Tastes

Milder, more flavorful and IMHO better than WT 101. Virgin Bourbon 101 is now NAS product, the “7 Year” has been removed from the label.

I “discovered” this as a “Closeout” in my local VA ABC store. It is reported that Alberta Distillery Ltd. produces the “best selling rye whisky in the world”. Though quite different than American Rye Whiskey, the Alberta Premium could, understandably, live up to that advertised level. It has the expected peppery rye spice but there’s also an unexpected dried fruit sweetness, not normally found in American ryes. There is also a level of viscosity that belies the low(40%)ABV. Alberta has legs that would make Betty Grable jealous.

Definite fruit notes…black cherry and Granny Smith apple…but heavily spiced. At 70% rye, there are black pepper hints that linger on the finish.

I wasn’t really expecting much from this and I wasn’t disappointed. Corn syrup laced peanut butter with a young whiskey alcohol burn. It may drink hotter than 70 proof. I am glad I bought the 50 ml as at $31.99 for a 750 ml it is overpriced .

Definitely a young whiskey. There are hints of baking spice and rye pepper note. Not an unpleasant pour, but nothing to write home about. Though this is a pretty good sipper, thete are better at less money.

Ethanol is prominent on the nose, with a slight hint of peated smokr. The ethanol burn carries over to the palate, but the peat is list in the ethanol burn. Glad I tried a 50 ml before paying for a 750. I will not be revisiting this one.

50 ml in a Glencairn. Pours light amber, with minimal legs. There is a sweetness(banana?) and black pepper on the nose. The initial sip hits pretty hard in the pepper note, with just a hint of the sweetness. Even though it is 80 proof, there is some ethanol hest and astringent on the quickly diminishing finish.

50 ml pour in a Glencairn. Pure ethanol on the nose that carries over to the palate. As it opens up there is a hint of JD banana and peppery spice, but ethanol is still the predominant flavor. My advice is to save $10 and buy the 700 ml Jack Daniels Tripel Mash, it is a much more pleasant pour.

It is sweet and malty on the nose. Those notes carry over on the palate. There is a dark honey sweetness with typical single malt smoothness. Those notes are well balanced with the black pepper spiciness of the rye. The pepper intensifies a bit on the finish and there is a hint of 100% hest and astringency. This is the best iteration if Jack Daniels I have ever encountered, and may well be the distillery’s best ever.