Rye Whiskey

Alberta Premium Cask Strength Rye 2022

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Alberta Premium Cask Strength Rye 2022
Canadian Rye Whisky

63.5% ABV
$80
Website
Alberta Premium Cask Strength 2022
We would like to thank Alberta Distillers and Multiply for sending us a sample to review.

What the Distillery Says

Alberta Distillers Ltd, makers of Alberta Premium, the No. 1 selling 100% rye whisky in the world*, is proud to share the 2022 release of its limited edition Alberta Premium Cask Strength Rye.

Originally released in 2020, this year marks the third release of this anticipated limited edition liquid. Crafted and distilled in Calgary, Alberta, this 100% rye whisky is influenced by the surrounding environment in which it is made, and uses pure 100% prairie rye mash bills and glacier-fed spring water from the famed Rocky Mountains. This results in a very sippable whisky, best enjoyed neat with a drop of water or on the rocks.

TASTING NOTES
Packaged in an eye-catching, faceted glass bottle, Alberta Premium Cask Strength Rye features the below characteristics:
Proof: 127
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
Drink Recommendations: Neat with a drop of water or on the rocks

* According to the 2021 IWSR Drinks Market Analysis

What Gary Says

Nose:  Vanilla buttercream frosting, maple candies, cedar shavings, nutmeg, oak and freshly baked donuts.
Palate:  Warm and chewy, caramel, vanilla, chocolate, baking spices of cinnamon and nutmeg with a bit of orange.
Finish:  Moderately long and drying with mint, baking spices and a bit of citrus.
Comments:  This is incredibly similar to the 2020 edition (which was incredibly similar to the 2021 offering!) In fact I did a three way blind tasting (with two glasses containing the 2020 and one containing the 2022), and I couldn’t pick out which was different. In looking back, I had picked up more mint last year but that’s probably just me. This is a fantastic rye, and one of the few 100% rye cask strength options on the market. Maturing in Canada gives it a unique profile from American 100% rye. If I didn’t have one and saw this on the shelf – it would be an automatic buy for me (since I’ve tried it!)

Rating: Must Try/Must Buy

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Spirit Works Distillery 8 Year Rye Limited Edition

/ / Review, Rye Whiskey /

Spirit Works Distillery 8 Year Rye Limited Edition

45% ABV
$90
Website
Spirit Works Distillery 8 Year Rye
We would like to thank Spirit Works Distillery and Verdant PR for sending us a sample to review.

What the Distillery Says

Whiskey crafting is a true passion for distillery co-founder and head distiller Ashby Marshall, and the distillery is excited to roll out a number of new brown spirit offerings. First in the line-up: a limited edition 8 Year Rye Whiskey, the oldest whiskey bottling in the brand’s portfolio. Selected from some of the distillery’s oldest stocks, the barrels harvested for this very special whiskey are among the first ever produced at Spirit Works Distillery. Carefully chosen to highlight both the grace of an older whiskey and the spicy notes of Rye, these barrels are a glimpse of good things to come ahead in the Spirit Works line up. Expect notes of crème brulee, marzipan, nutmeg, mint on the nose; with poached pears, caramel apple, cinnamon, pumpernickel on the palate. Candied pecans, yellow peaches, coffee and charred cedar create a beautifully complex finish.

Aged in full-size American oak barrels with a 70% rye 30% malted barley mash bill.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Rice pudding, oak, orange creamsicle, mint, nutmeg, cinnamon, bit of wood polish and cedar shavings.
Palate:  Sweet and fruity with orchard fruits and blood orange, caramel, cinnamon, pepper and a bit of chili spice.
Finish:  Moderately long and drying with pepper spice and lingering fruit notes.
Comments:  This has a lovely color in the glass, a golden/coppery hue. It drinks a bit on the hot side for 45%, but delivers that rye spice you’re looking for in a ‘high-rye’ content rye whiskey (not to be confused with those ‘barely legal’ rye whiskies where just 51% of the mash is rye). The 30% malted barley also gives it a unique character (I hesitate to say ‘funk’ since that might sound negative, but with no corn in the mix – it is different than most other ryes on the market). This does really well in a cocktail, where the spice holds up well and isn’t hurt with other ingredients bringing some sweetness to the party.

Rating: Stands Out

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Uncle Nearest Uncut/Unfiltered Straight Rye Whiskey

/ / Review, Rye Whiskey /

Uncle Nearest Uncut/Unfiltered Straight Rye Whiskey

59.8% ABV
$150
Website
Uncle Nearest Uncut/Unfiltered Straight Rye Whiskey
We would like to thank Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey and The Brand Guild for sending us a sample to review.

What the Producer Says

As we announced in February of 2022, our award-winning line of whiskeys, with nearly 550 awards since our inception in 2017, is growing. Today, we continue celebrating the legacy of Nearest Green, the Godfather of Tennessee Whiskey, with the newest addition to our Master Blend Edition Portfolio: Uncle Nearest Uncut/Unfiltered Straight Rye Whiskey, our first Rye expression. As with our inaugural Master Blend Edition, this Uncut/Unfiltered Straight Rye Whiskey represents the favorite barrels of Victoria Eady Butler, our Master Blender, fifth generation Nearest Green descendant and four-time Master Blender of the Year recipient.

Born in the North – in Canada according to the exact American specifications required to be a Straight Rye Whiskey — and raised in New York for a minimum of four years before moving down to Tennessee, this Rye is crafted and blended by Victoria. As she puts it, “My great-great-grandfather was known for his whiskey filtration method. But this 100% rye is so spectacular, we dared not cut or filter it.” The result is a classic rye spice and character, paired with the incredible Uncle Nearest smoothness that has made our whiskey the Most Awarded of 2019, 2020, 2021 (and soon to be 2022).

We are proud to bring Uncle Nearest Uncut/Unfiltered Straight Rye Whiskey to our fans who will be in for a treat when they experience what critics have already been falling in love over. Just last week, it was announced that our Uncut/Unfiltered Straight Rye whiskey has already received its first Gold medal and received the highest honor at one of the most prestigious spirits competitions in the world.

Uncle Nearest Uncut/Unfiltered Straight Rye Whiskey launched on September 17th, as a Nearest Green Distillery exclusive, to rave reviews from our visitors. For those unable to make it to Shelbyville, there will be more Rye to come from Uncle Nearest in the coming months, including Straight Rye and Single Barrel Rye.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Buttered rye toast with orange marmalade, oak, maple toffee, nutmeg, toasted orange zest and a wisp of cedar.
Palate:  Warm and syrupy with caramel, buttered popcorn, fruity with oranges and black cherry, rye bread, cinnamon and nutmeg.
Finish:  Moderately long and damp with pepper, orange honey and caramel.
Comments:  A really nice rye whiskey, intense with a great mouthfeel. I tend to get the popcorn notes with younger whiskey, so guessing this isn’t a lot older than four years old – although it has a fair amount of complexity going on for a younger whiskey. It comes across a bit hot, but takes water really well – bringing out some ginger on the nose and keeping a nice mouthfeel that shifts from syrupy to creamy. There isn’t a ton of cask strength, NCF rye on the shelves, but even so – the price point is high to me. At half the SRPP, I’d be all over it. If you’re a fan of rye and the brand, I’d look for an opportunity to try it first.

Rating: Stands Out

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Redemption Sur Lee Straight Rye Whiskey

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Redemption Sur Lee Straight Rye Whiskey

47% ABV
$60
Website
Redemption Sur Lee Straight Rye Whiskey
We would like to thank Deutsch Family Wine & Spirits and Praytell for sending us a sample to review.

What the Producer Says

Continuing the brand’s commitment to deliver rare and unique rye-forward offerings, Redemption Whiskey announces the release of the latest addition to the brand’s highly sought after award-winning Specialty Series: Redemption Sur Lee Straight Rye Whiskey. Redemption Sur Lee was created utilizing a first-of-its-kind whiskey-making technique inspired by the French sur lie winemaking process and designed to add layers
of complexity and roundness.

The resulting whiskey is an entirely unique expression of rye, with rich taste, buttery notes, a silky finish and a hint of rye spice.

This whiskey innovation begins with Redemption’s award-winning classic pre-Prohibition rye mash bill, which boasts a rye content of 95%. Redemption then broke conventional whiskey-making norms by adding the flavorful backset that comes off the still during distillation, called the “whiskey lees,” into the barrels before aging. By periodically rotating the barrels during the aging process, the “lees” and whiskey continually interact and naturally infuse the whiskey with even more flavor. The “sur lee” method invigorates the rye’s complexity to further enhance and develop the whiskey. Before bottling, Sur Lee is non-chill filtered to maintain optimal flavors and aromas. The end result is a whiskey that’s deep and complex with a floral upfront, nutty backdrop and decadent, buttery notes of toasted marshmallow, maple and nutmeg, balanced with a lingering spicy finish.

Flavor Profile
Nose: Floral upfront with a lovely nutty, woody back drop. Evokes deep fruit notes of dried mango, bergamot orange, and honey baked apples.
Palate: Round, rich and soft with decadent nutty and buttery notes that envelop the palate. Supporting notes of toasted marshmallow, maple, and nutmeg, balanced with Redemption Rye’s signature undertones of fennel and caraway.
Finish: A lingering, balanced finish that coats the palate. Spice fades into a hint of sweetness with warming flavors of­ pie crust, sweet pine, buttered popcorn, vanilla and dried fig.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Woodsy rye spice, dill, mint, lemon (leaning towards grapefruit) zest, orange blossom honey with apples.
Palate:  Round mouthfeel, nutty with vanilla, orange, apple, mint, nutmeg, savory spice notes with an earthy hint of mushroom and cocoa.
Finish:  Moderately long with fruity spice and vanilla.
Comments:  Definitely a unique addition to the Redemption rye family (and rye whiskey in general). This whiskey delivers on what I look for in a high-rye rye whiskey (not to be confused with a ‘barely-legal’ rye whiskey) with the fruit notes and dill, but there is an earthy nuttiness to this that really stands out. This isn’t earthy like a peaty scotch; it is a much more subtle play that still showcases the rye whiskey, but adds a lovely new dimension. The packaging isn’t my favorite – the glass bottle is slightly frosted and fades to black, giving it a more cloudy/dark appearance than the whiskey itself. I prefer just clean/clear glass; the whiskey is delicious on its own, but not a fan when the packaging makes it look “different” than it does in my glass. Also prefer an artificial bottle stopper over cork, which can deteriorate. But those critiques wouldn’t discourage me from buying a bottle – because I mainly buy for what’s on the inside. This is one of my favorites that I’ve tried from Redemption. Hoping we maybe see a barrel proof release in the future!

Rating: Stands Out/Must Try

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Stellum Black Fibonacci Blend #1

/ / Review, Rye Whiskey /

Stellum Black Fibonacci Blend #1
Cask Strength Blend of Straight Rye Whiskies

57.56% ABV
$100
Website
Stellum Black Fibonacci Blend 1 Rye Whiskey
We would like to thank Stellum Spirits and Ro-Bro Marketing & PR for sending us a sample to review.

What the Distillery Says

This release of Stellum Black Specialty Rye celebrates the Fibonacci sequence, a series of numbers, each the sum of the two previous numbers. Six separate rye blends were combined in accordance with this sequence. Just like so many other presentations of Fibonacci, the blend that it produced was both balanced and beautiful.

TASTING NOTES
Color: Deep copper.
Nose: Citrus forward with a delicate spice on the back and lasting earthy notes of tobacco and oak.
Palate: Honey and lemon hit the tongue with a slight earthiness reminiscent of black tea. Brown butter and molasses come forward revealing the softer side of the whiskey followed by clove and brown sugar. A touch of cinnamon-apples and chocolate come through before revealing the charred oak tannins.
Finish: A long finish that touches each part of the palate. Savory and sweet, the lemon and honey are a delicate sweet base layer to the rich clove, ginger, and tobacco spice forefront. The oak shows through on the finish, highlighting that there is some finely aged whiskey in the blend.

WITH 3 DROPS OF WATER: The addition of water brings out more of the charred oak on the nose with a delectable, sweet cinnamon. On the palate, clove and ginger become more present with an addition of burnt orange peel. Rich dessert notes, such as brown butter and caramel are a bit more subtle.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Exotic citrus notes of tangerines, blood orange and nectarines, oak, baking spices of clove and gentle cinnamon.
Palate:  Thick mouthfeel with brown sugar, orange, honey, cinnamon, pepper, oak, cloves and cocoa.
Finish:  Moderately long and drying with citrus zest, tobacco, ginger and oak.
Comments:  Wow – just a delicious rye whiskey that has plenty of spice and zip without being ‘sharp’; brilliant blending!  Don’t get me wrong – I don’t mind a sharp rye with an edge, but rare that it has this much spice without it. Some water actually thickens it up even more, with the nose reminding me of a baked cinnamon treat found in most malls (complete with gently melted icing) and the palate taking on more cloves.

Rating: Must Try

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