When I first opened this bottle, it was a little underwhelming, but after many glasses I’ve found that I was too impatient with it and the glass needs around 15 minutes to breathe to really open up. My bottle is about half full now and seems to not need as much air to open now, but if you pour a glass and don’t smell citrus, the glass isn’t ready yet, put it to the side and let it breathe as it’s a bit shy but once that citrus comes through, be prepared for a hell of a rye. The nose starts with rich tangerine citrus infused caramel along with pine needles followed by banana cream pudding then fresh baked pumpernickel bread, grade A dark maple syrup that transitions to a trickling stream washing over river stones, juniper berries, candied ginger, black pepper, leather and fresh cut hickory that’s burning in a fireplace with medium ethanol burn. The taste is a viscous mouthfeel starting with dark grade A maple syrup over orange pancakes then pine needles followed by banana cream pudding then fresh baked pumpernickel bread that transitions to a trickling stream washing over river stones, juniper berries, candied ginger, black pepper, spearmint, leather and fresh cut hickory that’s burning in a fireplace with medium ethanol burn. The finish is long with tangerine caramel, pine needles, slight minerality, pumpernickel bread covered in whipped butter, baked pears, polished leather and light oak. This is a masterpiece of a rye that starts with a nose of citrus, forest floors, a creamy fruit and syrup mixture, baked pumpernickel bread, slight rock minerality and rye spices with perfectly balanced wood that follows the same notes on the taste with a rich creamy maple syrup mouthfeel that has no spice until the moderate alcohol bite that finishes long with a perfect balance of citrus, rye, minerality and poached pears that pulls you back for another sip. I decided to put this side by side with its younger sibling of Alberta Premium Cask Strength Rye and the Lock Stock and Barrel 18 really highlights the astringency and bitter flaws in the Alberta that have faded away through the many years in the barrel. At $230, it’s an expensive treat, but I can’t think of a better rye that I’ve had and think this can easily hold its own or beat some of the WhistlePig Boss Hogs I’ve tried at twice the price.