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Alberta Distillers Cask Strength Rye

Two APs - Part II

10 993

@talexanderReview by @talexander

19th Dec 2019

1

Alberta Distillers Cask Strength Rye
  • Nose
    23
  • Taste
    23
  • Finish
    24
  • Balance
    23
  • Overall
    93

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Distribution of ratings for this: brand user

Their Cask Strength Rye, also released this year, carries no age statement but a pretty high ABV (65.1%). Ok let's dive in...

The colour is a medium gold (closer to the 20 than the standard release). On the nose we get big spice and wood smoke, floral notes, light caramel, some candy floss, 70% dark chocolate and liquorice all-sorts. Golden raisin. Mequite wood chips. Herbal and smokier with water. My word, there is a lot going on here - gorgeous stuff.

On the palate the high ABV adds massive cloves, paprika and cumin. Various caramels: Mackintosh, burnt, creme caramel and those addictive little squares. Water improves mouthfeels and adds more baking spices with massive wood. It does seem young but not a bad thing here - verve, energy and whisky-in-motion!

The finish is ever-changing with black pepper, chili, big oak tannins and berry fruits. Shares the same DNA as the standard and 20YO but operating on an entirely different level. Not much to say except this is one of the best Canadian whiskies I've ever tasted.

Nose:

Body:

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9 comments

@BlueNote
BlueNote commented

@talexander I had about 15ml left of each of these Alberta Premium samples that @paddockjudge kindly sent me. I just had another little taste of both and I have to agree that the Cask Strength 100% Rye is far and away the top of the class and the poster child for the new Canadians. The 20 YO is quite tasty too, but in a much more gentle way. I have a whole new appreciation for Canadian whisky thanks to the "liquid textbook" sent to me courtesy of @paddockjudge.

5 years ago 3Who liked this?

@Victor
Victor commented

@talexander thanks for your review.

Yes, Tom, I have been waiting the last 8.5 years since you and I first talked about standard Alberta Premium together for this high-test version of Alberta Premium to emerge onto the scene. It was this month, 8 years ago, December 2011, BTW, when you first tasted with Julie and me.

So very much has changed very much for the better with Canadian whisky since then. Mirabile spectu.

5 years ago 2Who liked this?

@talexander
talexander commented

@Victor Well put, my friend. Well put.

5 years ago 1Who liked this?

@65glenfarclas
65glenfarclas commented

@Victor Well put! I never understood why/how AP (& other Canadian distillers) allowed American pretend-distillers (cough...Whistlepig...cough) profit from the treasures sitting in Alberta's warehouses while they continued to give us NAS/watered down 40% whisky. Corby's Dr Livermore finally "saw the light" 3 years ago and now AP has joined the party. Better late than never .... I guess.

5 years ago 3Who liked this?

@Victor
Victor commented

@65glenfarclas MUCH BETTER late than never.

5 years ago 1Who liked this?

@BlueNote
BlueNote commented

@65glenfarclas @Victor Judging by what I’ve tasted recently: MUCH, MUCH BETTER. I’m finally able to forgive and forget the cheap rye and ginger ale of my university days.

5 years ago 3Who liked this?

@BlueNote
BlueNote commented

And long may AP keep those vintage ‘60s/‘70s bottles. They kinda fool you, like the guy at the light with the nondescript Chevy sedan with the throbbing, blown big block under the hood waiting for you to make a move.

5 years ago 3Who liked this?

@fiddich1980
fiddich1980 commented

@talexander Spot on! I cracked this one open for Christmas Eve. Those caramel flavours were some of the best I've tasted in a Canadian Rye. Then with H2O the combination of milk and dark chocolate, shine through.

4 years ago 2Who liked this?

@Megawatt
Megawatt commented

@BlueNote I do appreciate the no-frills packaging. Even the 30 year old came in the same bottle as the 5 year old, with the same plastic screw cap.

4 years ago 0