The Fall of Seagram’s: Tasting the Spirits That Built an Empire

Welcome to Your Bourbon Journey! Today, Wayne and Rebecca are taking a vintage “vertical leap” across three different countries with a historic Seagram’s flight spanning the 1970s and 1980s. 

Before the empire was dismantled, Joseph E. Seagram & Sons ruled the global spirits landscape. In this tasting, we unseal and explore three pristine, dusty bottles representing Canada, Scotland, and Kentucky straight bourbon. 

How does 1970s Benchmark compare to today’s Buffalo Trace expression? Why did vintage Canadian whisky hit so differently from the Waterloo stills? Pour yourself a dram and join us for the ride!

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Featured Bottles & Tasting Order:

🥃 Pour 1: Seagram’s V.O. Canadian Whisky (Distilled 1978, Bottled c. 1984–1985)

  • Classification: Blended Canadian Whisky
  • Distillery: Historic Waterloo Distillery (Waterloo, Ontario – closed 1993)
  • Age & Proof: 6 Years Old | 80.0 Proof (40% ABV)
  • Origin: From Rebecca’s parents’ collection, complete with its original presentation box and bilingual 1978 Canadian excise tax stamp.
  • Notes: Light, delicate sweet corn, subtle butterscotch, soft mouthfeel, and surprisingly great viscosity for an 80-proof blend.

🥃 Pour 2: Seagram’s 100 Pipers Blended Scotch Whisky (c. 1971–1974)

  • Classification: Blended Scotch Whisky
  • Distilleries: Chivas Brothers blending house; malt core sourced from Allt-a-Bhainne and Braeval (Braes of Glenlivet)
  • Specs: NAS (approx. 5–8 yr components) | 86 Proof (43% ABV) | Pre-metric 4/5 Quart
  • Sourced: Picked up for $30 at Revival Vintage Spirits in Covington, KY, inside its iconic original zippered retro travel caddy.
  • Notes: Golden Delicious apple, fresh pear, sweet malted barley, and a whisper of delicate Speyside peat. Perfect intro-level vintage Scotch that outperforms modern shelf staples.

🥃 Pour 3: Seagram’s 6 Year Benchmark Premium Bourbon (Bottled 1973)

  • Classification: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
  • Distillery: Calvert / Henry McKenna Plant (DSP-KY-1 / D-126, Louisville, KY)
  • Age & Proof: 6 Years Old | 86 Proof (43% ABV) | 4/5 Quart Decanter
  • Dating: Confirmed 1973 via base Owens-Illinois glass date stamp and Series 112 red tax stamp. Purchased via Unicorn Auctions.
  • Notes: Rich, dark confectionery butterscotch, heavy vintage oak, rich mouthfeel, and zero thinness. An absolute masterclass in 1970s Kentucky dusty bourbon that shows why selling off Seagram’s spirits portfolio was a massive industry fumble.

🚨REMEMBER TO ALWAYS DRINK RESPONSIBLY🚨

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NOTE: The spirits in this review were purchased by us. We were not compensated by the spirit producer for this review. This is simply our opinion based on what we tasted on this day. Please drink responsibly.

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We Opened a 75-Year-Old Bottle of O.F.C. Whiskey! 

It’s the first Friday of the month, which means another incredible vintage bottle pour on Your Bourbon Journey! Today, we are popping the seal on a pristine, box-fresh dusty bottle: Imported O.F.C. by Schenley Canadian Whisky (8 Years Old).

Acquired from our good friend Brad Bonds at Revival Vintage Spirits in Covington, Kentucky, this 4/5 quart pinch-decanter bottle features a gorgeous pewter-style “Schenley Elegance” crest medallion, crisp tax stamps, and its original carton. Distilled in 1951 at Canadian Schenley Ltd. in Valleyfield, Quebec, and bottled around 1959 at 86.8 proof, this 75-year-old spirit delivers a massive sensory surprise!

Does vintage Canadian blended whisky hold up against classic American dusties? We dive into the sweet Werther’s-style rich butterscotch candy nose, the shocking rye-spice “Pop Rocks” sensation on the palate, and a lingering peppery finish.

Remember to drink responsibly, hit that Subscribe button, and leave a comment below: Have you ever tried vintage Canadian whisky from the mid-century? Cheers!

Visit our Friends at Revival Vintage Spirits https://revivalky.com/ 

Connect With Us & Support The Journey! 

🎓 Want to earn a FREE Whiskey Certificate? Start your bourbon education journey with Whiskey University today! Take your first steps here: https://www.whiskeyuniv.com/first-steps

❌YOUR BOURBON JOURNEY DOES NOT SELL ALCOHOL❌

Imported O.F.C. by Schenley Canadian Whisky

  • Classification: Canadian Blended Whisky
  • Company: Schenley International Corp. (New York, NY) / Schenley Industries, Inc.
  • Distillery: Canadian Schenley Ltd. (Valleyfield, Quebec, Canada)
  • Mash Bill: Undisclosed Canadian multi-grain blend (typically corn base whisky with flavoring rye and malted barley)
  • Age: 8 Years Old
  • Proof: 86.8 Proof (43.4% ABV)
  • SRP: Original historical retail ~$5.00–$6.50; Modern vintage valuation ~$150–$200
  • Released: Distilled 1951 / Bottled circa 1959 (Note: Canadian excise tax stamps denote the distillation/entry year rather than the bottling year; paired with the 8-year age statement, bottling occurred around 1959)
  • Other: 4/5 Quart decanter-style pinch bottle with pewter-style “Schenley Elegance” crest medallion and original carton; sealed with Canadian Excise strip (Series D, No. 9793118, dated 1951), red U.S. Internal Revenue Distilled Spirits strip (No. 36197224), and vintage State of Florida 43.5¢ Alcoholic Beverage Tax stamp.
  • Purchased: March 15, 2026 for $150 at Revival Vintage Spirits

🚨REMEMBER TO ALWAYS DRINK RESPONSIBLY🚨

❓Questions❓ YourBourbonJourney@gmail.com

NOTE: The spirit in this review was purchased by us. We were not compensated by the spirit producer for this review. This is simply our opinion based on what we tasted on this day. Please drink responsibly.

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