Gibson's Finest Rare 12 Year Old
Canadian whisky only has to age 3 years. Rare 12 waits until year 12. That blend holds whiskies aged 12 years and older, and the site places it beside Sterling, Bold 8 and Venerable 18.
William Grant and Sons lists Gibson's as a local brand. Work began in 1887, and the owner says the base is in Scotland. Its plant list names the UK, Ireland, the United States, India and Mexico. No Canadian distillery is named there, or on the Rare 12 page.
Fruit leads the nose, with caramel custard, butterscotch and oak. Sweetness shows on the palate, with citrus zest, white pepper, ginger and toffee. Warm pepper stays through a medium to long finish.
The brand's own serve for this bottle is Rare on the rocks. It also prints an Apple Pie Old Fashioned and a Caesar.
Product Highlights
- •Apple Pie Old Fashioned calls for 2 ounces
- •Winter Sour adds 1 ounce of cranberry juice
- •Bold 8 in the same lineup is 92 proof
- •Sterling uses whiskies 4 years and older
- •PMA Canada is the named representative
Category
Our Canadian score
Imported
Company’s own label claim: “Gibson’s Finest Rare 12 Year Old Canadian whisky”
The distillery is not named. Gibson's Finest Rare 12 is sold as Canadian whisky aged at least 12 years. William Grant and Sons of Scotland lists Gibson's as its brand, and its plant list does not include Canada.
Score breakdown (30% evidenced, low confidence)
“Depuis notre base écossaise, nous avons construit un réseau de sites de production et de bureaux dans le monde entier.”
This score is our own read of publicly available evidence, not a regulatory finding. It is not a CFIA or Competition Bureau origin determination, and it is not the same as the "Product of Canada" or "Made in Canada" claims a manufacturer prints on a label. Check the package if you need the official claim. How we score
Key Facts
- Made In
- Not disclosed
- Owned By
- William Grant & Sons
- Age
- 12 years minimum
- Style
- Canadian whisky
- Proof
- Not listed
- Representative
- PMA Canada
Where to Buy
Product Information
Warnings
- You must be of legal drinking age in your province of residence.
All Information Sources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Gibson's Finest Rare 12 made in Canada?
No city is printed. The Rare 12 page calls this bottle Canadian whisky and names no distillery town. PMA Canada represents Gibson's Finest Rare 12, and customer mail goes to an Alchemyst address.
How is Rare 12 different from Bold 8?
Bold 8 is bottled at 92 proof. Gibson's Finest Rare 12 does not print a proof on its page. Bold is aged 8 years, while this blend is the older bottle in that pair.
What goes in the Apple Pie Old Fashioned?
Use 2 ounces of Gibson's Finest Rare 12, 1 ounce of apple cider, half an ounce of simple syrup, 3 dashes of Angostura bitters, a pinch of apple pie spice and 3 apple slices. Stir it over ice.
Who owns Gibson's Finest?
A Scottish family company owns Gibson's Finest Rare 12. The owner names Glenn Gordon, a fifth-generation descendant of the founder, as chair.
How do you mix a Caesar with Rare 12?
The printed Caesar uses 1 3/4 ounces of Gibson's Finest Rare 12, 5 ounces of Clamato, hot sauce, Worcestershire and celery salt. A lemon wedge rims the glass.
What is in the Winter Sour?
Pour 2 ounces of Gibson's Finest Rare 12 with 3/4 ounce of lemon juice, 3/4 ounce of simple syrup and 1 ounce of cranberry juice. Cranberry bitters are optional, and a rosemary sprig finishes it.
