Larceny Barrel Proof, Batch A121

I’d like to thank Heaven Hill for providing this review sample with no strings attached.

It’s funny how our tastes develop. There was a time in my bourbon journey that a bottle of 80 proof Ancient Age or Cabin Still was right in line with my preferred flavor profile. These days it is only the rare sub-90 proof bottle that gets me coming back for more. Somehow along the way, I’ve started to enjoy higher-proof whiskeys. I’ve decided that I really enjoy being able to put a cube of ice in there and still have something robust to enjoy.

And I’m not the only one to notice a change in my palate. My wife has also noticed a slight change over the years. Of the two of us, she is the fan of wheated bourbons in our house. I’ll drink them, but I usually prefer the “normal” bourbon that uses rye as a flavoring grain. When Larceny came out, it was her favorite bourbon. Super easy to find, affordable, and lined up exactly with her palate. These days, however, she finds herself drawn to other bourbons both wheated and not.

Yet even with that, we’ve both been big fans of the Larceny releases so far. I like the higher proof and more concentrated flavors. She likes the more robust version of the Larceny flavor profile (maybe this more concentrated version has ruined the 92 proof for her?). In fact, this is what we said about the last batch:

This typifies exactly what my wife wants in a bourbon: sweet and oaky with lots of caramel. She wants it on the record that if she sees this, and if it is allowed, she wants to buy two bottles. I also really like it in case you were curious.

Let’s see how 2021’s first batch compares.

Larceny Barrel Proof, Batch A121

Purchase info: This was graciously provided by Heaven Hill for review purposes. The suggested retail price is $49.99.

Price Per Drink (50 mL): $3.33

Details: Batch number: A121. 57.4% ABV. "Made from a mingling of 6 to 8-year-old bourbon." Non-chill filtered.

Nose: Oak, toffee, mint, baking spices, and fleeting hints of dark chocolate.

Mouth: Follows the nose with oak, dark chocolate, caramel, and baking spices.

Finish: Warm and medium length. Notes of dark chocolate, oak, and baking spices linger.

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Thoughts: The one word I can think of for this is "Robust" It has a great mouthfeel and the dark chocolate notes are fantastic for a lover of dark chocolate like me. I like this more than the Elijah Craig Barrel Proof we looked at last week.

Comparison with the last batch: C920 was way sweeter on the nose showing much more caramel to A121's dominant oak notes. The sweeter notes of C920 continue on the mouth bringing added heat to the party as well. A121 has a thicker mouthfeel and more oak and cocoa notes. Overall, these are quite different and which you like more will depend on whether you prefer hot and sweet caramel flavors or robust with oak flavors. In my opinion, they are the two best batches of the four released so far. I think I like A121 better, my wife likes C920 better.

Did you enjoy this post? If so, maybe you’d like to buy me a cup of coffee in return. Go to ko-fi.com/bourbonguy to support. And thank you, BourbonGuy.com is solely supported via your generosity.

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Four Gate Whiskey Company: Batch 11, Ruby Rye Springs

I’d like to thank Four Gate Whiskey Company for providing a review sample with no strings attached.

Ordinarily, I do tasting notes over the weekend in order to allow me to spend more writing time on the essay that goes in front of each review on writing night. Well, now that it has warmed up (we are above freezing for the second day in a row!!!), I’ve spent the last three days running a smoker and the only thing I could smell, during the time I would usually do a tasting, was smoke. So tonight you are getting raw, unfiltered, day-of-tasting notes without the benefit of a second tasting.

It also means that I don’t have quite as much time to write an intro essay so instead, I’m spending all of this time writing excuses about why I couldn’t write something more interesting. Yay! Intro!

Four Gate Whiskey Company is a company that is making quite a name for itself as an innovative barrel finishing whiskey company. I’ve only had five of their eleven releases but already I’ve had bourbon finished in gin/Orange Curaçao barrels, bourbon finished in Cognac/rum barrels and as of tonight, a rye whiskey finished in a barrel that has previously aged Ruby Port and then rum. Some of these are home runs, some are super weird, but all are very interesting. Here is what the company has to say about the barrel finishing of tonight’s rye.

The secondary casks originally were originally used to mature ruby port, a fortified wine from Portugal in which the wine is removed from barrels and stored in tanks to prevent further aging, leaving the resulting product sweeter and brighter on the palate than other styles of port wine. The barrels found a second use with Virago Spirits in Richmond, VA where the barrels were used to age a blend of rums, imparting them with a lush molasses sweetness that pairs excellently with the bright red fruit of the ruby port.

The most interesting thing about this whiskey is that it is the third in a series featuring the same rye whiskey. I initially reviewed the first of the series in July of 2020. It was a 7-year-old Straight Rye whiskey from Indiana that featured the 95% rye/5% malted barley recipe made famous by MGP (and even though the company didn’t confirm it, I assume that is exactly what it was). You can read what I had to say about Batch 7 here. They then performed two barrel-finishing experiments using that same whiskey. One I did not get a sample of, but the other is tonight’s whiskey. My tasting tonight featured both the Batch 7 (unfinished whiskey) and Batch 11 which spent an additional 40+ days in a second barrel. Let’s see how it turned out.

Four Gate Whiskey Company: Batch 11, Ruby Rye Springs

Purchase Info: This sample was graciously supplied by the producer for review purposes. The suggested retail price is: $185 

Price per Drink (50 mL): $12.40

Details: “95/5 Indiana Straight Rye” (going out on a limb to say that means MGP though this has not been confirmed by the company), 56.7% ABV, 7 years old, 1,444 bottle batch. Finished in a cask that previously aged both Ruby Port and then Rum.

Nose: Bubblegum, mint, caramel, red fruits, and allspice. 

Mouth: Whoo, that's spicy. Cinnamon, red fruits, and mint.

Finish: Spicy and long. Notes of Bubblegum, molasses, cinnamon, and mint.

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Thoughts: This is damn good. If you can afford to splurge on this one, and you like high-proof ryes, do it. I think this is almost the best thing I've had from Four Gate (I loved Batch 6, but this was almost as good). I can see saving up to splurge on this one.

Comparison to the Unfinished Rye: Ruby Rye Springs has a much softer, yet more complicated, nose. It is sweeter and really shows off what the finishing barrel brought to the party. The Unfinished rye is sharper on the nose and almost antiseptic by comparison. The unfinished rye is delicious, a good rich 95%- style rye. Good cinnamon and minty rye notes. Somehow the Ruby Rye Springs is even better. It retains the spice and minty herbal rye notes but adds a nice layer of sweetness and fruit to the top. They used a deft touch on the barrel finishing. If I hadn't known this was barrel-finished rye, I would not have guessed. I would have just thought it was a rye whiskey with nice fruit notes and a complex finish. It was only through the comparison, that I saw what had been accomplished. It is hard to improve on a barrel-strength "Indiana 95% Rye" but Four Gate has done it. My hats off to them. Nice Work!

Did you enjoy this post? If so, maybe you’d like to buy me a cup of coffee in return. Go to ko-fi.com/bourbonguy to support. And thank you, BourbonGuy.com is solely supported via your generosity.

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Fire Department Coffee: Spirit Infused Coffee

I’d like to thank the folks at Fire Department Coffee for providing these free media samples with no strings attached.

I don’t have to tell you that it has been cold lately. Places that seldom get snow are just getting dumped on, and…well…it’s been cold enough here to freeze bourbon. Literally, I have an entire post about how I froze bourbon out on my deck from the last time it was this cold.

I hate the cold. I really hate the cold. And the past couple of weeks have been brutal. But I am very thankful that, aside from when I need to usher dogs in and out to go potty, I don’t need to go outside. I can just sit in my chair with a cup of coffee each morning and watch the temps slowly climb to negative ten Fahrenheit throughout the course of the day.

Speaking of coffee, I love coffee. It is probably the thing I love most in the world—the one thing I love more than bourbon, barbecue, or pizza. Well, except my wife, of course (I don’t want to be dodging any shoes when she proofreads this). If I had to give up every vice, I could unless they included coffee. I would rather become a vegetarian teetotaler than give up coffee. There is a reason the support link above says “Buy Me a Cup of Coffee” and not “Buy Me a Bourbon.”

And it just so happens that I received an email a few weeks ago that combined two of my favorite beverages. Bourbon and coffee. It was from Fire Department Coffee, and they wanted to send me samples of a couple of their “Spirit Infused Coffees.” I was a little hesitant at first. I’m very particular about my coffee. I’ve been getting my coffee from the same small roaster in Montana since 2006, and no matter what else I’ve tried, I have had no desire to change that. And normally, I’m not too fond of flavored coffee. It tends to get sweet and overpowering, completely obscuring the coffee part of the coffee, which is the part I love. (I feel the same way about most flavored bourbons.)

Before we get too far into the weeds, though, let’s find out a little about Fire Department Coffee. Their website says the following:

Fire Dept. Coffee is a veteran-owned business and certified by the National Veteran-Owned Business Association (NaVOBA), we're dedicated to providing great-tasting coffee to people everywhere. Every order is freshly roasted in Rockford, Illinois, by a dedicated team of firefighters, first responders, and coffee connoisseurs.

Inspired by the vital role that coffee plays in helping firefighters stay alert and energized through long shifts, Fire Dept. Coffee was founded in 2016. Founder and CEO Luke Schneider is a full-time firefighter/paramedic and a U.S. Navy veteran who teamed up with firefighter/paramedic Jason Patton who is also a full-time firefighter and VP for Fire Department Coffee.

Fire Department Coffee is run by active and retired firefighters, including our operations officer and chief coffee roaster.

Along with providing a growing selection of incredible coffee — including its signature spirit-infused roasts — Fire Dept. Coffee also supports heroes in need through the Fire Dept. Coffee Foundation. Ten percent of net proceeds are donated to help provide essential resources and assistance to first responders who have been injured on the job, mentally or physically, or who are facing other serious health challenges.

Seems like a good operation. So let’s talk about the coffee. I made each of these the same way I make the coffee that I drink every day. I ground the beans and made a 14 cup pot. Yes. I actually prefer automatic drip coffee to any of the other methods of brewing it. (It might be because I learned to drink coffee to stay awake while working the third-shift at a small-town gas station with few customers.) Let’s see if it was any good.

Fire Department Coffee: Vanilla Bean Bourbon Infused Coffee

Purchase Info: This was graciously provided to me for review purposes. The regular price is $19.99 for a 12 oz bag.

Nose: Subtle vanilla pairs nicely with nutty chocolate notes.

Mouth: Slightly sweet with vanilla and spirit notes layered over a coffee base.

Thoughts: This literally tastes like when you make a coffee drink with whiskey. I was afraid that the vanilla or bourbon would be overpowering. Instead, it strikes the perfect balance between coffee and boozy coffee. I will have no trouble finishing this bag. It reminds me of camping with family and having a little "spiked" coffee to wake up and shake off a fun night around the fire. Don't let it cool too much, though. The flavoring gets overpowering if it cools in the cup.

Fire Department Coffee: Black Cherry Bourbon Infused Coffee

Purchase Info: This was graciously provided to me for review purposes. The regular price is $19.99 for a 12 oz bag.

Nose: Roasted nuts with vanilla, caramel, and a light fruitiness.

Mouth: Spirit notes dominate initially but fade in intensity as you consume more of the cup, allowing the fruity and chocolaty coffee notes to come more to the forefront.

Thoughts: I like the vanilla better, but not by much. These are both good. Speaking as a coffee purist (not even cream or sugar are allowed in my coffee), these are probably the only flavored-coffees I've had that I actually liked. In both of them, the spirit notes are the larger portion of the "flavorings" than the vanilla or cherry, and I think that was a wise choice as the others could easily overpower the coffee.

Did you enjoy this post? If so, maybe you’d like to buy me a cup of coffee in return. Go to ko-fi.com/bourbonguy to support. And thank you, BourbonGuy.com is solely supported via your generosity.

Of course, if you want to support BourbonGuy.com and get a little something back in return, you can always head over to BourbonGuyGifts.com and purchase some merch. I’ve made tasting journals, stickers, pins, and more.

MB Roland Kentucky Straight Malt Whiskey

Paul and Merry Beth of MB Roland are my friends. Because I might be biased, I have decided to disclose that bias so that you can decide how much to trust the review.

My whiskey origin story.

Being originally from Wisconsin, my first alcoholic love was beer. When I was about 30, I moved to Minnesota. At the time, Minnesota was suffering under an antiquated “Blue Law” prohibiting the sale of wine, beer, or spirits on Sundays. Liquor stores were closed. You could buy lower alcohol 3.2% beer in grocery stores, but you were basically limited to versions of Bud, Miller or Coors products as they were the only ones with the production capability to make that small of a batch profitably.

After discovering this, I tried my best to always do my beer shopping on Saturday. But It didn’t always work out since all my grocery shopping was typically done on Sundays. So, of course, one hot summer Sunday afternoon I went to the fridge to grab a beer and I discovered that I was out.

Inspired by the cocktail culture that was starting to blossom in the country at that particular moment in history, I decided to turn my attention to my long-neglected liquor cabinet. I had the thought I might make myself a highball, though I didn’t know it was called that at the time. Most of the spirits in that cabinet had been there forever. I think there was a bottle of rum, a vodka, and a few super sugary, and partially crystallized liqueurs. But, out of those meager beginnings, a love of cocktails was born. And learning about cocktails meant learning about spirits. And the best way to learn about spirits is to try them.

Starting with what was in the cabinet, and quickly expanding beyond, I experimented with cocktail making and recipe creation. One of the hobbies I developed was creating infused spirits to make my own liqueurs. I worked my way through a variety of clear spirits until, while on a road trip, I happened upon a newly opened craft distiller in southern Kentucky named MB Roland.

It was that day at MB Roland where my love of whiskey first bloomed. When we walked into the gift shop, Merry Beth Tomaszewski was working. She was so warm and friendly that our visit started on a high note. I’d emailed ahead of time to get a tour so Paul Tomaszewski gave me my first distillery tour. It was a very small tour, because they were a very small distillery. But the things I learned that day sparked a yearning to learn more. You could say that, as this site is an outgrowth of my desire of learning all that I can about whiskey, that the seeds of BourbonGuy.com started that day too. I also made a couple of really good friends.

It was in the MB Roland Gift Shop, that I first tasted whiskey. I was intrigued enough to grab a few bottles to bring home. I picked up their white dog and black dog unaged products. I think I grabbed a flavored moonshine or two. And I picked up a bottle of aged whiskey. In this case, a little 375 mL bottle of the malt whiskey they were experimenting with. I really liked that bottle of malt whiskey. It was my official introduction to American whiskey and was the first thing I ever consumed neat. Needless to say, it was not the last.

Immediately upon returning home from that trip, I started learning everything I could about whiskey. One of the first things I realized was that while I had consumed whiskey before visiting MB Roland, I’d never tasted it before. Like most dumb, college-aged men I’d done way too many shots of Jack, which I really didn’t like. So much so that as I matured, I basically gave up spirits until that fateful Sunday mentioned above. But tasting is so much more than consuming. Tasting is more thoughtful than drinking, sometimes even analytical.

And that was a big realization for me. It led me to want to learn other things about whiskey. I tore through every book I could find on the subject. I visited every distillery I happened across. Hell, I planned routes on my vacations to include stops at distilleries. I read blogs and forums, anything and everything to learn more. And I didn’t just want the fantasies and marketing speak, I wanted the science and the history. I’m a history buff who reads history texts for fun and started college with the goal of becoming a scientist, so digging beyond the surface came naturally to me. As I learned more and more, I realized that I could start sharing some of this knowledge with others. And so, I started BourbonGuy.com.

That is my whiskey origin story. It all started with a bottle of Malt Whiskey and a couple of friends I met at a small craft distillery in Kentucky. And since they started making that Malt Whiskey again a few years ago, I couldn’t help but grab a bottle when I saw it on the shelf during my early December trip to Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky.

Like the distillery, the whiskey has grown up in the decade or so since I last had it. It’s the same mashbill but is now straight. They’ve upgraded their equipment, so this version is distilled on the grain like a traditional American whiskey instead of needing to have the grain strained out first. They’ve also started aging in larger barrels.

MB Roland Kentucky Straight Malt Whiskey

Purchase Info: $48.99 for a 750 mL bottle at the Party Source, Bellevue, KY

Price per Drink (50 mL): $3.27

Details: At least 2 years old. 55.5% ABV. Mash bill: 63% Malted Barley. 21% White Corn. 15% Rye. Batch 5, Bottle 22 of 185.

Nose: Nutty, cocoa powder, hints of dried grain underneath.

Mouth: Dark chocolate along with nutty and grassy notes.

Finish: Warm, sweet, and medium length. Lingering "candy bar" notes of nuts and cocoa.

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Thoughts: I really like this. My wife, not as much. She isn't a "malted barley fan" though. (She'd be happier with a glass of hops than with a malt-forward beer). Ah well, more for me! I think this is a candy bar in a glass. Thick, rich, and full of nutty chocolate. Yum!

Did you enjoy this post? If so, maybe you’d like to buy me a cup of coffee in return. Go to ko-fi.com/bourbonguy to support. And thank you, BourbonGuy.com is solely supported via your generosity.

Of course, if you want to support BourbonGuy.com and get a little something back in return, you can always head over to BourbonGuyGifts.com and purchase some merch. I’ve made tasting journals, stickers, pins, and more.

A Look at the New Ezra Brooks 99 and a Revisiting of Ezra Brooks Bourbon

I’d like to thank ByrnePR and Lux Row for providing the review sample of Ezra Brooks 99 with no strings attached.

Eighteen hundred, sixty-nine days ago, I published If You've Had... Ezra Brooks Edition. A non-judgemental article about the then-current Ezra Brooks line-up and how they compared to one another flavor-wise. It looked at Ezra Brooks, Old Ezra 101 proof (7-year-old), and Ezra B (a 12-year old single barrel version). In the intervening years the line-up, heck the company, has undergone a complete revamp. Ezra B and Old Ezra 101 proof were discontinued. Luxco built a distillery that they named Lux Row. They reintroduced Old Ezra, still seven years old, but now barrel proof. And this week it was announced that Luxco was being purchased by MGP.

That’s a busy few years for Ezra Brooks. And to top all of that off, there is also a newcomer to the Ezra Brooks line-up. Ezra Brooks 99 is a 99 proof version of the original Ezra Brooks. Here’s what the company had to say about the new addition.

“With Ezra Brooks 99 our goal was to create a higher-proof bourbon without sacrificing the rich notes Ezra Brooks is known for,” said John Rempe, master distiller at Lux Row Distillers. “And we achieved that with 99. The result is a smooth, drinkable bourbon with hints of caramel, vanilla, chocolate and spice. We’re thrilled to introduce Ezra Brooks 99 to bourbon lovers everywhere.”

This is rolling out nationwide during January 2021, but they were kind enough to send over a sample so I could take an early look.

Ezra Brooks 99

Purchase Info: This was graciously provided by the distillery for review purposes. The suggested retail price is $24.99 for a 750 mL bottle.

Price per Drink (50 mL): $1.67

Details: 49.5% ABV

Nose: Mint, cherry, nutmeg, and caramel.

Mouth: Caramel, cherry, milk chocolate, and cinnamon.

Finish: Medium length and sweet. Lingering caramel, mint, and cinnamon.

Thoughts: This is a very nice step up from the Ezra Brooks 90 Proof. It's a lot sweeter, with strong caramel and milk chocolate notes. It's got a good mouthfeel. I'm on board. This is a good sub $30 bourbon. It will probably crack the “daily drinker” rotation on occasion when it shows up at local liquor stores.

Turning away from the new kid on the block, let’s take a look at that OG fixture of the Ezra Brooks line up. It’s named, fittingly, Ezra Brooks. It has been two thousand, four hundred, ninety-nine days since I first published tasting notes of Ezra Brooks Bourbon. It was during the very first Bottom-Shelf Bracket. Spoiler: it made it out of the first round but not out of the second. Back in 2014, I had this to say about it:

This one is a classic value play. It’s good considering it’s well under $20 per liter, if it were $30 I don’t know that I would buy it.

So, what do I think about it 6+ years later?

Ezra Brooks Bourbon: Revisited

Purchase Info: $13.99 for a one-liter bottle at Viking Liquor Barrel, Prior Lake, MN

Price per Drink (50 mL): $0.70

Details: 45% ABV

Nose: Mint, bubble gum, and a hint of nutmeg

Mouth: Caramel, almond, baking spice, and a hint of mint.

Finish: Medium length and warm. Dried grains and cinnamon red hots that fades into sweet caramel.

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Thoughts: Picked this up for $14 for a liter. Very pleased with the purchase. Decent spice, nice mouthfeel, and good flavor. A very nice "value" bourbon that compares well against others in its price point. I should probably grab this more often than I do. Though now, I’ll probably grab the 99 proof instead most of the time.

Did you enjoy this post? If so, maybe you’d like to buy me a cup of coffee in return. Go to ko-fi.com/bourbonguy to support. And thank you, BourbonGuy.com is solely supported via your generosity.

Of course, if you want to support BourbonGuy.com and get a little something back in return, you can always head over to BourbonGuyGifts.com and purchase some merch. I’ve made tasting journals, stickers, pins, and more.

Booker's Bourbon: Batch 2020-03 "Pigskin Batch"

I’d like to thank the folks at Jim Beam for providing the following review sample with no strings attached.

I’m having a hard time believing that it has been since September of 2018 since I last had a bottle of Booker’s in the house. Truth be told, I don’t have a bottle of Booker’s in the house now either. The small sample I got of their most recent batch was finished this past weekend when I did the tasting notes below.

I’ve been meaning to pick up a bottle. But I’m always so distracted by the next “shiney” new thing to remember the old favorites. Because even with the price increases the brand has experienced, it is still one of the few $50+ bottles that I never regret buying. Sure since the price went up, it no longer sits on the “every day” bourbon shelf and is instead on the “special occasion” shelf. But honestly, that’s just a trick I play on myself to make it last longer. Which, at a recommended price of $89.99, is a good thing.

So, knowing all of that, it was an easy decision to inquire about a sample when the most recent batch of 2020 was introduced. This one is named for the fact that Booker Noe, like many of us, was a big fan of football. And since I was doing the tasting notes while I watched my Green Bay Packers lose on Sunday, it seemed fitting to grab this one for this week.

Booker's Bourbon: Batch 2020-03 "Pigskin Batch"

Purchase Info: This sample was graciously provided by the distillery for review purposes. The suggested retail price is $89.99

Price per Drink (50 mL): $6.00

Details: 6 years, 7 months, 7 days old. 63.65% ABV.

Nose: Caramel, vanilla, cinnamon, and nutmeg.

Mouth: Thick mouthfeel. Caramel, cinnamon.

Finish: Warm and long. Sweet and spicy.

Thoughts: This reminds me that I need to buy Booker's more often. It's been way too long since I dropped the coin on it and it is always worth the cost to me. As expected, I'm really liking this one.

Did you enjoy this post? If so, maybe you’d like to buy me a cup of coffee in return. Go to ko-fi.com/bourbonguy to support. And thank you, BourbonGuy.com is solely supported via your generosity.

Of course, if you want to support BourbonGuy.com and get a little something back in return, you can always head over to BourbonGuyGifts.com and purchase some merch. I’ve made tasting journals, stickers, pins, and more.

Alberta Premium Cask Strength Rye

I’d like to thank the folks at BeamSuntory and their PR firms for providing a review sample with no strings attached.

It was four days before Christmas when the PR folks representing the Alberta Distillers portion of BeamSuntory sent me an email informing me of the imminent arrival of a new Limited Edition release from our neighbors to the north. Now, I’ve been a fan of the Rye Whiskey produced at the Alberta Distillers distillery for quite some time. I’ve had it from various importers, some more honest than others about the source of their product. I even had a taste of a 30-year-old version from a friend in Ontario. But as I had never had a version bottled at Cask Strength, I eagerly jumped at the offer of a sample.

Funnily enough though, before that sample could arrive, I found a bottle sitting on the liquor store shelf. And no, as I was almost certain that I would enjoy this particular whiskey, I did not pass it up. After the small review sample arrived, I noticed that the proof was different than what was on my purchased bottle. The PR folks confirmed that the sample contained the Canadian release, but that the only difference between that and the US version was the proof. Just so we are clear, I’m reviewing the one I purchased tonight. Seemed to be the proper course of action as maybe that will be the one you can find too.

Here’s what the press release has to say about it:

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.

Let’s see if my optimism was warranted.

Alberta Premium Cask Strength Rye

Purchase Info: $71.99 for a 750 mL bottle at Total Wine, Eagan, MN

Price per Drink (50 mL): $4.80

Details: 66% ABV. Mash bill: 100% rye grain.

Nose: Cinnamon candies, mint, and sandalwood.

Mouth: Hot, as might be expected. Cinnamon candies arrive to the party first, followed by cedar and caramel.

Finish: Long and very warm. Lingering mint, cinnamon, and cedar.

Thoughts: I was right, I really like this one. If you have a thought that all Canadian whiskies are polite and delicately flavored, this will slap those thoughts right out of your head. This is hot and flavorful. I get tons of cinnamon red hot candies. It’s really tasty. I’m going to need to ration this one so it lasts me a while.

Did you enjoy this post? If so, maybe you’d like to buy me a cup of coffee in return. Go to ko-fi.com/bourbonguy to support. And thank you, BourbonGuy.com is solely supported via your generosity.

Of course, if you want to support BourbonGuy.com and get a little something back in return, you can always head over to BourbonGuyGifts.com and purchase some merch. I’ve made tasting journals, stickers, pins, and more.