Must Try

Alberta Premium Cask Strength Rye 2022

/ / Review, Rye Whiskey / ,

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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Barrell Craft Spirits Gray Label Bourbon 5th Release

/ / Bourbon, Review / ,

Barrell Craft Spirits Gray Label Bourbon
5th Release, 2022

50.29% ABV
$250
Website
Barrell Craft Spirits Gray Label Bourbon 2022
We would like to thank Barrell Craft Spirits and Ro-Bro Marketing & PR for sending us a sample to review.

What the Blender Says

    • A blend of straight bourbon whiskeys matured in select cooperage
    • Distilled and aged in TN, KY and IN
    • Crafted and bottled in Kentucky
    • 100.58 proof cask strength bottling

Barrell Craft Spirits has spent five years developing the blend techniques and processes used in the latest release of Gray Label Bourbon. This blending and marrying process is slow, labor-intensive, and costly, but we feel our patience pays off with this truly special offering.

This release of Gray Label Bourbon is constructed from bourbons of varying ages made from five different mash bills. After marrying, the blend goes into casks made using 36-month air-dried staves that previously held Gray Label Bourbon, to rest and further mature.

Barrels made from 36-month air-dried staves are not often used in bourbon production, in part because they are much more expensive than casks made with kiln-dried staves. We view them, however, as a key component for achieving long, complex flavors and a rich mouth feel. The result of mingling in these unique casks is a mellow, sophisticated spirit that concentrates the flavor of a higher-proof bourbon into a lower-proof blend, with a gentle oxidative character and deep dried fruit notes. This is a bourbon with the complexity and density of age, without over-oaked chalkiness.

Appearance: Wildflower honey.
Nose: Opens with some simple, bright fruit notes – dry cider, tart green plum, and banana pudding. These accompany the expected caramelized sugar notes of cinnamon donut and pecan pie. The tropical side slowly unfolds, revealing pineapple, passionfruit, and coconut milk. Peach cobbler and strawberry cheesecake reflect the fruitiness taking on a more cooked character.
Palate: Honeydew, cantaloupe, and watermelon make for fun and seldom-seen flavors in a bourbon. Mary Jane candies and dark chocolate ganache offer an earthy contrast. There is a gentle undercurrent of minerals such as celery salt, and snuffed beeswax candle.
Finish: Mouthwatering and refined with an initial burst of sweet tea and Meyer lemon. Rose jelly, raspberry pastilles and chardonnay provide a sophisticated floral signature.
With a splash of spring water: The whiskey grows a notch richer and creamier as white chocolate and cappuccino jockey to the fore. Water also liberates some savory notes of spoonbread, alpine breeze, and caramelized onion..

What Gary Says

Nose: Rich with fall leaves, freshly baked banana-nut bread, caramel, canned peaches and pears, oak, mineral/multi-vitamin note, hints of tropical fruit and Earl Grey tea.
Palate: Thick mouthfeel, sour-fruity candy, dark chocolate fudge, minerality, savory herbs like fennel with sweet tea.
Finish: Long and drying with oak, citrus, a syrupy fruit jam and black tea.
Comments: Another really delicious bourbon! I get a fair amount of the Dickel house style in this one, which I don’t mind at all. The mingling of fruit, baked goods and tea notes remind me of what a fine afternoon tea would be like if distilled into bourbon. Takes a bit of water well, maintaining the viscous mouthfeel – but doesn’t need any.

Rating: Stands Out/Must Try

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Dewar’s 12-Year-Old Blended Scotch Whisky

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky / ,

Dewar’s 12-Year-Old
Blended Scotch Whisky

40% ABV
$30
Website
Dewars 12 Year Old Blended Scotch Whisky
We would like to thank Dewar’s and Nike Communications for sending us a sample to review.

What the Producer Says

DEWAR’S® Blended Scotch Whisky, the world’s most awarded blended Scotch whisky, has unveiled the new DEWAR’S 12-Year-Old Blended Scotch Whisky. With a new look and feel, DEWAR’S 12-year-old has been taken to the next level with a whisky that balances complexity, flavor and smoothness.

Double-aging the whisky in hand-selected, first-fill American Oak Bourbon casks for the first time has created a distinctly different experience for drinkers, with a greater breadth and depth of flavor, and a radically richer mouthfeel. The new whisky builds upon the renowned DEWAR’S house style of floral, honeyed Highland whisky, with a hint of smoke.

Showcasing up to 40 of Scotland’s finest single malt and grain whiskies, the new liquid was created by DEWAR’S Master Blender, Stephanie Macleod, who was recently awarded Master Blender of the Year for the fourth time by the International Whisky Competition. Stephanie Macleod comments: “Curiosity has been at the cornerstone of the DEWAR’s brand since John Dewar created the first whisky in 1846. And that sense of curiosity has carried through to how my teams and I develop our whiskies today. It was only natural to experiment and craft a new element to the maturation process, which has resulted in a distinctly different tasting experience.”

“Having been experimenting with the influence of cask types on flavor and texture for the last ten years, we knew the time was right to bring some of what we have learnt to our core range of whiskies. We wanted to take DEWAR’S 12-Year-Old to the next level and bring the joys of quality Scotch whisky to a new generation of drinkers. DEWAR’S whiskies have a characteristic floral and honeyed-style and we knew we could add a richer and more complex dimension through the use of first-fill American Oak Bourbon casks.”

Macleod has created a more complex whisky: an aroma of apple, ripe peaches and hints of lemon zest; followed by floral, spice and rich fruit notes; with a robust finish of vanilla, butterscotch and a wisp of a smoke. Complementing the flavor notes is the richer, smoother and more balanced mouthfeel, creating an experience that will delight new and existing whisky drinkers alike.

Brian Cox, Vice President, DEWAR’S Scotch Whisky, North America commented: “The beauty of our Scotch whisky is the ability to bring the breadth of flavor – as well as the depth of flavor – from the variety of single malts and grains that we use to make it. This new expression of DEWAR’S 12-Year-Old is the epitome of what a high quality, pleasurable and indulgent Scotch whisky can be. Reimagining and relaunching this whisky has always been about one thing: delighting whisk(e)y drinkers. Whether you are a connoisseur looking to discover something new or are just seeking to share and enjoy with friends and family, we are certain that everyone will find something to savor and relish.”

All DEWAR’S whiskies share one thing in common – they are double aged for extra smoothness, a maturation process specific to DEWAR’s that was perfected by the first Master Blender, AJ Cameron. 2022 marks the 125th anniversary since AJ Cameron became the first Master Blender in 1897.

The new DEWAR’S 12-Year-Old Blended Scotch Whisky is presented in a new, premium clear glass bottle with a modified base, label and enclosure.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Honey, dried fruit notes of mango, pineapple and peaches; hint of orange and baked apple, vanilla, nutmeg and a bit of butterscotch with a faint note of smoke.
Palate:  Round and slightly oily mouthfeel, fruity with pears, peaches and apples, bit of nutmeg and pepper.
Finish:  Moderately long and thick, with applesauce, sherried dark fruit and honey.
Comments:  I can’t recall the last time I tried Dewar’s 12 Year Old, so I can’t compare this new release to that. But I know I didn’t enjoy it nearly as much as I do this or I’d have had a bottle around the house! This has a lot going on, and is very well balanced with a lovely mouthfeel – things I don’t often get with a 40% ABV pour. I can’t think of another Scotch (blended or otherwise) at this price point that I enjoy as much. Kudos to the blender and team on a really nice whisky!

Rating: Stands Out/Must Try

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Redemption Sur Lee Straight Rye Whiskey

/ / Review, Rye Whiskey / ,

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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Dewar’s French Cask Smooth

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky / ,

Dewar’s 8 Year Old French Cask Smooth
Apple Brandy Cask Finish Blended Scotch Whisky

40% ABV
$24.99
Website
Dewars French Cask Smooth
We would like to thank Dewar’s and Nike Communications for sending us a sample to review.

What the Producer Says

Dewar’s French Smooth, debuting in October 2022, is a result of finishing the brand’s signature 8-year-old, double-aged blend in Apple Brandy Calvados casks from the orchards of Normandy, France. The unexpectedly decadent Dewar’s French Smooth utilizes the oak that creates the traditional Calvados cider to enhance the sweetness of the liquid to develop a delicious blend between baked apples, citrus, and a hint of cinnamon. Given this unique characteristic, the notes on the nose create a complex yet sweet smell with a honeyed sweetness and a dusting of crème anglaise.

Thanks to the crisp taste of the apples, the finished product becomes a perfect study of balance, creaminess, and the encapsulation of the best of France & Scotland coming together while providing a modest price point for the supremely smooth liquid.

Perfectly paired with apple picking season, this liquid embodies the essence of the fall and encaptures that warm cozy feeling. If you’re looking for festive cocktails, look no further than the Dewar’s Apple Nouvelle Cocktail and the Dewar’s Apple Cinnamon Highball. With hints of apple and citrus, these drinks truly transport you to the orchards of Normandy.

The Apple Nouvelle Cocktail: A sparkling tipple bursting with French finesse, bringing the orchard flavor of Calvados to life with sweet floral elderflower, fresh apples, and sparkling French bubbles. Santé

Ingredients
1oz Dewar’s French Smooth Blended Scotch Whisky
0.5oz St Germain
1oz cloudy apple juice
chilled soda water
French sparkling wine

Method: Add whisky, St Germain, and apple juice to a cocktail shaker and shake hard with cubed ice, then double strain into chilled coupette glass, and top with a small dash of soda, then sparkling wine.

Apple Cinnamon Highball: Bursting with green orchard fruits and sweet spices, a fruity, zesty, and refreshing highball.

Ingredients
1.5oz Dewar’s French Smooth Blended Scotch Whisky
0.5oz lemon juice
0.5oz cinnamon syrup
1oz cloudy apple juice
3oz soda water

Method: Add whisky, lemon juice, cinnamon syrup, and apple juice to a highball glass, then fill the glass with cubed ice. Top with soda, stir from the bottom up and garnish with an apple slice.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Malt, fruity with apples, pears, subtle cinnamon, tangerines and a grassy, heather note.
Palate:  Sweet with honey, apple, cinnamon, nutmeg, a hint of graham cracker with a light citrus note.
Finish:  Moderately long with cinnamon baked apples.
Comments: Wow! This is dangerously drinkable, and delicious. It is definitely on the sweet side of the spectrum, but I love the Calvados finish on this, and as I’m trying this the first week of fall – it is striking all of the right seasonal notes. Really appreciate the screw cap enclosure. At first I thought maybe it was just the right pour at the right time, but in revisiting this a few more times – it is just a really delightful dram. I wish it was bottled higher than 40% (and as such, I wouldn’t bother with any water, although I did try a few drops which didn’t wreck it). I’ve only tried the Dewar’s Ilegal Smooth and Caribbean Smooth, but I liked this significantly more than both of those.

Rating: Stands Out/Must Try

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