Hey folks for the next few weeks we’ll be doing a whole bunch of whiskies back to back. We’ll change up the type to make it interesting though. As for this we arrive at another Canadian Rye, this one of a more darker variety. I’m not sure if this was aged or caramel color added to achieve it’s dark color and name, but the process (and sherry) has taken it’s toll on the whiskey itself.
Not to spoil but this is not a whiskey I would go majorly out of my way for, unless of course there was a sale and I wanted a really interesting Whiskey and Coke because this delivers in that one aspect. At the end of the day though I feel like this could be so much better had a sherry cask never touched it.
What they Say: “Is a true expression of the skilled artisans who have been working and breathing rye for 60+ years. Distilled in a pot still and blended in small batches with high-rye bourbon and a touch of sherry to forge a rye with a unique dark color and uncommonly bold flavor.”
Taste: 4.0 –The initial brunt is a very powerful taste of – something. It’s kind of like caramel, kind of like coffee and/or toffee. I suppose it’s the sherry and rye comboing together. Overall though not a fan.
Aftertaste: 6.0 – The ending is a wave of complex flavors, but it’s the kind that make you go ‘oh’ instead of ‘ohhhh-yeah’
Burn/Smooth: 4.0 – So there’s a bit of burn, but it does go down smooth. However it does this be being kind of oily – which is not really great.
Aroma: 8.0 – It smells nice. It’s not too sweet or powerful in any direction. There’s a bit of complexity and layering to it, and above all it smells delicious.
Honesty: 7.0 – Listen, their bottling, labeling, and literature is bold, brash, and honest. Maybe they shouldn’t have been breathing rye for 60 years as it may have negatively affected their judgement. Make no mistake though – while I am not a personal fan – this is a good whiskey.
Mixability: 7.0
W/ Rocks: 6.0 – If anything that makes the whiskey bolder. It kills the oily-ness though which was a major complaint. Overall it is improved, but you better be looking for something to punch you in the chest.
Whiskey and Coke: 8.0 – It’s without a doubt the most distinctive whiskey and coke this site has ever had. I’m not sure if it’s something I would want everyday, or consider the pinnacle, but it’s unique and quite good. That alone is worth a lot of points.
Value: 6.0 – I got this slightly cheaper than average as a decanter filler – and I can say I satisfied with my purchase. While this is not my straight-drinkin whiskey – it’s a unique addition to the Buffalo Lounge – something that is always welcome.
Google Shop Average: $30
Website: http://www.albertarye.com/
Reviewer Scores:
BuffaloJern: 6.5
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Metric Score: 42/70 |+| Metric Average: 6.0 |+| Reviewer Average: 6.5
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Final Thoughts: Better mixed, but overall I still resent sherry casking. As for the dark rye nature of this I don’t think it really comes out aside from the color, and maybe a bit of caramel. It also has the misfortune of being just high enough on the price scale to make a man consider a short batch bourbon, or a handle of something cheap to mix.
