Alberta Premium Review

Alberta Premium is the Canadian rye that Canadians drink and almost nobody else has heard of, and it is made entirely from rye, which makes it a rarity in a country where “rye” is often just a nickname. This Alberta Premium review is about a 40% Calgary rye with a minimum age of five years, and the Caskable score is 70 out of 100. It is a perfectly respectable, straightforward whisky that suffers slightly from being a quiet one.

The internet’s attention has gone to its louder cask-strength sibling, so the standard bottle gets less written about it than it deserves. So this review leans on what is known about how the whisky is made and how it behaves, rather than a heap of quoted impressions.

What is Alberta Premium?

Alberta Premium is made by Alberta Distillers in Calgary, now owned by Beam Suntory. What sets it apart is the grain: it is a 100% Canadian prairie rye, with no corn or barley in the mash. That is highly unusual. Most Canadian whisky is built mostly from corn, with a small proportion of flavouring rye added later. Alberta Premium starts with rye and stays with rye. My rye whiskey guide explains how this compares with American rye.

The whisky is a blend of pot-still and column-still spirit, aged for a minimum of five years, and bottled at 40%. Check the label for the age statement, since the exact presentation has varied. The standard bottle and the cask-strength version taste so different that a blind taste test would hardly suggest the same distillery, which shows how much strength can change a whisky.

The Alberta setting matters too. The distillery uses water from the Rocky Mountains, and the prairie climate with its dry air and temperature swings is thought to affect maturation. It is a lot of romance for a £30 bottle, but it is part of what Alberta Premium is.

Alberta Premium tasting notes

Because 100% rye is the point, the flavour profile is built on rye spice: a clean, slightly dry, peppery character with hints of vanilla and caramel from the oak. The nose is light and spicy, with baking spices and a trace of dried fruit. It is gentle, though not shy.

The palate follows with soft rye spice, a little sweetness, and a faint herbal note. At 40% it is light-bodied, and the dilution takes away some of the intensity that the grain would give at a higher strength. It is smooth and easy, with a trace of pepper at the end.

The finish is short to medium and slightly dry. It is the kind of whisky that is pleasant to drink but gives you little to write about. I think that is why it gets overlooked. It is a quiet whisky from a quiet part of the market, and it is made by people who know exactly what they are doing. My score of 70 reflects its quality as a plain, honest rye, and the gap between it and the best bottles in the category.

How to drink Alberta Premium

Neat, with a splash of water, or over ice. At 40% it is easy to sip, and ice mellows the pepper. It is a good everyday whisky for people who like a dry, spicy edge without a heavy hand.

It is a first-class cocktail rye. A Manhattan made with Alberta Premium is smooth and well-balanced, and an Old Fashioned has a pleasant pepper. A Whiskey Sour is bright and crisp, and a Sazerac is perfectly respectable. A rye and ginger is the classic Canadian highball.

What to know before you buy Alberta Premium

There are several Alberta Premium bottlings, including the standard bottle, the Dark Horse, the 25 Year Old and the Cask Strength. The standard 40% bottle is the entry point. Its age statement has been shown as five years on some labels and as no statement on others, so check what is printed on yours.

It pairs well with smoked meats, strong cheeses and maple-glazed dishes. The dry spice cuts through rich food, which makes it a good all-purpose companion. It is also a good choice for a wintry hot drink, such as a Hot Toddy.

Is Alberta Premium worth the money?

At about £30 for 70 cl it is fair. Crown Royal Northern Harvest Rye costs about £35 and scores 74. Sazerac Rye costs about £38 and scores 75. Old Overholt costs about £32 and scores 65.

It beats Old Overholt by five points for £2 less, but it falls four to five points short of Crown Royal Northern Harvest Rye and Sazerac Rye. That makes it a decent but not outstanding buy. Check the retailer link before buying.

Alternatives to Alberta Premium

Here is where I would go from Alberta Premium, depending on whether you want more flavour, less money or a different style altogether.

Who should buy Alberta Premium?

Rye fans who want a clean, dry whisky, cocktail makers on a budget, and anyone curious about what a 100% rye Canadian whisky tastes like. If you want richness, look elsewhere.

Alberta Premium review verdict

A clean, dry, 100% rye Canadian whisky that is honest, plain and a little underpowered at 40%. Caskable score: 70 out of 100.