Alberta Premium is a brand that doesn’t get a whole lot exposure outside of my home Province. It’s not that the brand is unknown, Jim Murray did name it the Best Whisky in Canada for about five years in a row in the mid to late 2000’s; but after that initial hype died down the brand has sort of settled back into the rear view of the consumer’s consciousness.
And that is a pity, as Alberta Premium was, for the longest stretch of time, one of (if not the only) 100% pure rye grain production whiskies in the entire world. The recent rediscovery and popularity of the rye grain is largely because of the Alberta Premium brand.
I think the reason why the brand gets so little love, is the terrible bottle (and label) which houses the whisky. The entire presentation screams bottom shelf and retro 70s.
Frankly, whenever I grab a bottle to pour for friends who have never tried the spirit, I am greeted with dismay as they believe I have chosen a sub par economy brand to share instead of some of my good stuff. My explanations of the quality within usually falls on deaf ears, and this reinforces the fact that if ever there was a spirit in need of an image change, it is Alberta Premium.
Despite all of this, I almost always have a bottle on hand. Although there are now quite a few other 100 % rye grain whiskies being sold right now. For myself this is the original, and because of its enormous versatility, it is my favourite 100 % rye whisky.
Here is a link to my review:
Review: Alberta Premium 100 % Rye Whisky
Chimo!
Note: We are just past half way through my list of favourites. Understand, these are ‘favourites’ which does not necessarily the ‘best’ Canadian Whiskies. Economy and versatility have played an enormous role in my choices this year. The wonderful cocktail I suggested at the conclusion of my review of Alberta Premium illustrates just how versatile this economy whisky is. And it has all that versatility without sacrificing flavour.
Forty Creek Double Barrel Reserve was launched in the fall of 2008. The whisky was a more premium version of the companies flagship Forty Creek Whisky except that for the Double Barrel Reserve one more step was taken in the maturation process with the final blend set down in first run bourbon barrels for a final period of aging. The release was very successful, and Forty Creek soon made this whisky part of their permanent family.
Hiram Walker Special Old is one of those whiskies which I have enjoyed for decades. The first time I purchased a bottle was when my family and I had just bought a small rustic cabin at Alberta Beach on Lac St. Anne. The place had no running water or indoor plumbing, just fours with on old cook stove in the kitchen, a fire pit in the back.
Earlier this year, I was hosting a bit of a house warming party as my family and I had finally completed our move to our new home. The move was precipitated by my son’s need for a more wheelchair accessible home and although we hated to leave the original home we built 20 years ago, we were glad to be in our new digs.
The Rum Howler Blog 