Junction 56 Cambria Street Triticale Whisky Review Review Canada: Tasting Notes, Value & Alternatives (2026)
We're always excited to try Canadian whiskies that do something a little different, and Cambria Street Triticale Whisky definitely fits that description.
Made with 100% triticale, a unique hybrid of wheat and rye, Cambria Street offers a different take on Canadian whisky. The distillery describes the profile as bringing together the sweetness of wheat with the bolder spice of rye, along with notes of caramel, vanilla, toasted oak, baking spice, butterscotch, and honey.
Our experience with this bottle was a little different from the official tasting notes, but that's part of what makes reviewing whisky so much fun. Everyone's palate is different.
For us, Cambria Street was very light and quite different from the whiskies we normally reach for. We even picked up a somewhat tequila-like quality, which wasn't something we expected from a whisky.
There was also some noticeable burn, and ultimately, this just wasn't a bottle that really worked for our personal palate.
That said, we still appreciate what they're doing with triticale and the fact that Canadian distilleries are continuing to experiment with unique grains and flavours.
And we're definitely not writing off the distillery.
We'd happily try more whiskies from their lineup to see if another expression is a better match for our palate.
Highlights
Unique Grain — Made with 100% triticale, a hybrid of wheat and rye.
Very Light — A lighter whisky profile that stands apart from many Canadian whiskies we've tried.
Different From Bourbon — We found it much further removed from bourbon than other Canadian alternatives we've tried.
Quick Review Summary
Rating: 65/100
Best For: Whisky drinkers looking for something different
Price in Canada: $40 CAD
Proof: 80 (40% ABV)
Would We Buy Again? No
If you like this, try:
Buffalo Trace
Maker's Mark 46
Russell's Reserve 10 Year
Cambria Street Triticale Whisky Actually Is
Cambria Street Triticale Whisky is a Canadian whisky made from 100% triticale, a hybrid grain combining wheat and rye.
The whisky is produced in Stratford, Ontario, and is part of a growing selection of Canadian whiskies experimenting with alternative grains and production styles.
The use of triticale is what makes this whisky particularly interesting. It brings together characteristics from both wheat and rye, creating a profile that is different from more traditional Canadian whisky.
The whisky is bottled at 40% ABV and is available in both 375 mL and 750 mL bottles for a very reasonable price.
Specs at a Glance
Details | Info |
Distillery | Junction 56 Distillery |
Location | Stratford, Ontario, Canada |
Mash Bill | 100% Triticale |
Aged | Not publicly stated |
ABV | 40% |
Proof | 80 |
Style | Single Grain Canadian Whisky |
Price (Canada) | $40 |
Tasting Notes (Our Experience)
Cambria Street is a very light whisky, and that's probably the first thing we noticed.
For our palate, it didn't have the rich oak, caramel, or traditional whiskey character that we were expecting. Instead, we found it much lighter and more unusual.
Interestingly, we picked up a somewhat tequila-like quality when tasting it. That's certainly not something we normally associate with whisky, but it made this bottle stand out.
There was also some noticeable burn, although it wasn't overwhelming.
The official tasting notes mention caramel, vanilla, toasted oak, baking spices, pepper, butterscotch, and honey. Those weren't the dominant flavours we personally experienced, but tasting whisky is subjective, and different palates can pick up very different characteristics.
For us, the overall profile was simply lighter and more unconventional than what we typically enjoy.
Who We Think This Whiskey Is For
Cambria Street Triticale Whisky works best if you:
Enjoy trying unusual Canadian whiskies
Like experimenting with different grains
Want something lighter and less traditional
Enjoy exploring unique whisky profiles
Are curious about triticale-based whisky
Prefer lower-intensity whisky
Like trying Canadian craft spirits that do something different
Look elsewhere if you:
Want a traditional bourbon-style profile
Prefer rich caramel, vanilla, and oak flavours
Want a bold or high-proof whisky
Prefer very smooth whisky with minimal burn
Are specifically looking for a close bourbon replacement
Prefer heavier, richer, more flavour-forward whiskies
Is Cambria Street Triticale Whisky Worth It in Canada?
At around $40 CAD for a 750 mL bottle, we think Cambria Street Triticale Whisky is fairly priced for a Canadian whisky. The price makes it an affordable bottle to try, especially if you're curious about something made with 100% triticale.
The bigger question is whether you'll enjoy the whisky itself.
For us, unfortunately, we didn't really enjoy the flavour profile. It was very light, somewhat tequila-like, and had some noticeable burn, so it wasn't a great match for our palate.
Our take: At $40, we think it's a fair buy if you want to try something different. But based on our experience, we wouldn't personally buy another bottle because we simply didn't enjoy the whisky enough.
Can You Actually Find It in Canada?
Yes. Cambria Street Triticale Whisky is produced by Junction 56 Distillery in Stratford, Ontario. The distillery currently lists the Triticale Whisky in its whisky lineup, although availability can vary. The official listing shows the expression at 40% ABV and available in 375 mL and 750 mL formats.
For Canadian whisky drinkers, that makes this one relatively straightforward to explore if you're interested in trying something made with triticale.
Cambria Street Triticale Whisky vs BlackFox Single Grain Whisky (Triticosecale) (Quick Take)
Cambria Street Triticale: Very light, unconventional, somewhat tequila-like for our palate, with some noticeable burn. It's definitely different from the whiskies we normally enjoy.
Black Fox Triticosecale: Much smoother, more flavourful, and easier drinking for us, with virtually no burn. It's one of our favourite Canadian bourbon alternatives.
Both whiskies are made from 100% triticale, so they're an interesting comparison for anyone curious about how the same unique grain can produce very different whisky experiences.
For us, Black Fox Triticosecale is the clear choice between the two based on our personal palate.
But that's also what makes comparing them interesting. Cambria Street has a much lighter and more unconventional personality, while Black Fox gives us the richer, smoother, more bourbon-friendly experience we tend to look for.
Canadian Alternative We Think Is Worth It
If you enjoy Cambria Street Triticale Whisky and want to try another Canadian whisky made from the same unique grain, we'd recommend:
Black Fox Single Grain Whisky – Triticosecale
Black Fox Triticosecale is one of our favourite Canadian bourbon alternatives.
The biggest difference for us is the overall drinking experience. Black Fox is incredibly smooth, flavourful, and easy to sip, with very little burn. It's also made from 100% triticale, making it a particularly interesting bottle to compare with Cambria Street.
If you're a bourbon drinker looking for a Canadian whisky that feels approachable while still being unique, Black Fox Triticosecale is one we'd happily recommend.
Best Ways We Drink It
Neat: This is how we'd recommend trying it first so you can experience the whisky exactly as it is. For us, the lighter and more unusual character is most noticeable this way.
With a splash of water: Worth experimenting with if you find the whisky a little sharp or want to see whether dilution changes the balance.
In a cocktail: This could be an interesting option if you prefer a lighter whisky base, although we'd personally rather explore other expressions from the Junction 56 lineup before choosing this as one of our regular cocktail whiskies.
Final Thoughts
Cambria Street Triticale Whisky is definitely an interesting Canadian whisky, even if it wasn't personally one of our favourites.
What stood out most to us was just how light and unconventional it was. We picked up a somewhat tequila-like character that we don't normally associate with whisky, along with some noticeable burn.
That made it quite different from the bourbon and Canadian bourbon-style whiskies we typically enjoy.
And while the official tasting notes highlight caramel, vanilla, toasted oak, baking spices, pepper, butterscotch, and honey, those weren't the dominant characteristics we personally experienced.
For us, this simply wasn't a bottle that matched our palate.
But we're not writing off Junction 56.
We actually like the fact that Canadian distilleries are experimenting with grains like triticale and creating whiskies that don't necessarily taste like everything else on the shelf.
Would we buy Cambria Street Triticale Whisky again? Probably not.
Would we try another whisky from Junction 56? Absolutely.
We're curious to see how some of their other expressions compare and whether another bottle from the lineup is a better fit for what we enjoy.
Final Score: 65/100
🥃 Recommended Bottles to Try
Based on this guide, here are some great REAL Bourbon options currently available in Canada:
Artisan Taber Corn Whisky Double Barrel - Rich, smooth, and layered flavour profile
Okanagan Spirits BLK BRBN Cask Strength – A richer, higher-proof version with deeper caramel, oak, and spice
BlackFox Single Grain Whisky (Triticosecale) - Great Bourbon Alternative that is exceptionally easy-drinking and flavourful
❓ Bourbon & Whiskey FAQs
What is Cambria Street Triticale Whisky?
Cambria Street Triticale Whisky is a Canadian whisky from Junction 56 Distillery in Stratford, Ontario. It's made from 100% triticale, a hybrid of wheat and rye, and bottled at 40% ABV.
Is Cambria Street Triticale Whisky a good bourbon alternative?
For our palate, not really. We found it much lighter and more unconventional than the bourbon-style whiskies we normally enjoy, so it wouldn't be our first choice as a bourbon alternative.
What is the mash bill of Cambria Street Triticale Whisky?
Cambria Street Triticale Whisky is made from 100% triticale, a hybrid grain combining wheat and rye.
Is Cambria Street Triticale Whisky worth buying in Canada?
At around $40 CAD, we think the price is fair and makes it an affordable bottle to try. However, we personally didn't enjoy the flavour profile enough to buy another bottle.
Who should try Cambria Street Triticale Whisky?
It's worth trying if you enjoy exploring unique Canadian whiskies, experimenting with different grains, and trying something outside the traditional whisky profile.
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