Alberta Premium Cask Strength Rye

Fiery. Haven’t had many cask strength rye whiskies, but my palate has become accustomed to this. On bottle #2 (started bottle #1 about a year ago), and probably enjoy it more now. Drop or 5 or water to mellow it out is key.

I've had my eye on this one for a while before purchasing. There's been some hype around it, and I love rye, especially cask strength, though generally that love finds me buying Knob Rye Single Barrel Select for 60$. Although I did pick up a Sagamore 6 Year CS I haven't opened yet too. And that was $55. (Not to mention I just came back from my beach vacation with Sagamore 8 Year, Stellum Rye, and Barrell Seagrass...I'm thinking I might be in for a treat with all of those...and please don't mention Pikesville, I'm aware of it, my friends, it sounds like a wonderland in a bottle, and I'll get there soon). This one here was going for $70 before they put it on sale for $60, and I figured it was time to pull the tigger, and having had this, I might be willing to pull that trigger again since it's still on sale. Let's start off with a bit of honesty: this is WAY better than a whisky with a twist cap has any right to be. I mean the bottle design isn't terrible, but the twist cap screams low rent. Of course, Canadian whisky companies do know how to dress a pig (Crown Royal tote bags anyone?), but who knew they might take a beauty like this and put a pig nose on it? In any case, the whisky inside the bottle more than makes up for the twist cap. On the nose this bad boy is rich and luscious: spice heavy with rye and cinnamon, vanilla backbone with graham cracker and a touch of cherry. The palate continues that spice heavy journey adding that odd touch of Copper Tone Suntan Lotion that a lot of cask strength ryes take on along with the Earl Grey bergamot/citrus as well as off-brand cola, not so much Coke or Pepsi as RC. The finish is long as a summer's day and hits even more heavily with the rye spice. It makes your tongue kind of tingly, you know, like when you used to climb the ropes in gym class? Oh wait, maybe that wasn't your tongue. Anyhow... For a 132 proof pour, this goes down easy enough on its own, however, I like a shot and a half with a sliver of ice melted in it, which is not unique to this particular brand but how I'm finding I most enjoy almost all cask strength whisky these days. I expected to like this, but if I'm being entirely truthful the result here is a quarter star above where I thought it would be. Sometimes you should believe the hype. With Alberta Premium Cask Strength Rye, all the positive stuff you've heard is true.

I think when it comes to Rye whiskeys, this one got my attention. Let's start with the ABV... wow, this is warm all the way, so I got the best enjoyment with a little ice. The Rye notes are strong... grassy, earthy, and mint for me are predominant. But there's some sweetness, like honey running in third/fourth place on the palate.

On the nose it is amazing, smoke, and baking spices. The palate has some acetone, tons of spices, cinnamon, and light syrup. The finish is medium with sweet syrup and cinnamon.

Thickly buttered cinnamon toast with vanilla and caramel. Rye notes are subdued. Hot as heck. Big splash of water mutes the heat, not the flavors. I don’t know that I want to drink this neat, but it is delicious in an old fashioned.