Alberta Premium Dark Horse

A thoughtful present from a kind acquaintance who journeyed to Port Hope, Ontario to see friends. He also possessed a bottle and insisted we sample his. It appears to have a good standing in Canada. I appreciate the hue of this whisky. The legs in the glass are abundant. To my senses, it presents a delightful aroma of Maple, Vanilla, Cinnamon, Peach, and Butter Toffee. Upon tasting, it feels somewhat viscous and rich, with a strong alcoholic presence but not intense heat. While held in the mouth, many of the aromas are perceived, but the overall sensation is simply sweetness, akin to Maraschino. This style of whisky is clearly a crafted product. With numerous elements influencing it, including a touch of liquid sherry, one might not identify it as a Rye whisky. My acquaintance inquired about my rating after a few sips. After some thought, and being generous, I estimated it between 6.5-7 out of 10. This aligns with the scores I've since found elsewhere. It's not that it's an outstanding whisky, but I believe we all factor in many considerations when rating. This one is easy to drink and possesses enough intriguing quality to warrant 3.5 stars. I will enjoy it outdoors with neighbors and friends.

Considering the price (under $30 in Canada), Dark Horse is a remarkably good whisky. While many criticize Canadian whisky for allowing additives, Dark Horse skillfully utilizes this rule, incorporating a small amount of sherry and some bourbon (rumored to be from the same stocks used for Old Grand Dad/Basil Hayden's). It exhibits flavors of oak, vanilla, toffee, caramel, and a very bourbon-like vanilla. It has a substantial rye spice, some herbal notes, charcoal, berries, and brown sugar. Raisins and sourdough bread are also present. The taste features peppery rye spice, with sweetness and a spicy kick. Licorice and a faint wood smoke are also detectable. It's rumored that Beam-Suntory plans to distribute this in the US under a slightly different name, which is a smart business move. It's delicious.

An unusual characteristic I've observed with this one is its variable taste; sometimes it exhibits an odd flavor, other times it does not. This likely depends on individual perception. Perhaps something consumed beforehand or even oral hygiene could influence it. That said, this must be the sole whisky I've encountered with this issue. Otherwise, it is quite good and I enjoy it immensely. It aligns more closely with robust rye varieties like Northern Harvest and Lot 40 rather than typical lower-proof Canadian blends. It is full of flavor. The nose is peppery, floral, and oaky, with sweet maple syrup and brown sugar notes in the background. An excellent aroma! The palate offers menthol, floral notes, Earl Grey tea (citrus notes), and clearly a dominant rye character. Apart from the occasional peculiar taste, this represents exceptional value. A superb Canadian whisky!

The rich crimson color of this spirit is immediately appealing. Initially, the aroma stings with alcohol and little else. After some time, it begins to smell like the wood section at a home improvement store. Cherries are also detectable on the nose. Woodiness is prominent on the palate right away, and I mean actual wood, not vanilla or tannins; pure wood. This woodiness is accompanied by a fruity intensity, much like baked apples coated in cinnamon. There's a persistent richness and a thickness similar to maple syrup. The finish brings vanilla and a spicy warmth, the lingering heat of which takes a while to dissipate. In summary: this spirit was very inexpensive, especially when exchanging US dollars in Canada, and was absolutely worth the cost.

Alberta Distillers crafts some of the world's finest Rye. This expression, however, doesn't showcase their skill. The aroma is fantastic and drew me in. The first sip was potent with rye spice and some sweet caramel notes. But it loses its way after that. The sweetness intensifies, bordering on candied cherries. A bitterness emerges in the finish and just keeps growing as I continue drinking. It eventually became too much. There's some dry oak present, but ultimately, I can't endorse this. A shame, as they are masters of Rye.

Honestly, my first impression sipping was that this tastes like mold. It's earthy, perhaps excessively so. While there's some sweetness and vanilla on the palate, it's overwhelmed by a dank, astringent, 'moldy' bitterness. Don't be fooled by the mild aroma... With that said, it did grow on me. It began as a really disappointing one-star experience, but now that I've finished the bottle, I feel comfortable upgrading the rating to a two. This might be ideal for someone who enjoys bitter, earthy, and not overly complex drams. However, I don't think I'd purchase it again.