Nose: fresh dark fruits like blackberries/boysenberries, and given the proof, a blast of boozy alcohol, brown sugar and something like Kool Aid Palate: sugary, dark berries, black tea, sharp alcohol, sweet tarts candy, Angostura bitters, cinnamon, lime juice Finish: black pepper, alcohol fumes, dark berries, sweet tarts again A surprising rye and not overly beastly given the proof (132 proof/66%). It’s sweet and sugary and a bit sharp. I didn’t get much in the way of rye spice off of it (just some black pepper and cinnamon). It’s like a boozy blackberry danish. It’s good. Quite good. But I prefer Pikesville to this. The Pikesville isn’t as intense, but has a spicier character, is almost as sweet, and I find it a little more “rounded” than this. However, while the Pikesville makes a much better balanced Manhattan, I have to admit I preferred the Alberta Premium cask strength in an Old Fashioned.