I’d like to thank the folks at Beam Suntory and their PR firms for providing a review sample with no strings attached.
It is getting cold here in Minnesota. So cold that when I go for a walk, I’ve started wearing pants instead of shorts. I haven’t yet graduated to a coat, much to the chagrin of my many elderly neighbors who are already wearing gloves outside. To be honest, for as much as I really hate winter, I seem to have been born in the right place for it. It just takes me a while to actually get cold. For example, I seldom wear shoes, even outside, unless I’ll be out there for more than 20 minutes or so or the temperature is below zero Fahrenheit.
That has also gotten me comments from the neighbors as I go to get the mail.
In the spirit of cold weather, I thought it would be fun to take a look at a sample that has recently landed on my desk from Canada. At least originally. For the second year running, BeamSuntory has released a limited edition bottling of Alberta Premium Cask Strength Rye Whiskey. From the press release:
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."
I really liked last year’s release. And I was lucky enough to find a bottle recently on a trip to rural Wisconsin. But, since it was late last month that I found it, I had no idea if I had picked up the 2020 or 2021 release. So I reached out to the PR folks to see if there were any visual differences between the two releases. I like to know what release of a limited edition I’m buying and I thought you might as well. Here is what I found out:
The label of the two releases is the same with two minor design differences. 2020 had three standing barrels as a design element and 2021 has a single barrel on its side in the same location. And the typeface has changed from a sans-serif to a serifed font. Otherwise, they look the same.
The ABV range of the 2020 release was 63.9% ABV to 66% ABV and the ABV range of the 2021 release is wider at 63% ABV to 67% ABV.
That last one didn’t really help me as the ABV on the bottle I picked up was 66%, which was within both sets of ranges. In either case, I was able to determine by the design elements that I had, indeed, picked up a 2020 release. So now I will be on the lookout for 2021.
Alberta Premium Cask Strength Rye 2021
Purchase Info: This sample was provided by the producer for review purposes. The suggested retail price is $74.99 for a 750 mL bottle.
Price per Drink (50 mL): $5.00
Details: 63.7% ABV
Nose: Notes of cinnamon red hots candies, cedar, and black tea.
Month: Follows the nose with spicy cinnamon candies, cedar, mint, and black tea.
Finish: Long and warm with notes of floral mint and cinnamon candies.
Thoughts: This is good. I like it. I don't like it quite as much as I liked the 2020 release, though the differences are minor enough that I wouldn’t notice if I didn’t try them side by side. 2021 is a touch spicier and really focuses on the spicy cinnamon notes. 2020 had a bit more depth and complexity to it. Makes me happy that I found a bottle of 2020 in Northern Wisconsin last month, but also makes me want to grab a 2021 as well.
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