Alberta Premium Blended Rye Whisky Review

Made from 100% Rye, the Alberta Premium Blended Rye Whisky calls itself a blend because it’s a mix of new charred oak and used cooperage. To what extent that amount is they’re not saying and I wish they would because that word blend can make things a bit confusing. Especially on this side of the border.

Up in Canada they just call it rye, because legally they can, but down here in the USA we have different laws governing the labels of whiskey, especially when it comes to bourbon and rye. So even though it’s a 100% rye mash, the use of both new and used cooperage requires the word blend be added to it. And that can be confusing because it could also have GNS in it and be called a blend. That word is such a wide catch-all down here that without extra info you’re often left wondering what exactly you’re drinking. Anywho…

Let’s get to drinkin’!

Alberta Premium Blended Rye Whisky – Details and Tasting Notes

 

Whiskey Details

Style: Rye (Canadian)
Region: Canada
Distiller: Alberta Distillers

Mash Bill: 100% Rye
Cask: New Charred Oak, ex-Bourbon
Age: 5 years
ABV: 40%

Alberta Premium Blended Rye Whisky Price: $30*

Related Whiskey

Alberta Premium Cask Strength Rye
Lot 40 Canadian Rye
Crown Royal Northern Harvest Rye
Canadian Club 100% Rye
WhistlePig PiggyBack Rye 6 Years

“An explosive taste that is bold with its own unique earthy character, made with 100% Canadian Prairie Rye and aged for a minimum of 5 years, Alberta Premium is the original 100% rye.” – Alberta Distillers

Alberta Premium Blended Rye Whisky Tasting Notes

EYE
Lightly golden amber

NOSE
Caramel, butterscotch, baking spice, copper, dried fruit and acetone.

The Cask Strength version has a more intense, deeper, aroma, but this isn’t bad, or at least wouldn’t be if that industrial/acetone note wasn’t there.

PALATE
Caramel, watery butterscotch, copper, orange peel, touch anise and herbal spice with a hint of something industrial/solventy.

Again, not bad, but that sharp note at the end keeps throwing me off a bit.

FINISH
Medium-Short -> Darkly sweet and spiced with a light touch of that acetone.

BALANCE, BODY and FEEL
Not fully balanced, light body and a soft watery feel.

Alberta Premium Blended Rye Whisky – Overall Thoughts and Score

If it wasn’t for that industrial/solventy/acetone-like note this would be quite a nice whisky. As it sits right now it’s just an ok whisky because that off-note is light and unobtrusive. And while, this doesn’t hold a candle to its amazing cask strength sibling, it is better than a lot of the other Canadian whiskies we get down here.

I would take the Alberta Premium Blended Rye Whisky over Black Velvet, Seagram’s VO Gold, Canadian Mist or the standard Crown Royal any day. This has some character and a bit of depth to it the rest just don’t. It also makes a pretty decent Canadian Old Fashioned where that industrial note completely fades away.

SCORE: 2.5/5 (average, drinkable, possible minor flaws ~ C+ | 77-79)

*Disclosure: The bottle for this Canadian Whisky review was graciously sent to me by the company without obligation. The views, opinions, and tasting notes are 100% my own.

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