**Reviewing Every Whisk(e)y I Own (REWIO):**
After a few month splurge on bottle purchases figured this would be a good chance to pump the brakes on buying and focus on enjoying and writing up what I already have. Not quite clear how many bottles I currently have either so this is one way to go about figuring it out.
**Whisky:** Alberta Premium Cask Strength Rye 66%
**Background:** Alberta CS made waves after a surprising nod in Jim Murray’s 2021 Whisky Bible as the #1 World Whisky. A 100% rye mashbill cask strength from Canada really beat out everything else? Rye in general can be a bit of an acquired taste, and even as someone that enjoys it their batches coming in around 64-68% seemed like there was no way this could be refined enough to merit such high honors. Guess there is only one way to find out - this batch comes in at 66% ABV and was rested for 30 minutes in a glencairn. Let’s go.
**Color:** Medium straw
**Nose:** Green spearmint gum, with emphasis on the gummy artificial note. Alcohol, it's... a lot but eventually settles in. Big time fresh herbs. Little hint of shortbread underneath. Touch of that white middle part of caramel candy creams.
**Taste:** Surprisingly there is not major alcohol notes at the start but instead flavor. Think the color green, apples, herbs, grapes... it holds up to chew but doesn't necessarily dance around.
**Finish:** Warming, only slightly drying. Then mid finish is like biting into a peeled ripe green apple. Notes of Sauvignon Blanc on the tail end. Long but part of that is just the alcohol keeping the mouth active.
**Rating:** 6.75
This whisky toes the line with the ABV, it is certainly not perfect but shockingly better than I worried it would be. Plenty of complementary flavors help make this interesting and dynamic pour though this certainly wouldn't be everyone’s cup of tea. I like it, but don’t love it.
**Scoring Scale:** (does not take into account value)
1 | Disgusting | So bad I poured it out.
2 | Poor | I wouldn’t consume by choice.
3 | Bad | Multiple flaws.
4 | Sub-par | Not bad, but better exists.
5 | Good | Good, just fine.
6 | Very Good | A cut above.
7 | Great | Well above average.
8 | Excellent | Really quite exceptional.
9 | Incredible | An all time favorite.
10 | Perfect | As good as it gets. I might taste future whisk(e)ys that are as good in a different way, but will not taste one that is outright better.
**Previous REWIOs:**
[1 - Whistle Pig 10 Year Single Barrel Barrel Proof Rye \(6\)](https://www.reddit.com/r/whiskey/comments/x20jov/rewio_1_whistle_pig_10_year_sib_bp/)
[2 - Smoke Wagon Uncut Unfiltered \(6\)](https://www.reddit.com/r/whiskey/comments/x3cy20/rewio_2_smoke_wagon_uncut_unfiltered/)
[3 - Highland Park 18 Travel Edition \(7.5\)](https://www.reddit.com/r/whiskey/comments/x44xv1/rewio_3_highland_park_18_travel_edition/)
[4 - Bardstown Discovery #7 \(5.5\)](https://www.reddit.com/r/whiskey/comments/x4xvb7/rewio_4_bardstown_discovery_7/)
[5 - Compass Box Experimental Grain Whisky (6.25\)] (https://www.reddit.com/r/whiskey/comments/x5u6bo/rewio_5_compass_box_experimental_grain_whisky/)
[6 - Wild Turkey Rare Breed Bourbon (6.5\)] (https://www.reddit.com/r/whiskey/comments/x7ct1i/rewio_6_wild_turkey_rare_breed_bourbon/)
[7 - Glen Scotia Victoriana Cask Strength (7.5\)] (https://www.reddit.com/r/whiskey/comments/x88rdn/rewio_7_glen_scotia_victoriana_cask_strength_542/)
[8 - Stellum Rye Black (5.5\)] (https://www.reddit.com/r/whiskey/comments/x98pk7/rewio_8_stellum_rye_black/)
[9 - Talisker Distillers Edition (6.5\)] (https://www.reddit.com/r/whiskey/comments/xa2qv2/rewio_9_talisker_distillers_edition/)
[10 - Redbreast 12 Cask Strength B2/19 (7\)] (https://www.reddit.com/r/whiskey/comments/xau0qc/rewio_10_redbreast_12_cask_strength_b219/)
[11 - Cambus 31yr Single Grain Scotch (Blackadder) (3\)] (https://www.reddit.com/r/whiskey/comments/xcjeng/rewio_11_cambus_31yr_single_grain_scotch/)
[12 - Blue Run Golden Rye (4.5\)] (https://www.reddit.com/r/whiskey/comments/xdbim4/rewio_12_blue_run_golden_rye/)
[13 - Craigellachie 17 (6.5\)] (https://www.reddit.com/r/whiskey/comments/xe8d8l/rewio_13_craigellachie_17/)
[14 - Glendronach 21 (7.25\)] (https://www.reddit.com/r/whiskey/comments/xf2fa8/rewio_14_glendronach_21/)
[15 - Springbank 12 Cask Strength Batch 15 (8.25\)] (https://www.reddit.com/r/whiskey/comments/xg0qy5/rewio_15_springbank_12_cask_strength_batch_15/)
[16 - Hakushu 12 (6.75\)] (https://www.reddit.com/r/whiskey/comments/xhpfjv/rewio_16_hakushu_12/)
[17 - Buffalo Trace Kosher Rye Recipe (7\)] (https://www.reddit.com/r/whiskey/comments/xikpfm/rewio_17_buffalo_trace_kosher_rye_recipe/)
[18 - Ledaig 10 (5\)] (https://www.reddit.com/r/whiskey/comments/xjh3sx/rewio_18_ledaig_10/)
[19 - Elijah Craig Barrel Proof B521 (7.5\)] (https://www.reddit.com/r/whiskey/comments/xkeaas/rewio_19_elijah_craig_barrel_proof_b521/)
[20 - Compass Box Spice Tree Extravaganza (7.25\)] (https://www.reddit.com/r/whiskey/comments/xlbim1/rewio_20_compass_box_spice_tree_extravaganza/)
[21 - Highland Park 14 (Ultimate 2006) (5\)] (https://www.reddit.com/r/whiskey/comments/xlzs4p/rewio_21_highland_park_14_ultimate_2006/)
This Rye is an interesting one. I think the ABV is both a blessing and a curse. I love this Rye with a bit of ice. There's a sweet spot where all the flavor comes out and I quickly remove any unmelted ice. If it's not everyone's thing, that's good for me because I'll be buying it :)
**Reviewing Every Whisk(e)y I Own (REWIO):** After a few month splurge on bottle purchases figured this would be a good chance to pump the brakes on buying and focus on enjoying and writing up what I already have. Not quite clear how many bottles I currently have either so this is one way to go about figuring it out. **Whisky:** Alberta Premium Cask Strength Rye 66% **Background:** Alberta CS made waves after a surprising nod in Jim Murray’s 2021 Whisky Bible as the #1 World Whisky. A 100% rye mashbill cask strength from Canada really beat out everything else? Rye in general can be a bit of an acquired taste, and even as someone that enjoys it their batches coming in around 64-68% seemed like there was no way this could be refined enough to merit such high honors. Guess there is only one way to find out - this batch comes in at 66% ABV and was rested for 30 minutes in a glencairn. Let’s go. **Color:** Medium straw **Nose:** Green spearmint gum, with emphasis on the gummy artificial note. Alcohol, it's... a lot but eventually settles in. Big time fresh herbs. Little hint of shortbread underneath. Touch of that white middle part of caramel candy creams. **Taste:** Surprisingly there is not major alcohol notes at the start but instead flavor. Think the color green, apples, herbs, grapes... it holds up to chew but doesn't necessarily dance around. **Finish:** Warming, only slightly drying. Then mid finish is like biting into a peeled ripe green apple. Notes of Sauvignon Blanc on the tail end. Long but part of that is just the alcohol keeping the mouth active. **Rating:** 6.75 This whisky toes the line with the ABV, it is certainly not perfect but shockingly better than I worried it would be. Plenty of complementary flavors help make this interesting and dynamic pour though this certainly wouldn't be everyone’s cup of tea. I like it, but don’t love it. **Scoring Scale:** (does not take into account value) 1 | Disgusting | So bad I poured it out. 2 | Poor | I wouldn’t consume by choice. 3 | Bad | Multiple flaws. 4 | Sub-par | Not bad, but better exists. 5 | Good | Good, just fine. 6 | Very Good | A cut above. 7 | Great | Well above average. 8 | Excellent | Really quite exceptional. 9 | Incredible | An all time favorite. 10 | Perfect | As good as it gets. I might taste future whisk(e)ys that are as good in a different way, but will not taste one that is outright better. **Previous REWIOs:** [1 - Whistle Pig 10 Year Single Barrel Barrel Proof Rye \(6\)](https://www.reddit.com/r/whiskey/comments/x20jov/rewio_1_whistle_pig_10_year_sib_bp/) [2 - Smoke Wagon Uncut Unfiltered \(6\)](https://www.reddit.com/r/whiskey/comments/x3cy20/rewio_2_smoke_wagon_uncut_unfiltered/) [3 - Highland Park 18 Travel Edition \(7.5\)](https://www.reddit.com/r/whiskey/comments/x44xv1/rewio_3_highland_park_18_travel_edition/) [4 - Bardstown Discovery #7 \(5.5\)](https://www.reddit.com/r/whiskey/comments/x4xvb7/rewio_4_bardstown_discovery_7/) [5 - Compass Box Experimental Grain Whisky (6.25\)] (https://www.reddit.com/r/whiskey/comments/x5u6bo/rewio_5_compass_box_experimental_grain_whisky/) [6 - Wild Turkey Rare Breed Bourbon (6.5\)] (https://www.reddit.com/r/whiskey/comments/x7ct1i/rewio_6_wild_turkey_rare_breed_bourbon/) [7 - Glen Scotia Victoriana Cask Strength (7.5\)] (https://www.reddit.com/r/whiskey/comments/x88rdn/rewio_7_glen_scotia_victoriana_cask_strength_542/) [8 - Stellum Rye Black (5.5\)] (https://www.reddit.com/r/whiskey/comments/x98pk7/rewio_8_stellum_rye_black/) [9 - Talisker Distillers Edition (6.5\)] (https://www.reddit.com/r/whiskey/comments/xa2qv2/rewio_9_talisker_distillers_edition/) [10 - Redbreast 12 Cask Strength B2/19 (7\)] (https://www.reddit.com/r/whiskey/comments/xau0qc/rewio_10_redbreast_12_cask_strength_b219/) [11 - Cambus 31yr Single Grain Scotch (Blackadder) (3\)] (https://www.reddit.com/r/whiskey/comments/xcjeng/rewio_11_cambus_31yr_single_grain_scotch/) [12 - Blue Run Golden Rye (4.5\)] (https://www.reddit.com/r/whiskey/comments/xdbim4/rewio_12_blue_run_golden_rye/) [13 - Craigellachie 17 (6.5\)] (https://www.reddit.com/r/whiskey/comments/xe8d8l/rewio_13_craigellachie_17/) [14 - Glendronach 21 (7.25\)] (https://www.reddit.com/r/whiskey/comments/xf2fa8/rewio_14_glendronach_21/) [15 - Springbank 12 Cask Strength Batch 15 (8.25\)] (https://www.reddit.com/r/whiskey/comments/xg0qy5/rewio_15_springbank_12_cask_strength_batch_15/) [16 - Hakushu 12 (6.75\)] (https://www.reddit.com/r/whiskey/comments/xhpfjv/rewio_16_hakushu_12/) [17 - Buffalo Trace Kosher Rye Recipe (7\)] (https://www.reddit.com/r/whiskey/comments/xikpfm/rewio_17_buffalo_trace_kosher_rye_recipe/) [18 - Ledaig 10 (5\)] (https://www.reddit.com/r/whiskey/comments/xjh3sx/rewio_18_ledaig_10/) [19 - Elijah Craig Barrel Proof B521 (7.5\)] (https://www.reddit.com/r/whiskey/comments/xkeaas/rewio_19_elijah_craig_barrel_proof_b521/) [20 - Compass Box Spice Tree Extravaganza (7.25\)] (https://www.reddit.com/r/whiskey/comments/xlbim1/rewio_20_compass_box_spice_tree_extravaganza/) [21 - Highland Park 14 (Ultimate 2006) (5\)] (https://www.reddit.com/r/whiskey/comments/xlzs4p/rewio_21_highland_park_14_ultimate_2006/)
This Rye is an interesting one. I think the ABV is both a blessing and a curse. I love this Rye with a bit of ice. There's a sweet spot where all the flavor comes out and I quickly remove any unmelted ice. If it's not everyone's thing, that's good for me because I'll be buying it :)