Rye Whiskey

Alberta Premium Cask Strength Rye 2020

/ / Review, Rye Whiskey / ,

Alberta Premium Cask Strength Rye 2020
Canadian Rye Whisky

63.9-66.0% ABV (sample reviewed @ 66%)
$70
Website
Alberta Premium Cask Strength Rye
We would like to thank Alberta Distillers and Multiply for sending us a sample to review.

What the Distillery Says

Alberta Distillers, one of the first distilleries to create a true 100% rye whisky, is proud to introduce a limited-edition cask-strength whisky to the U.S. market: Alberta® Premium Cask Strength Rye. Originally released in Canada earlier this year, the limited-edition rye is crafted and distilled in Calgary, Alberta using pure 100% prairie rye mash bills and Rocky Mountain water. The result is a perfectly balanced liquid that reflects the brand’s Canadian heritage and expert whisky craftsmanship.

Making a name for itself in the Canadian market, Alberta Premium Cask Strength Rye comes to the U.S. after being sold out for months in Canada. Whisky fans can taste the purity in every bottle, distilled from the finest Canadian prairie grains grown by local farmers and refreshing glacier-fed Rocky Mountain spring water. This limited-edition, 100% rye is a very sippable whisky, best enjoyed neat with a drop of water or on the rocks.

“Alberta Distillers prides ourselves on being the producer of the world’s number one selling 100% rye whisky in Alberta® Premium,” George Teichroeb, General Manager of Alberta Distillery said. “We wanted to release a cask strength rye so our whisky fans can experience a 100% rye whisky in its purest form: straight from the barrel. This whisky truly is a great representative of our commitment to crafting superior rye whisky.”

The original Canadian release of this whisky left a mark on experts and consumers alike this past year, earning accolades such as Double Gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, Best Cask Strength at the Canadian Whisky Awards and Gold at the Canadian Whisky Awards. It’s also crafted at the distillery that was awarded the Distillery of the Decade by the Canadian Whisky Awards.

Packaged in an eye-catching, faceted glass bottle, Alberta Premium Cask-Strength Rye features the below characteristics:

  • ABV: 63.9% – 66.0%
  • Color: Amber gold
  • Aroma: Sweet, woody and oaky with a hint of vanilla
  • Taste: Exceptionally smooth with notes of caramel, vanilla, and just a hint of chocolate that balance the spiciness of rye and black currant
  • Finish: Smooth and lingering with the complexity of spice, warm vanilla and dark fruit

What Gary Says

Nose:  Soft vanilla with subtle oak, cedar, mint, nutmeg, hints of cherries and maple.
Palate:  Caramel and vanilla, milk chocolate, black currants, figs, cinnamon, nutmeg, cracked pepper with a bit of clove.
Finish:  Moderate in length, syrupy, fruity and lingering baking spices.
Comments:  I really love how rye whisky matures north of the U.S. border, and in particular in Alberta. I often get these cedar and maple notes which just feel very Canadian to me, and with older whisky it doesn’t get overly influenced from the oak. This is non-age stated, although doesn’t strike me as what I’d consider ‘young’ (4 years or less). Sampling this over the course of a week, I really enjoyed it. On the nose it benefits from sitting a bit in the glass (66% ABV is up there!) to let the alcohol vapors dissipate, and it takes water really well – bringing out more cedar and maple on the nose, and thickening the mouthfeel while amping up the fruit notes on the palate. There isn’t a lot of cask strength, 100% rye whisky out there – and this is priced fairly given that, so if you’re a fan of that sorta thing (which I am!) I’d pick one up while you can. OH – almost forgot, a premium bottle with a screwcap (which I consider bonus points; I prefer a pragmatic, tried/true solution for my bottle closures).

Rating: Must Try/Must Buy

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O.H. Ingram River Aged Straight Rye Whiskey

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O.H. Ingram River Aged Straight Rye

49% ABV
$80
Website
O.H. Ingram River Aged Straight Rye
We would like to thank Brown Water Spirits LLC for sending us a sample to review.

What the Distillery Says

The release of O.H. Ingram River Aged Straight Rye follows the highly successful launch in October of the first in the River Aged Series, O.H. Ingram River Aged Straight Whiskey. After a strong launch in Middle Tennessee, O.H. Ingram quickly moved into East Tennessee, including, but not limited to, the Chattanooga, Knoxville and the Tri-Cities markets.

“The response to O.H. Ingram River Aged so far has been beyond what I could’ve possibly imagined,“ said proprietor Hank Ingram. “Since our Straight Whiskey hit shelves in October, whiskey lovers have been able to experience the taste created by our unique aging process, and our Straight Rye will only deepen their connection to the Ingram River Aged Series.”

“Bourbon first became popular in America because it came down the river to New Orleans where it gained popularity and distribution. The goal of our process was to put the river back into American whiskey and see what effect it would have on the whiskey,” Ingram continued. “Even in the midst of the pandemic, we’ve found that people are always ready for a good story and a good drink. With O.H. Ingram River Aged, we offer both.”

The O.H. Ingram River Aged Series is the only whiskey aged inside a first-of-its-kind floating rickhouse moored on the riverbank in Ballard County, KY. Here, it’s exposed to the climate of the Mighty Mississippi River and its rise and fall. These factors combine to provoke a unique interaction between wood and spirit that isn’t possible inside a traditional rickhouse. The constant motion of the river ensures that the whiskey never stops working, creating an extraordinary spirit with a taste mature beyond its years.

O.H. Ingram River Aged is the result of blending entrepreneurship and innovation with traditional aging processes. While all whiskies are products of the environment, only O.H. Ingram River Aged is ‘Mellowed on the Mississippi.’

Hank is the latest in his family to take a great idea to the water. More than 150 years ago, his family began its American success story with two things — oak trees and a rushing river. Now, Hank is adding his chapter to this story by bringing together whiskey and the magic of the river to create O.H. Ingram River Aged Whiskey.

Ingram River Aged is currently available in Middle and East Tennessee with additional markets coming as inventories are available.

Tasting Notes
Appearance: Deep burnished copper
On the Nose: Floral, subtle notes of caramel
Mouthfeel: Soft, butter, presence of rye spice
Palate: Vanilla, graham cracker, cinnamon, hints of hay and nutmeg
Finish: Butterscotch, bubblegum, raspberry preserves, hints of tobacco

What Gary Says

Nose:  Floral and soft with herbal spices, notes of dried mint, cinnamon, lemongrass, touch of vanilla, oak and a faint hint of clove.
Palate:  Vanilla with a spicy bite of cracked pepper and cinnamon, sour oak, nutmeg and caramel sauce.
Finish:  Short to moderate in length, drying with a citrus (tangerines?) spice.
Comments:  The history of American whiskey maturing on the river isn’t a marketing ploy.  In fact, the time and interaction with the charred barrels during the trip from Kentucky to New Orleans certainly contributed to the rise in popularity of what came to be known as ‘bourbon whiskey’.  Michael Veach has written on this topic and others (if you’re a fan of history and bourbon and aren’t reading him already, I’d highly recommend it as a trusted source). Now back then, the whiskey wasn’t spending years on the water, so this isn’t an attempt to recreate that – but to create something unique with a nod towards history.  The whiskey itself is nice.  Three year minimum age stated on the bottle, distilled by the fine folks at MGP with a mash bill of 51% rye, 45% corn and 4% malted barley.  I can’t say that I’d have pegged this for a three year old if tasting blind.  The nose is fairly subtle for a rye, but the palate has that sharper bite rye whiskies are known for.  I get more oak on the palate than you’d expect for the age, although this isn’t surprising given the increased interaction of river aging.  While an interesting whiskey, the price point is disappointing

Rating: Average/Stands Out

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Redemption 10 Yr Barrel Proof Rye

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Redemption 10 Yr Barrel Proof Rye

58.1% ABV
$100
Website
Redemption 10 year barrel proof rye
We would like to thank Deutsch Family Wine & Spirits and R\West for sending us a sample to review.

What the Producer Says

Mash Bill: 95% Rye, 5% Malted Barley
COLOR: Deep amber with lime hues.
AROMA: Seductive aromas of black caramel, molasses, and vanilla layered over tones of freshly cut grass and hints of ginger.
PALATE: The palate has amazing concentration. The spicy rye notes evolve with flavors of dark chocolate, licorice and fennel laced together with cardamom, black pepper and tarragon. The finish is long and mellow.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Rich orange, caramel, chocolate, lemongrass, ginger, oak, cinnamon, clove, fresh cracked pepper with a hint of anise.
Palate:  Dark chocolate orange, caramel, honey, rich with baking spices – clove, cinnamon, anise, nutmeg, and pepper.
Finish:  Moderately long with baking spices, honey and oak.
Comments:  This is a really nice barrel proof rye.  Lovely Christmas spice notes throughout.  I’m a big fan of the really high rye mash bill rye whiskies (compared to the more common ‘barely legal rye’ with just over 50% rye), and especially at barrel proof.  Water really opens it up, although I loved it neat.  This is nice and robust – an excellent cocktail rye that works just as well for sipping neat.

Rating: Stands Out/Must Try

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Redemption Rye (2020)

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Redemption Rye

46% ABV
$30
Website
Redemption Rye
We would like to thank Deutsch Family Wine & Spirits and R\West for sending us a sample to review.

What the Producer Says

Your first sip of Redemption Rye is more than just a sip, it’s a discovery of rye’s beautifully complex flavors. With a rye content of 95%, well past the 51% required to be considered rye, we’ve recreated the classic American whiskey that ruled our glasses before Prohibition. It brings you the bold taste of genuine rye spice with hints of floral and citrus. While delightful on its own, a slight mint finish makes it ideal for creating distinctive cocktails such as a Manhattan or Old Fashioned.

Nose: Big and spicy, toasted oak, vegetal notes, allspice and anise.
Palate: Beautiful Rye spice with light floral and citrus notes along with dark spices and black pepper.
Finish: Slight mint finish makes this great for sipping or mixing in a classic cocktail.

TECH DATA
Mash Bill: 95% Rye, 5% Malted Barley
Min age of 2 years old (average age of 2.5 years)

What Gary Says

Nose:  Fistful of fresh dill, orange zest with a hint of lemon creeping in, mint, anise.
Palate:  Rounded mouthfeel with blood orange and vanilla, spice notes sharpen with allspice, mint, anise and a bit of clove.
Finish:  Moderately long, damp with mint and anise trailing.
Comments:  BIG rye on the nose, which I quite like.  A great cocktail rye.  Again, I don’t have the previous version for comparison (and in fact this is the same mash bill, so what Richard reviewed in 2014 might not be different in any meaningful way). I have found that I enjoy rye at under 4 yrs old a lot more than bourbon of a similar age. This has that classic MGP notes, although I didn’t get as much pepper as I sometimes do. Appreciate the mash bill transparency, and the higher ABV. While it doesn’t need it, this one takes a bit of water well – thickening a bit (reminding me a bit of a non-chill filtered whiskey, although no indication that is the case). Of the three standard Redemption whiskies, this one is by far my favorite.

Rating: Stands Out

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Hochstadter’s Family Reserve 16 Year Straight Rye Whiskey

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Hochstadter’s Family Reserve 16 Year Straight Rye Whiskey

61.9% ABV
$200
Website
Hochstadter’s Family Reserve 16 Year Straight Rye Whiskey

What the Producer Says

Hochstadter’s Family Reserve 16 Year Straight Rye Whiskey is a cask strength limited release created for the most discerning connoisseurs and collectors. The first ultra-premium offering in the Hochstadter’s portfolio, it is unfiltered, undiluted and full-flavored at 123.8 proof, delivering an intense explosion of robust rye flavor.

Made from 100 percent farm-grown rye grain and aged 16 years in newly charred American Oak Barrels, this rare and bold offering is sourced from Alberta Distillers Limited and bottled at cask strength in Philadelphia, PA. The end result is unfiltered, undiluted and full-flavored, delivering an intense explosion of robust rye flavor.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Lovely! Oak with tobacco, baking spices – clove, soft cinnamon and a bit of anise, toffee, dried mint, cherries, nutmeg, toasted orange zest, sandalwood, notes of pine, lemongrass, and walnuts.
Palate:  Warm baking spices of clove, cinnamon, citrus zip, vanilla, oak, bit of ginger, mint; some water thickens the mouthfeel and brings out more mint, vanilla, and cherries.
Finish:  Long, drying with fruit, pepper, and herbal spices.
Comments:  This is a phenomenal, well aged rye. I’ve been blessed to have enjoyed some unicorn ryes (Black Maple Hill 18yr old, Doug’s Green Ink 22yr Willet), and I’m not saying that this is exactly like those – but it definitely reminded me that sort of experience. 16 years is a long time in new oak for a whiskey. I tend to not prefer bourbon or rye that old, as it has just too much oak in many cases. This isn’t too oaky, and has a lovely balance of the sweetness with some herbal, almost savory spice notes. The $200 price tag is the only thing that keeps this from a solid ‘Must Buy’ in my book, although after tasting this sample – I absolutely am going to buy a bottle.

Rating: Must Try/Must Buy

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