Alberta Premium Cask Strength Rye

Fucking good

66% ABV Nose - Dark oaky caramel, leather, sweet tobacco, light mint, cherries, cinnamon red hots (w/ water) Less cinnamon, more milk chocolate Taste - Initial heat is delayed quite a bit, cinnamon warming heat, dark caramel, oak, nice minty rye spice, mint dark chocolates, light clove (w/ water) much more drying, less heat, dill/mint emerges, charred cinnamon sticks, dark brown simple Finish - Lightly oaky & drying, lingering minty chocolates, leather dryness, light oak bitter, burnt toffee (w/ water) Lingering tingle/heat, mint simple syrup, sweet rye bread, less bitter Score - 88/100 Final Thoughts - This is a very tasty rye that really packs a hidden punch. Nose is great in that's it's a dark caramel with hints of mint and cinnamon which is great. It does remind me of some of the great single barrel WhistlePig 10 barrel selects I've had in the past, but there's just something missing from this. It's tasty, but the flavors seem to come in waves versus being a nice cohesive whole. It's still tasty and a tiny bit of water helps, but don't add too much otherwise it makes it a bit too drying. Would I drink it if offered? - Yes Would I specifically order it? - Yes Would I buy a bottle? - Yes, for the price NOTE - All reviews are done without factoring in price.

2021 Release

Tasting from freshly opened bottle Nose: Sweet: fresh fruit (apple, honeydew) balanced by allspice. Caramel shows up at the end. Palate: Betrays the lightness and fresh fruit from the nose. Sweet and sour. Baked fruit (crispy apple pie) on the entry. Caramel notes appear next with slight dark chocolate and dried fruit (raisins, maybe black tea?) are on the tail end. The finish is tannic with very subtle initial flavors, though the fresh fruit from the nose reappears on the very back end. With water, wet wood notes appear at the expense of the dried fruit and chocolate notes. A nice rye. The nose lacks some complexity though the palate gives a bit more of an adventure. I think it is a bit expensive for what it is so I have to drop some points there, but I would enjoy it at a slightly lower price.