Letterkenny is a popular Canadian television sitcom that revolves around the rural community of Letterkenny, Ontario. One of the show’s most iconic elements is the homemade maple syrup whiskey brewed by characters Wayne and Daryl. This unique moonshine-style liquor has become a fan favorite thanks to its starring role across multiple episodes.
Quick Answers
Here are some quick answers about the maple syrup whiskey from Letterkenny:
- It’s an unaged corn whiskey made by Wayne and Daryl on the farm.
- They flavor it with maple syrup from the trees on their property.
- The whiskey has a smooth taste with hints of maple sweetness.
- Wayne and Daryl usually drink it straight or on ice.
- They distribute it among their friends in Letterkenny and beyond.
Origins of the Maple Syrup Whiskey
Wayne and Daryl’s moonshine operation takes advantage of two abundant resources on their rural Ontario farm – corn and maple trees. They use the corn to make an unaged whiskey base. This type of whiskey is often called “white dog” or “white lightning” in moonshining circles. It has a very high alcohol content and neutral flavor.
They then take maple syrup harvested from the trees on their property and blend it into the whiskey. The result is a smooth sipping whiskey with plenty of maple character. The flavor profile is sweet upfront, though not overly sugary. It has a rounded mouthfeel and a subtle maple aroma. The maple balances out the punch of the unaged whiskey.
Why Maple Syrup?
Using maple syrup to flavor moonshine whiskey makes sense for a couple of reasons:
- Maple syrup is a readily available ingredient in eastern Canada.
- It adds signature regional flair to the whiskey.
- Maple sweetness helps mellow the harshness of unaged whiskey.
- The maple flavor complements the corn base spirit.
Maple syrup is an iconic Canadian ingredient, so it’s very fitting that Wayne and Daryl chose it to flavor their homemade hooch. It gives the whiskey a unique character that reflects the Ontario setting of Letterkenny.
The Distilling Process
Wayne and Daryl use a simple hillbilly-style setup to produce their whiskey. They make the unaged corn whiskey in a metal drum setup outdoors on the farm. The process looks crude but they know how to make quality liquor.
First, they cook a mash made from cornmeal and water. This converts the starch into fermentable sugars. Next, they add brewer’s yeast and let the mash ferment. The yeast feasts on the sugars, converting them into alcohol.
After optimal fermentation time, they distill the mash using copper pot stills. The distillation process separates and condenses the alcohol. They likely distill it two or three times to reach the desired high proof.
Once they have a concentrated batch of unaged corn whiskey, they then blend in the maple syrup. The syrup’s viscosity and sugar content softens and sweetens the whiskey. They bottle the maple whiskey into glass jars for serving.
Proof and Aging
As an unaged whiskey, the maple syrup moonshine has no age statement or official proof. Based on its potency in the show, it likely clocks in around 70-80 proof (35-40% ABV). Traditional moonshine often ranges from 60-100 proof.
Aging mellows and smooths a whiskey’s flavor. But Wayne and Daryl’s version skips the barrel aging process. The maple syrup they blend in provides enough sweetness and roundness to balance the whiskey’s youthful fire. It’s ready to drink immediately after bottling.
Appearances on Letterkenny
Wayne and Daryl’s homemade maple whiskey appears in several Letterkenny episodes. It’s most prominently featured in the Season 7 episode “The Maple Syrup Heist.”
In that episode, Wayne and Daryl wake up after a night of drinking maple whiskey to find all their syrup jugs emptied. They realize someone has stolen their entire maple syrup supply that was intended for making whiskey.
The rest of the episode shows Wayne and Daryl hunting down leads trying to uncover who committed the syrup heist. There are some hijinks along the way. But they eventually track down the thief and get their syrup back in time to make a fresh batch.
The maple whiskey also makes appearances in these Letterkenny episodes:
- S2E5 “Super Soft Birthday”
- S3E1 “The Haunting of MoDean II”
- S3E6 “Finding Stormy a Stud”
- S5E1 “Waco”
In several scenes, Wayne brings jars of the whiskey to parties or gives some out as gifts. Other times they casually drink it around the farm. The maple whiskey, referred to as “maple liquor” in the show, is a constant presence through many episodes.
Cocktails and Drink Recipes
While Wayne and Daryl are content sipping their maple moonshine straight, there are lots of creative cocktails you could make with it. The maple sweetness pairs well with many liquors and ingredients.
Here are a few potential drink ideas using a maple whiskey like Letterkenny’s:
Maple Old Fashioned
- 2 oz maple whiskey
- 1/4 oz maple syrup
- 3 dashes aromatic bitters
- Orange twist garnish
Add maple syrup and bitters to a rocks glass with ice. Stir to chill and coat the glass. Add maple whiskey and garnish with orange. The extra maple syrup enhances the drink’s flavor profile.
Maple Manhattan
- 2 oz maple whiskey
- 1 oz sweet vermouth
- 2-3 dashes aromatic bitters
- Luxardo cherry garnish
Stir ingredients with ice and strain into a chilled coupe. Garnish with a Luxardo cherry. The vermouth softens the maple whiskey into a balanced, aromatic cocktail.
Maple Whiskey Sour
- 2 oz maple whiskey
- 1 oz lemon juice
- 0.5 oz maple syrup
- 1 egg white
- Cinnamon sugar rim
Dry shake ingredients hard without ice to emulsify egg white. Add ice and shake again. Double strain into glass with cinnamon sugar rim. Frothy texture with balanced sweet/tart flavors.
Maple Julep
- 2 oz maple whiskey
- 1/2 oz maple syrup
- 8-10 mint leaves
- Crushed ice
Muddle mint with maple syrup in a julep cup or highball glass. Fill with crushed ice and add maple whiskey. Swizzle with a barspoon to chill and mix. Garnish with more mint.
How to Try Real Letterkenny Maple Whiskey
For fans wanting an authentic taste of the Letterkenny maple whiskey, your options are limited. The show’s booze is a fictional product not available for sale.
However, you can make DIY maple whiskey at home following Wayne and Daryl’s lead. Look up moonshine and flavored whiskey recipes online. Or find a local distiller in your area doing unique infusions with maple.
A few liquors provide a maple experience resembling Letterkenny’s whiskey. Here are some bottles to try:
Sortilège Maple Whisky
This Canadian whisky is a blend of rye and corn whiskies naturally flavored with Quebec maple syrup. Smooth and sweet.
Tap 357 Maple Rye
An American rye whiskey made in New York with a patented maple syrup blending process. Robust rye paired with maple sweetness.
Vermont Gold Maple Whiskey
A young American whiskey from Vermont distilled with maple syrup. Light and candied in flavor.
Crown Royal Maple
Crown Royal’s popular maple-flavored Canadian whisky. Very accessible and affordable but light on whiskey complexity.
While not direct substitutes for the Letterkenny hooch, these can provide a maple-flavored whiskey experience for fans. But your best bet is trying the homemade DIY route for something truly authentic.
Is Letterkenny’s Maple Whiskey Legal?
No, technically Wayne and Daryl’s moonshine operation would be illegal. Distilling spirits at home without licenses is generally prohibited, though traditions persist, especially in rural areas.
Under Canadian law, it is illegal to produce spirits without registering as a commercial distillery. There are also legal minimum standards for commercial bottled spirits. Wayne and Daryl’s unregulated backwoods still does not meet governmental requirements.
However, the Letterkenny guys seem to distribute their whiskey only to friends and locals. They don’t appear to sell it widely or make a profit. So their small-batch moonshine is likely flying under the radar.
As long as no one gets sick from their whiskey and they stay out of distribution, they should be safe from legal intervention. But technically their operation would be considered an illegal moonshine still in the eyes of Canadian liquor laws.
Nutritional Facts
As an unregulated homemade spirit, Letterkenny’s maple whiskey does not have an official nutrition label or ingredients list. But we can make educated guesses based on typical moonshine and whiskey nutrition:
| Serving Size | 1 oz (30 mL) |
|---|---|
| Calories | ~65 |
| Carbs | 0 g |
| Sugars | 0 g |
| Fat | 0 g |
| Protein | 0 g |
As a distilled spirit, maple whiskey has minimal nutrients. Its calories come almost entirely from the alcohol itself. However, the maple syrup could add some sugars and carbs compared to a plain whiskey.
Conclusion
The homemade maple whiskey brewed by Wayne and Daryl on Letterkenny offers a unique fictional taste of the show’s rural Canadian setting. With its smooth maple flavor, the moonshine liquor demonstrates the resourcefulness and craft of small town life.
Trying real maple-infused whiskies and making your own DIY batches can approximate the experience. But Wayne and Daryl’s secret family recipe remains elusive to fans. The maple whiskey joins the many quirky inside jokes and references that make Letterkenny so binge-worthy.
So next time you watch the show and see Wayne or Daryl sipping from a mason jar, you can appreciate the regional maple flavor in the glass. And maybe even whip up a batch of your own to sip along with the gang from Letterkenny.
