskey – 47% ABV, 94 Proof, 750 ML

A nontraditional tasting Rye Whiskey, this spirit honors a nostalgic mash bill profile and has unexpected flavors for its kind.

• Appearance: Golden honey, medium amber
• Nose: A burnt sea salted vanilla caramel aroma, leather
• Taste: Sweet caramel, butterscotch, cinnamon
• Finish: Full-bodied velvety warmth that lingers with a peppermint finish

Bourbon Whiskey Finished With Texas Pecan Wood  – 46% ABV, 92 Proof, 750 ML

The majestic beauty of a 300-year-old, oversized pecan tree on the old Belfour ranch in North Texas inspired this unique spirit. This Bourbon Whiskey aged in American white oak barrels then spent extra time mellowing with added staves of Texas pecan wood, imparting subtle notes of brown sugar and heavy notes of smoky roasted pecan.

• Appearance: Golden honey, light amber
• Nose: Nutty, butterscotch, crème brulee
• Taste: Smoky vanilla, molasses
• Finish: Long mellow warmth with a rich mouthfeel layered with vanilla

Limited Edition Straight Rye Whiskey –  50% ABV, 100 Proof, 750 ML

This Limited Edition is offered at 100 proof and presented in an autographed collector’s bottle, featuring a 1 oz. chalice cork that is plated in sterling silver.

• Appearance: Golden honey, light amber
• Nose: Smoke pear, plum, dark chocolate
• Taste: Light almond, white pepper, pear, apple
• Finish: Elegant lingering smoke, lasting warmth

A lot of things pair well with whisky: a nice meal, a fine cigar, good company. Canadian distiller J.P. Wiser has a new one: HOCKEY.

Made in partnership with the NHL Alumni Association (NHLAA), these whiskies serve a mission. “This partnership will help the NHLAA’s mandate to support retired hockey players adjust to life after their professional careers end, while also impacting our local hockey communities,” said Glenn Healy, former professional league champion and Executive Director of the NHLAA. These whiskies consist of “unique blends that reflect the playing styles of  these alumni hockey players:

Wendel Clark – bold and tenacious. Aged in bourbon barrels for eleven years, this 100% rye whisky is bold and tenacious, just like Wendel’s on ice personality. This whisky features notes of orange honeysuckle and dried fruits with a peppery finish. And, at 41.6%, it truly is a Toronto whisky.

Lanny McDonald – well-rounded and wheat-forward. Whether you have a moustache or not, you can enjoy this 9-year-old, wheat-forward blend. Aged in Canadian and virgin oak barrels, you’ll find notes of apricots and fresh honey for a whisky as well-rounded as Lanny’s game.

Guy Lafleur – smooth, 100% corn, with a memorable finish. For 10 years, this blend aged in Speyside, bourbon and rum barrels, leaving it with a naturally smooth and delicate body reminiscent of “The Flower” gliding through the neutral zone. With 100% corn, you’ll notice honeycomb toffee, caramel and vanilla on the nose. A drink of this, and you’ll be cheering, “Guy! Guy! Guy!”

Paul Coffey – At 48% ABV, this 2-grain whisky is rich & smooth like Coffey’s stride on the ice. Aged in 4 distinct barrels for 7 years, this whisky perfectly pays tribute to #7’s historic 48 goal season.

Larry Robinson – Big and smooth like Larry’s play, this 2-grain whisky is aged for 6 years in 6 different barrels, in commemoration of his 6 championship wins.

Darryl Sittler – Aged in Canadian and bourbon barrels for 10 years, this balanced 4-grain blend is well-rounded, just like Darryl on the ice.”

Mark Messier –  Arguably one of the game’s best captains, Mark led his teams with a combination of skill and strength. This bold & tenacious 3-grain whisky is skillfully blended to deliver on Messier’s strength at 47% ABV. Aged 11 years in Speyside Malt barrels, this whisky celebrates #11’s impact on the game.

Yvan Cournoyer – Aged 12 years to honour Yvan’s playing number, this whisky was inspired by Cournoyer’s game-winning pass to Paul Henderson in the Canada 1972 Summit Series. Much like Cournoyer’s smooth hands led to the gritty game-winning goal, this complex liquid is a smooth 3-grain blend with gritty rye flavours.

Dave Keon – With a 45% ABV to celebrate the 45-points Dave scored in his 1^st season, this well-balanced whisky compliments his offensive and defensive abilities on the ice. To truly pay homage to this hockey legend, this whisky is aged 14 years for Dave’s playing number and uses 4 different barrels to commemorate his 4 Cup wins.

 

A season ticket in the Bell Centre’s nosebleed seats costs the average Montrealer 62.1% of a month’s salary, second-highest after Toronto.

The least expensive seat for a Canadiens game is about $50 and that means today’s young fans have to flip burgers or toil at some other minimum-wage task for four hours in order to pay for a ticket. Another hour of work doesn’t even cover the cost of one beer.

Research shows Canadians are spending a fair bit of their hard-earned money to see games. The study looked at the lowest price for a season ticket and calculated the percentage of the average monthly salary in that market.  Fans in Toronto had to fork out 62.4 per cent of a month’s salary to get an entry-level seat, while Montreal fans are next, spending 62.1 per cent of a month’s salary to sit in the nosebleed seats. Vancouver (62 per cent) and Winnipeg (52.3 per cent) are the only other cities where NHL fans pay more than half a month’s salary. Ottawa is last in the NHL in attendance with 11,732 fans a game, but fans can gets season ticket for less than $1,300 and that represents 18.5 per cent of a monthly salary.

The Minnesota Wild has the highest ticket price in the NHL, but these figures represent the least expensive seats. The Maple Leafs, the New York Rangers and the Canadiens lead the way at the top of the market. High ticket prices have been cited for a softening of the market in Montreal and Toronto. It’s possible to buy tickets at the box office on game day in both cities and that was unheard of five years ago.

Tickets are available in abundance on TicketMaster but I’d rather go to Juliano’s and enjoy the great food and watch the game on large screen TVs with my buddies! Who’s in?