Every whisky tells a story, but the BEARFACE narrative is rooted deep in the wilderness of British Columbia. Inspired by the Canadian wilderness, the new BEARFACE Wilderness Series is set to intrigue adventure. The series is infused with the coveted Matsutake mushroom and aged in sherry and red wine casks for a profile that is rare and exciting.
See also: Chianti Classico: Italy’s Tuscan Treasure
Origin Story
Striving for innovation, BEARFACE Master Blender Andrès Faustinelli was dropped by helicopter between Kelowna and the Canadian Rockies. It was there in the Kootenay where the Wilderness Series was born.
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As Faustinelli descended through bear country, he maintained a strict foragers code. He sought to tread softly and minimize any sign of his presence. Faustinelli notes, “The BEARFACE Wilderness Series is another example of how we connect with nature and the elements to create whiskies that are wilder and more adventurous than anything else out there”.
Specs
Bottled under the name BEARFACE Wilderness Series: Matsutake Release 01, this extraordinary whisky is aged in three different styles of sherry casks. As part of BEARFACE’s unique Elemental Ageing process, the casks are matured in repurposed shipping containers. They are exposed to extreme temperature variations throughout the seasons in the Canadian wilderness. “Canada needs to be its own identity,” notes Faustinelli. “We are the most innovative and openly regulated region in the world for whisky, so we need to show this part proudly!”
master blenders working in Canada can be as creative as they want with looser regulations. This includes blending, aging and overall creation of styles and taste profiles. For the Wilderness Series blend, Andrès uses a combination of sherry wine and red wine casks to age the whisky. The addition of the rare Matsutake mushroom infusion adds to the final unique aromas and savory taste.
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MASTER BLENDER
Faustinelli started his career in economics as an investment banker in Venezuela before reinventing his career. He moved into the spirits business in North America and has not looked back since. He’s since worked with spirits like rum, mezcal, tequila, beer and wine. He now lends his expertise and artistry to blending whisky with Canada’s BEARFACE whisky.
MATSUTAKE MUSHROOM
the Matsutake mushroom is a highly sought-after species of edible mushroom. It is prized in Japanese cuisine for its unique and distinct spicy aromas. It is a very luxurious ingredient and the Japanese have preferred matsutake as an ingredient ever since the Neolithic period. The word Matsutake derives from the Japanese word matsu meaning pine tree and the final syllable being take – as in forage.
Matsutake mushrooms grow under trees and are usually concealed under the forest floor – so it takes talent and know-how to find them. Hard to find, Matsutake mushrooms have specific growth requirements which includes a combination of appropriate forest and terrain. Adding to their rareness, they can only be harvested once a year and in some years they don’t come to be based on weather and natural conditions.
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“In recent years, many of the world’s most acclaimed mixologists have been embracing the potential of umami-rich fungi as an inventive cocktail ingredient,” says Bram Bolwijn, Sommelier Forager at BEARFACE. “The Wilderness Series: Matsutake Release is an exciting next step in our ongoing quest to create premium whiskies that are unlike any other in the world.”
TASTE PROFILE
The BEARFACE Wilderness Whisky has aromas of rustic dried fruit and spices like cinnamon and nutmeg. It includes a taste profile that is earthy, savory and filled with umami characteristics. Smooth, rustic and unique, there are only 500 cases of this whisky made, making it an exceptionally rare bottle to find, to taste and to gift.
BEARFACE has earned multiple international awards for its remarkable, boundary- breaking whiskies – most recently a Double Gold Medal at the 2021 edition of the prestigious San Francisco World Spirits Competition.
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The NEW BEARFACE Wilderness Series: Matsutake Release will Retail for CAD $49.95, is bottled at 42.5 % and will be available across Canada (except in Quebec) beginning in Spring 2022, but only for a limited time. Other releases in the Wilderness Series will follow. More details can be found at bearfacewhisky.com.
Feature image credit: BEARFACE Whisky
