Whisky: Alberta Premium Cask Strength Rye
Producer: Beam-Suntory
Distillery: Alberta Distillers Ltd.
Whisky Type: Canadian Rye
Age: Non-Age Statement (NAS)
Region: Calgary, Alberta
ABV: 63,5%
Aged in Cask: New charred oak. Level 4 char.
Price Range: $$

Alberta Distillers Ltd. is the oldest distillery in Western Canada. It has been producing whisky since 1946. Its origins go back to the Reifel family. George and Henry Reifel started distilling in 1916 in British Columbia (BC) and became very wealthy by providing west coast bootleggers Canadian whisky to satisfy the thirst of The United States during the prohibition years (1920-1933).

In 1946 George’s son, George Henry continued the family business in Calgary with Alberta Distillers, which supplied whisky for a popular Canadian brand known as Windsor Supreme, owned by an American company by the name of National Distillers.

To secure whisky for Windsor Supreme, National Distillers purchased Alberta Distillers in 1964, but during the 1970s, sales of whisky declined, and National sold Alberta Distillers to Jim Beam (now Beam-Suntory) in 1987.

According to Canadian Whisky expert Davin de Kergommeaux, Alberta Distillers is the only Canadian distillery to make both base and flavoring whiskies entirely from unmalted rye grain and the last distillery in Canada to grow its enzymes for mashing. The unmalted rye gives the whisky sweeter fruit flavors when compared to malted rye flavors.

Alberta Distilleries use three types of distillation, beer still distillation, re-distillation with a stainless still doubler, and pot still distillation. Aging typically happens in new white oak, ex-bourbon, and 1st fill bourbon barrels in rackhouses in Calgary, and the spirit is diluted to about 78% ABV before entering the barrel.

Whisky sold in bulk for American customers is typically young (3-4 years old) in level 4 charred oak barrels, and older expressions (10 years) are typically sold in the Canadian market.

Alberta Premium was the best-selling all-rye whisky in the world in 2021, but most of its sales come from Canada. Unfortunately, the brand is not well known in the United States, where it needs to compete with Bourbon and American rye. The lack of brand awareness in international markets is due to bulk sales with packaging and branding from client brands like WhistlePig, Jeffersons 10 YO, and Masterson’s.

This expression is 100% Alberta-grown rye with no age statement on the label, but probably at least five years of age, bottled at 63.5% ABV.

Tasting notes for Alberta Premium Canadian Rye

Nose: Strong aromas of vanilla, honey, and spices.

Palate: Full-bodied and creamy notes of vanilla, honey, and spices. Adding water makes this whisky taste more like a high-rye bourbon as it brings up the sweet flavors while keeping things in balance. It also adds to the creaminess of the palate and notes of creme brule.

Finish: A long finish with plenty of spices and a slight kick of alcohol at the very end.

Conclusion: Alberta Premium Cask Strength is a classic Canadian Rye Whisky bottled at 63.5% ABV with a tasty flavor profile that accentuates the sweet notes of honey and vanilla with the spicy notes from the oak and the rye. You may find this whisky interesting if you are a fan of rye with a sweet profile. Cheers!

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Score: 4/5 ⭐

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