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Alberta Premium Dark Horse

A Bunch Of Canucks - Part IV

0 986

@talexanderReview by @talexander

18th Apr 2013

0

Alberta Premium Dark Horse
  • Nose
    19
  • Taste
    23
  • Finish
    23
  • Balance
    21
  • Overall
    86

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Distribution of ratings for this: brand user

The last two Canadian whiskies I reviewed were flavoured whiskies (or, to coin a friend's phrase, "Frankenwhiskies.") Does this offering from Alberta Distillers fall into that category, given it has 0.5-1% sherry in it? Not from being matured in a sherry cask, mind you, but actual drops of sherry in the whisky? I would say...yes - though this is not mentioned on the label.

Unlike Alberta's other 100% rye whiskies, this has 8% corn whisky in it as well, and is bottled at a higher strength, at 45%.

The colour is dark copper. On the nose is pencil shavings, hot pepper, rye spices, and lots of oak. Fruits like plum, raisin and red grapes. Herbaceous. But the nose is rather thin, and water doesn't do much to bring it out.

The palate is richer, with more vanilla and caramel, and with more bite than most Canadian whiskies due to the high rye content, where you get that grapefruit pith note. Rich and delicious. Water gives it a creamier mouthfeel.

The finish is long and deep, lots of smoke, spice and oak. More wood shavings and a tannic element as well, no doubt from those drops of sherry. This is far and away the best of the "flavoured" whiskies out there (though I'm sure Alberta Distillers would not classify this as such). While I do not prefer it to their standard Alberta Premium offering, it is something a little different and very enjoyable.

Nose:

Body:

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9 comments

@BlueNote
BlueNote commented

Thanks for that talexander. I was tempted on that one, but I think I'll stick to the standard Alberta Premium which is universally acknowledged to be a great Canadian. Unless of course I run accross there 25 year old somewhere in my travels.

11 years ago 0

@BlueNote
BlueNote commented

I seem to be having hand/eye trouble lately. Should be "their 25..."

11 years ago 0

@talexander
talexander commented

I've heard the 25 is better than the 30 - but I've had the 30 (they released a bunch at the LCBO a couple of years ago) and it's pretty great - I think I have a review posted on here

11 years ago 0

@BlueNote
BlueNote commented

Thanks mate. I'll keep an eye out for either or both. Good old BC Liquor. You'd think with us being right next door to Alberta we might get some of the good stuff here. 'Fraid not.

11 years ago 0

@paddockjudge
paddockjudge commented

@ BlueNote - What separates the Alberta 25 and 30 yr-old is very little; which way is the wind blowing? I am a huge fan of both.

I would be willing to share some Alberta 30 in exchange for Wiser's 150th Anniversary Red Letter...I might even go 2 for 1 because of the price difference.

Don't be put off the Dark Horse because it has some added sherry - very nice after dinner sipper.

11 years ago 0

@talexander
talexander commented

I agree with @paddockjudge - don't be put off by the added sherry at all. This is a solid whisky on its own merits.

11 years ago 0

@michaelschout
michaelschout commented

This is actually my favourite Alberta Distillers product because it was out of the box thinking for them and it packs a wallop. I don't think it's their best product, but it's my favourite.

11 years ago 0

@paddockjudge
paddockjudge commented

@michaelschout - agreed, definitely out of the box for a frontier distillery with "cowboy" values; with all due respect, who else would sell 30 yr-old single grain whisky for $50/bottle?...port? - isn't that where sailors tie up their boats?

11 years ago 0

@Megawatt
Megawatt commented

I've compared this head-to-head against the standard AP bottling and Dark Horse wins, no contest. I know this has a lot of purists up in arms over the added sherry and bourbon but I've had several bottles and this is a repeat buy for me. Try it on ice. I dare you to.

Also I must commend Alberta Distillers for their pricing. I once bought a bottle of their 25 year old for $23.95. As for comparing the 25 to the 30...the 30 had richer flavour but also had a rather dank, musty finish, whereas the 25 was a cleaner whisky overall.

11 years ago 0