Alberta Premium Canadian Rye Whisky

Nose: Peppermint and bubblegum dominate the aroma, with a subtle grassy/hay scent. Hints of caramel, cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla extract are present. I also detect green apple skin and a touch of chlorine. Palate: Caramel, baking spices, and vanilla extract lead the taste, with the peppermint and bubblegum notes less pronounced. The hay is faint. The flavors are remarkably robust for a 40% ABV spirit. Finish: A light milk chocolate, almond, cinnamon, and peppermint linger. There's a slight note of green apple juice. The finish is impressively lengthy for the alcohol content. Body: Medium to light, with an unexpected lack of thinness given the low proof. A hint of oiliness is noticeable. Impression: Considering its cost, this is a remarkably good whiskey. It offers good flavor and strength, a degree of complexity, and is easy to drink. An excellent choice for daily enjoyment. I found it improved significantly with some air. The initial pour from the bottle was not nearly as enjoyable as this sample (which is from the latter half of the bottle).

Body is a pale golden straw color. It leaves slow-appearing legs, but once they start, they are numerous and move quickly. Ethanol is a major component of the aroma. Beyond that, there's some toasted white bread and a hint of vanilla that comes through the Pine-Sol scent. A bit of clove and green apple complete the unimpressive nose. The palate is soft and pleasantly a bit sticky, reminiscent of those yellow wrapped butterscotch candies... The sweetness is evident and persists almost throughout. There's an almost bitter, dry woody sensation after swallowing, followed by an off-putting ethanol note. It recovers with a moderately long but unvaried finish. It tastes better than it smells, and it makes a very good old fashioned when enhanced with quality bitters and a proper cocktail cherry. That's certainly how it will be used in our home during the holidays.

Whisky reviewers often praise this one, perhaps because they know it's the origin for many excellent American ryes such as Whistlepig and Jefferson's and Lock, Stock, and Barrel. However, the reality is that Alberta Premium is a fairly standard Canadian whisky, not quite at the bottom shelf. The way most Canadian whisky is produced means that it doesn't truly matter that this is 100% rye, as a significant portion of the final product is distilled to such a high proof that the original grain is no longer discernible. It has flavors of vanilla, toffee, maple syrup (a lot of maple syrup), faint grass, and light fruit. There's a touch of oak and some distant rye spice. It tastes young and simple. Alberta Distillers can produce great whisky, but it's not found in this blend from the lower shelves.

I stumbled upon this on a discount at a local liquor store. It's said that Alberta Distillery Ltd. makes the top-selling rye whisky globally. While quite distinct from American Rye Whiskey, Alberta Premium could legitimately claim that title. It possesses the expected peppery rye spice, along with an unexpected dried fruit sweetness not typically found in American ryes. It also has a viscosity that belies its lower alcohol content (40%). This Alberta spirit has a lingering quality that's impressive.

NOSE Sweet caramel, butterscotch, warming spice, metallic notes, dried fruit, and solvent. The higher proof version offers a richer, more profound scent, but this one is still decent, or it would be if not for that chemical/solvent aroma. PALATE Caramel, weak butterscotch, metallic, citrus zest, a whisper of anise and botanical spice with a faint industrial/chemical undertone. Again, it's not terrible, but that harsh final note is a bit off-putting. FINISH Medium-Short -> Deeply sweet and spiced with a faint hint of solvent.

Well, I enjoy it. For fun, I conducted a comparative tasting by pairing it with Canadian Club 100% rye. The CC is noticeably darker but otherwise very similar, meaning deliciously spicy and herbal. The CC seems slightly richer and rounder in body, though that might just be a perception trick due to the darker color. I prefer the Alberta Premium by a very slim margin due to its authenticity, meaning no added coloring.