Rye Whiskey

Alberta Premium Cask Strength Rye 2021

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Alberta Premium Cask Strength Rye 2021
Canadian Rye Whisky

63-67.0% ABV (sample reviewed @ 63.7%)
$75
Website
Alberta Premium Cask Strength Rye 2021
We would like to thank Alberta Distillers and Multiply for sending us a sample to review.

What the Distillery Says

Alberta Distillers, Distillery of the Decade as named by the 2020 Canadian Whisky Awards, proudly announces its 2021 release of Alberta® Premium Cask Strength Rye Whisky into the U.S. market. Hitting shelves this month as a limited time offering, this premium whisky showcases Alberta Distillers’ expertise and skill in crafting true 100% rye whisky, which is a notoriously difficult grain to work with.

Made in Calgary, Alberta, Alberta® Premium Cask Strength Rye is crafted from 100% Canadian prairie rye grains grown by local farmers and nutrient-dense, glacier-fed spring water from the famed Rocky Mountains. The result is a perfectly balanced liquid that reflects the brand’s unique natural surroundings, Canadian heritage, and expert whisky craftsmanship.

“Following the success of Alberta® Premium Cask Strength Rye’s debut in the U.S. last year, we are thrilled to offer stateside whisky drinkers the limited 2021 release of our award-winning whisky,” said George Teichroeb, General Manager of Alberta Distillers. “When Alberta Premium debuted in 1958, we were one of the first distilleries to create a true 100% rye whisky, and this cask strength rye is the culmination of our hard work and dedication to crafting exceptional rye whisky.”

Highly revered by whisky enthusiasts, the 2020 release of Alberta® Premium Cask Strength Rye received numerous prestigious awards including Double Gold at the 2020 and 2021 San Francisco World Spirits Competitions, Double Gold at the 2021 SIP Awards, Best All Rye Whisky at the 2021 Canadian Whisky Awards and 1st Place Best Canadian Whisky at the 2021 International Whisky Competition. This special whisky is best enjoyed neat with a drop of water or on the rocks, and features the following characteristics:

Alberta® Premium Cask Strength Rye:
Proof: 63-67%
Taste: Exceptionally smooth with notes of caramel, vanilla and a hint of chocolate balanced with the spiciness of rye and black currant
Finish: Smooth and lingering with the complexity of spice, warm vanilla, and dark fruit
Packaged in an eye-catching, faceted glass bottle, Alberta® Premium Cask Strength Rye will be available in limited quantities in select U.S. markets beginning in October 2021 for an SRP of $74.99 for a 750ml bottle. With demand and popularity gaining for the distillery’s premium spirits in the U.S, whisky fans can rest assured there’s more to come from Alberta® Premium in 2022.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Vanilla buttercream frosting, soft oak, cedar, mint, nutmeg, hints of maple and cherries.
Palate:  Caramel and vanilla, milk chocolate, black currants, cinnamon, nutmeg, subtle mint, cracked pepper with a bit of clove.
Finish:  Moderate in length with cedar, mint and lingering baking spices.
Comments:  Another really lovely offering from the folks in Alberta! I tried this side-by-side against a bottle of the original 2020 release, and they were incredibly similar – which is great news for me as I really liked that one!  It also benefits from some time in the glass to let the alcohol vapors dissipate, and thickens up nicely with some water. A few dollars more (which given this environment is more than reasonable) but well priced and more than fair in my opinion. If they maintain the same profile, this would be an annual pick-up for me. Too few cask strength 100% rye whiskies out there. Plus – this lovely bottle has a lovely screwcap closure which I’d rather have on ALL of my bottles!

Rating: Must Try/Must Buy

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Templeton Rye Barrel Strength Straight Rye Whiskey 2018

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Templeton Rye Barrel Strength 2018
Straight Rye Whiskey

57.2% ABV
$60-$70
Website
Templeton Rye Barrel Strength Straight Rye Whiskey 2018

What the Bottle* Says

Limited Bottling 2018
This special addition to the Templeton family is a barrel strength edition matured to perfection in flame charred American oak barrels. Natural, non-chill filtered and bottled at 57.2% ABV, this limited release is bursting with rye spice and black pepper giving way to summer fruits, butterscotch and oak. Templeton Rye Barrel Strength is both complex and intriguing and represents the expression in its purest form. This exquisite whiskey is a fitting tribute and salute to the town of Templeton – a small town with a strong spirit.
Produced and Bottled By:
Templeton Rye Spirits, LLC. Templeton, IA
Distilled in Indiana
* The Templeton Distillery website makes no mention of this whiskey.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Bright with mint, eucalyptus, lime, dill, ginger, subtle vanilla and pear.
Palate:  Rich thick mouthfeel, orange spice with cinnamon, nutmeg, pepper, honey and mint.
Finish:  Moderately long with citrus notes, pepper and mint.
Comments:  This is a really nice, barrel proof rye. Although I don’t care for the lack of transparency (which is putting it mildly) from Templeton, and might not support them financially (this bottle was gifted), the whiskey itself is pretty delicious. And if you don’t care about the backstory and just want a decent high-proof rye, I think this fits the bill. A bit of water thickens, and damps down the edges nicely bringing out more sweetness.

Rating: Stands Out/Must Try

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Elijah Craig Straight Rye

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Elijah Craig Straight Rye
Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey

47% ABV
$25
Website
Elijah Craig Straight Rye Whiskey

What the Distillery Says

The first extra-aged Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey to join Elijah Craig’s award-winning family of Bourbons. A unique combination of spicy rye grains and sweet corn, coupled with a steadfast attention to detail, give Elijah Craig Straight Rye the perfect balance of flavor and smoothness.

THE RYE MASHBILL
While the distillation process for Straight Rye is similar to our Small Batch Bourbon, the difference lies in the mashbill. It’s 51% rye grain instead of corn: the legal requirement for this style of American Whiskey.

TASTING NOTES
COLOR: Medium chestnut
AROMA: Dark chocolate with spices and a hint of smoke
TASTE: Rich baking spices and honey backed up with smooth oak influence
FINISH: Long and lingering

What Gary Says

Nose:  Toasted rye bread, mint, vanilla, citrus with hints of tarragon and dill.
Palate:  Soft entry with caramel, honey, a slight pepper bite with mint, cinnamon, chocolate orange and a bit of nutmeg.
Finish:  Moderately long with lingering citrus spice.
Comments:  A tame rye, but rye none the less. I’ve been a rye fan for years, and if I had a “standard house rye”, it would be Rittenhouse Bottled in Bond. Both being Heaven Hill ryes from the same mashbill, of course I needed to do a blind side-by-side! Quite similar, with this being slightly lighter in color, and a bit softer – with a bit less oak. My guess is that this is matured on lower levels than Rittenhouse, and could be older. For my personal preference, I liked the Rittenhouse better each time, although it was close – as the flavor was more intense. The Elijah Craig Rye had a bit longer finish, but other than that – seemed like a softer version. And I’m not looking for softer rye whiskey (but your mileage may vary).

Rating: Average/Stands Out

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Elvis Rye

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Elvis Rye
Straight Rye Whiskey

45% ABV
$50
Website
Elvis Rye
We would like to thank Grain & Barrel Spirits and Ro-Bro Marketing & PR for sending us a sample to review.

What the Producer Says

Grain & Barrel Spirits announced on September 13, 2021 a long-term licensing agreement with Elvis Presley Enterprises (EPE) to launch a duo of Elvis Presley-themed whiskeys. Both expressions – rye and whiskey – were sourced and blended by an expert team of whiskey experts and bottled in Tennessee, where Elvis began his career and called home.

“Given our expertise within premium whiskey, the Elvis expressions are a natural fit for Grain & Barrel Spirits,” said Matti Anttila, founder of Grain & Barrel Spirits. “Elvis was one of the most significant cultural icons of the 20th century and continues to inspire his fans today. We look forward to launching the brand, which is sure to be a highly sought after collector’s item.”

Both expressions feature an iconic photo of the “King of Rock ‘n’ Roll” in his prime and pay homage to two of the legendary singer’s most popular nicknames: The King (rye), and Tiger Man (whiskey). The labels, which were created by Alyson Design, LLC, also feature notable references to Presley, including his signature and the letters “TCB” printed on the neck of the bottle, referring to “Taking Care of Business,” a phrase which was the mantra for Elvis and his Memphis Mafia.

Mash Bill*
95% Rye | 5% Malted Barley

Tasting Notes
Aroma: Sweet Rye grassiness, followed by hints of citrus and spice
Flavor: Toasted oak, butterscotch, vanilla wafers and a hint of pepper
Finish: Beautiful, sweet, complex finish with a velvety mouthfeel

* Distilled by MGP

What Gary Says

Nose:  Rye spice with mint, dill, citrus zest, thyme and a bit of cedar.
Palate:  Caramel with tangerines, honey, mint, dried dill, hint of cinnamon and pepper.
Finish:  Short and drying with mint and pepper spice.
Comments:  First off, let me applaud the transparency in acknowledging that the distillate is coming from MGP. I know thanks to non-disclosure agreements some folks can’t share sources, but I always appreciate that they do when they can. If given an option to drink any form of whiskey at 2 years old, my pick would be rye every time (not that I wouldn’t prefer it with more age!) In particular this high-rye mash bill from MGP does well, with bright spice notes and more flavor than I get from a bourbon or other whiskey at the same age. I definitely enjoyed this more than the Elvis Whiskey, although the price point would similarly make it a collectible over a drinker for me.

Rating: Average

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Restoration Kentucky Rye Whiskey

/ / Review, Rye Whiskey /

Restoration Kentucky Rye Whiskey
2020 Batch 2

49.5% ABV
$40
Website
Restoration Rye Whiskey

What the Distillery Says

The release of Castle & Key’s first whiskey
Whiskey takes time. We started this journey in 2014, barreling our first product in 2016. In 2020, we feel it’s ready to share.

Each batch of our Restoration Rye Whiskey is blended using a series of pods. Each pod is created by grouping barrels to create a specific sensory profile.

Size: 57 Barrels

Mashbill
17% Yellow Corn
63% Rye
20% Malted Barley

Aroma: Bright, Lemon Peel, Toasted Oak, Apricot, Wild Flower, Honey, Graham Cracker
Taste: Pie Crust, Honeysuckle, Mint, Agave Nectar, Dry Cinnamon, Light Stone Fruit
Finish: Cooling, Spearmint with light mouth numbing

What Gary Says

Nose:  Intense mint, dill, orange and lemon zest, bit of anise, tarragon, malt, hints of candied tropical fruit (maybe pineapple).
Palate:  Honey, citrus spice with cinnamon, mint, corn syrup and pepper.
Finish:  Short to moderate in length with minty sweetness and pepper.
Comments:  First thing that caught my eye as a whisk(e)y geek was the absence of ‘straight’ on the label. I scratched my head and pondered what the implications were (as the possibilities didn’t seem to align with what I would expect). I reached out to Castle & Key to ask if they could shed any light, and they responded that there “…is no particular reason as to why the label does not say ‘Straight Rye Whiskey’. In fact, future labels will be changed to designate it as a ‘Straight Rye Whiskey'”. Was glad to hear that (as it implies this qualifies in every way), and glad they will update future labels. But I digress – the whiskey itself definitely stands-out as unique, with some herbal spice notes on the nose to go with the minty/dill that rye fans such as myself enjoy. The higher malted barley content I’m sure is a big contributor to that, and I can’t wait to see some more mature rye coming out of Castle & Key. If you ever have a chance to tour their facility – do it. Had the pleasure of visiting the site in April 2017 before it was open to the public and they were still working on the restoration itself, then again in April 2019 (when it was open to the public). What a difference two years made! If you love whiskey history, or just really cool picturesque surroundings – check it out.

Rating: Stands Out

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