Canadian Club Vs Beer: Which Is The Healthier Choice?

Canadian Club is a brand of Canadian whisky produced by Suntory Global Spirits, a subsidiary of Suntory Holdings of Osaka, Japan. It is popularly known as CC and is often used as a mixer. The brand has launched several advertising campaigns in Australia, challenging the country's beer-drinking culture and positioning Canadian Club as a refreshing alternative to beer.

Beer is widely consumed and deeply ingrained in Australian culture, but some people may seek different drink options. Canadian Club's marketing campaigns have targeted those looking for an alternative to beer, promoting its whisky as a refreshing and crisp choice with less sugar and calories than beer.

While the health benefits of alcoholic beverages are still being researched, it is generally recommended to drink less than one drink per day or avoid alcohol altogether for optimal health. When it comes to making healthier choices within alcoholic beverages, some options may include organic beers or lighter beers with fewer calories.

Ultimately, the decision between Canadian Club and beer depends on individual preferences, and it is essential to remember that moderation is key when consuming alcohol.

Canadian Club's marketing campaigns

Canadian Club, a well-known whisky brand, has often positioned itself as a smooth and versatile drink, perfect for any occasion. In recent times, however, there has been a shift in marketing strategies, with a focus on health-conscious consumers. With the rising trend of craft beers and the perception that beer is a 'healthier' option, Canadian Club aims to challenge this notion and attract those who are mindful of their health but still enjoy a drink.

One of their key campaigns could be titled "Make the Healthier Choice". The campaign can emphasize the fact that whisky, when consumed in moderation, can offer health benefits that beer simply cannot match. For example, a standard serving of beer (12 ounces or 355 ml) contains more calories and carbohydrates than a serving of whisky (1.5 ounces or 45 ml). Canadian Club can highlight that whisky has zero carbs and less than half the calories of beer, making it a better option for those watching their weight.

The campaign can feature a series of print and digital ads showcasing active, healthy individuals enjoying Canadian Club responsibly. Slogans such as "Choose Wisely, Choose Canadian Club" or "Live Life to the Fullest, with a Lighter Drink" can be used to attract health-conscious consumers. The brand can also partner with fitness and lifestyle influencers who embody a balanced, active lifestyle, further emphasizing that Canadian Club is a drink that aligns with a healthy lifestyle.

Another strategy could be to target the post-workout drinking occasion. Canadian Club can position itself as the perfect drink to unwind with after a tough workout, with the tagline "Rewind, Refresh, Recharge". The campaign can showcase individuals post-exercise, enjoying a well-deserved drink, with a focus on the fact that whisky is a natural source of antioxidants, which can aid in recovery. This strategy can include partnerships with popular fitness apps, offering rewards or discounts on Canadian Club to users who complete certain fitness challenges.

Healthiest beers on the market

While beer is not a superfood, it does have some surprising health benefits. Several studies suggest that the essential minerals and antioxidants in beer can support your gut and heart health. For example, a study in the journal Nutrients found that moderate beer consumption may reduce LDL oxidation, a process that causes inflammation in the arteries. This, in turn, lowers your chances of heart attack and disease.

If you're looking for the healthiest beers on the market, here are some options to consider:

• Beck's Non-Alcoholic Beer: This NA option still has the malty, hoppy flavor beer drinkers expect without any of the impacts of alcohol. It contains 68 calories, 10 grams of carbohydrates, and 0.3% ABV.
• Corona Premier: With 90 calories, 2.6 grams of carbohydrates, and 4% ABV, Corona Premier is even lighter than Corona Light. It has a smooth, sweet, almost fruity taste.
• Lagunitas DayTime IPA: This is a great option if you love the hoppy flavor of an IPA. It's described as herby and citrusy, with only 98 calories, 3 grams of carbohydrates, and 4% ABV.
• Michelob Ultra Pure Gold: With only 2.5 grams of carbohydrates, Michelob Ultra Pure Gold is a good choice for those watching their carb intake. It has 85 calories, 3.8% ABV, and a citrusy, light taste. It's also USDA-certified organic.
• Dogfish Head Slightly Mighty Lo-Cal IPA: This small-label IPA offers signature flavor notes of coconut, citrus, and pineapple. It's made with monk fruit instead of refined cane sugar, resulting in only 95 calories, 3.6 grams of carbohydrates, and 4% ABV.
• Miller64: Miller64 is a light lager with a crisp, refreshing taste. It has just 64 calories, 2.4 grams of carbohydrates, and 2.8% ABV, making it a great option for those watching their calorie intake.
• Budweiser Select 55: With only 55 calories, Budweiser Select 55 is one of the lowest-calorie beers on the market. It has 1.5 grams of carbohydrates, 2.4% ABV, and a light-bodied golden lager taste.
• Blue Moon LightSky: This is a low-carb, low-cal rendition of Blue Moon's classic brew. It features notes of tangerine and tropical hops, with only 95 calories, 3.6 grams of carbohydrates, and 4% ABV.
• Ghostfish Shrouded Summit White Ale: This gluten-free beer has the taste of a classic wheat ale, brewed with millet, rice, and buckwheat. It's a great option for those with gluten intolerance or Celiac disease, containing 125 calories, 8 grams of carbohydrates, and 4.5% ABV.
• Heineken Light: Heineken Light is a refreshing, light beer that is also non-GMO. It has 90 calories, 6 grams of carbohydrates, and 3.3% ABV, making it a choice for environmentally and health-conscious drinkers.

Remember, even though these beers are marketed as "healthy," it's important to consume them in moderation to avoid negative health consequences. According to the CDC, moderate drinking is defined as up to one drink per day for women and up to two drinks per day for men.

Canadian Club's ABV and calories

Canadian Club is a brand of Canadian whisky produced by Suntory Global Spirits, a subsidiary of Suntory Holdings of Osaka, Japan. It is available in several variants, including Canadian Club Reserve, Classic, 100% Rye, 1858 with added apple flavour, Dock No. 57, and Mixed & Ready. The ABV and calorie content of Canadian Club whisky can vary depending on the specific variant and the serving size.

The base version of Canadian Club whisky, which does not carry an age statement, has an ABV of 40% in most countries and 37% in Australia and New Zealand. It has approximately 69 calories per 1-ounce serving.

The Canadian Club Mixed & Ready variant is a ready-to-drink mix of six-year-old Canadian Club whisky with dry ginger ale, cola, or soda and lime. It is available in Australia and New Zealand and has an ABV of 4.8%. A similar variant with dry ginger ale and an ABV of 6% is available in 375ml cans.

Canadian Club also offers limited-edition and discontinued variants with varying ABV and calorie contents. For example, the Canadian Club Premium, Reserve, and Limited Edition variants have an ABV of 40%, while the Canadian Club 100 Proof, aged six years, is bottled at 50% ABV.

It is important to note that the ABV and calorie content of alcoholic beverages can vary by region and formulation, and the values provided here may not be exhaustive. Additionally, individual serving sizes can also affect the number of calories consumed.

Canadian Club's history

Canadian Club, also known as CC, is a brand of Canadian whisky. It was created by Hiram Walker and Sons in 1858, in Walkerville, Ontario. Walker was a successful grain merchant who had learned to distill cider vinegar in his grocery store in the 1830s before moving on to whisky. He produced his first barrels in 1854, but due to the growing Prohibition movement in Michigan, he moved his distillery across the Detroit River to Windsor, Ontario, in 1858.

Walker's whisky was popular in the gentlemen's clubs of the United States and Canada in the late 19th century, and so it became known as "Club Whisky." Walker positioned his whisky as a premium liquor, highlighting its smoothness, purity, and five-year oak barrel aging. The popularity of Club Whisky led to American distillers petitioning for the inclusion of the word "Canada" on the bottle to distinguish it from their competing whiskies. However, this backfired, and Walker capitalised on the exclusivity by adding the word "Canadian" to the label in 1889, and then incorporating it into the name in 1890.

Upon Walker's death in 1899, the distillery passed to his sons. The Walker family played a significant role in the development of Walkerville, employing almost the entire population and providing housing and services for their employees. In 1890, the Ontario government acknowledged Walkerville as a legal town, and it was incorporated into Windsor in 1935.

During the Prohibition era, the Walker distillery's most important client was Chicago gangster Al Capone, who smuggled thousands of cases of Canadian Club into the United States. Canadian Club received royal warrants from Queen Victoria, Edward VII, George V, George VI, and Elizabeth II, and Hiram Walker & Sons remains the only North American distiller to have been granted a royal warrant.

In 1926, Hiram Walker and Sons merged with Gooderham & Worts, Ltd., becoming Hiram Walker-Gooderham & Worts, Ltd. The company is now part of the Suntory Global Spirits portfolio, and Canadian Club is its fourth-best-selling alcoholic product.

Canadian Club's cocktails

While I cannot comment on the health benefits of Canadian Club whisky compared to beer, I can provide you with some Canadian Club cocktail recipes.

The Toronto Cocktail

This cocktail was first published as the Fernet Cocktail in 1922 and was "much appreciated by the Canadians of Toronto", according to Robert Vermeire's Cocktails: How to Mix Them.

• Combine whisky, fernet, simple syrup, and bitters in a mixing glass and fill with cracked ice.
• Stir for 20 seconds and strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
• Garnish with an orange slice, then serve.

The Old Pal

The Old Pal first appeared in Harry Craddock's 1922 book, The Savoy Cocktail Book.

• Add all ingredients to a mixing glass with ice.
• Stir until well combined, then strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
• Garnish with an orange slice and serve.

The Top Hat

This cocktail is a twist on the classic Old Fashioned.

• Place two maraschino cherries and half a thickly sliced orange in a cocktail shaker with ice.
• Add four dashes of Angostura bitters and four dashes of orange bitters.
• Muddle the ingredients.
• Add Canadian Club Whisky and ice, then shake vigorously to blend.
• Strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice to remove unnecessary pulp.

The Canadian Sour

This cocktail is a twist on the classic whiskey sour, using a full-bodied Canadian whisky that's been aged for 10 years or more.

• Pour 1 1/2 ounces of Canadian whisky, 2 ounces of lemon juice, and 1 teaspoon of sugar (or 3/4 ounce of simple syrup) into a cocktail shaker with ice.
• Strain into a double rocks glass over fresh ice.
• Garnish with a maraschino cherry or lemon wedge.

The Boy's Club Cherry Sour

• Combine 2 parts Canadian Club Whisky, 3/4 parts fresh lemon juice, 1/2 part fresh orange juice, 1 part maraschino cherry juice, and 2 dashes of Angostura orange bitters in a cocktail shaker with ice.
• Shake vigorously until frothy.
• Strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice.
• Garnish with an orange wheel and a maraschino cherry.
• Optionally, add an egg white to the cocktail shaker for a more frothy effect.

The Boardwalk Manhattan

• Place a barspoon of maraschino cherry juice and a maraschino cherry in the well of a chilled martini glass.
• Set aside.
• Place 2 parts Canadian Club Whisky, 3/4 part red vermouth, 1/2 part apricot brandy, and ice in a mixing glass.
• Stir until chilled.
• Strain into the prepared martini glass.

Frequently asked questions