Fort McMurray wildfire whisky launches

The Wood Buffalo Brewing Co has unveiled a new whisky inspired by the Fort McMurray wildfire that tore across Alberta, Canada, in May this year.

Using the wildfire as its flavour inspiration, The Beast will have a five-year rest in wooden barrels before it is bottled

Using the wildfire as its flavour inspiration, The Beast will be aged for five years in wooden barrels before it is bottled.

After the fire, a single pallet of peated malt, which had become infused with smoke from the fire after being abandoned outside for weeks, was found at the Alberta-based Wood Buffalo Brewing Co.

While most of the beer at the brewery survived, hundreds of litres had to be discarded.

The Wood Buffalo Brewing Co held an auction for the Friends of the Fort McMurray Firefighters Charities Association last week, when the first 10 bottles were sold.

The empty whisky bottles auctioned contained a certificate which entitled the purchaser to one 750ml limited edition bottling of The Beast, which is due to finish its ageing process in 2021.

Over the course of the evening, US$28,750 was raised from the auctions and donations.

The company has said it will continue to auction 10 bottles a year with all proceeds being donated until 2021 when the whisky is ready to be sold to the public.