Alberta Premium 30 Year Old

This is a three way H2H with AP25 and standard NAS Alberta Premium (2 unicorns and a workhorse). I received this sample from @paddockjudge 4-5 years ago. I opened it to help prepare for my first taste of Handy Rye at an epic tasting held by @talexander. There were about 20 cc left in the sample bottle (I think it was gassed).

This expression, in a Glencairn, is reviewed in my usual manner, allowing it to settle after which I take my nosing and tasting notes, followed by the addition of a few drops of water, waiting, then nosing and tasting. I nosed all the whiskies before tasting them, going from oldest to youngest.

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Nose: 22/25

Caramel, vanilla. Hint of pickle juice that transitions to some sort of raw green vegetable (cut cucumber or lettuce). Baking spices. There’s a warmth. Inviting nose.

Taste: 22.5/25

Sweet. A little thin. Lots of vanilla, some caramel. A little ethanol spiciness. Pepper in the development. With time in the glass it grows in intensity and richness

Finish: 21.5/25

Medium length Some pepper. Very astringent.

Balance: 22/25

Nice balance between Nose and palate. Not too bold.

Score: Neat - 88/100

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Comparing the three:

Nose

The standard AP had the strongest but least complex nose. The 25 was more floral and rounded, but a little soft. The 30 was the most inviting, complex nose

Taste

The 25 was a bit washed out and thin. The standard was bold but a little sweet and unidimentional, and the 30 had bold flavour and some breadth.

Interestingly, water did not have a significant effect on any of them. The NAS gets a little sweeter.

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I always preferred the 30 to the 25, and tonight is no exception. This used to be my favourite Rye, before I discovered the joys of Lot 40 CS.

I’m very grateful to @paddockjudge, who has been very generous both with samples of AP 25 and 30, but who gifted me a bottle of AP30 a while back. It will be a special occasion indeed when I open that.