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Alberta Distillers Alberta Premium 20 YO Rye

CHARming Influence

8 983

@paddockjudgeReview by @paddockjudge

31st May 2020

1

Alberta Distillers Alberta Premium 20 YO Rye
  • Nose
    23
  • Taste
    19
  • Finish
    21
  • Balance
    20
  • Overall
    83

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Distribution of ratings for this: brand user

This bottle has been open for six months and the fill is now below half.

I detect layers of spice (all-spice, cloves, Cinnamon, Ground black pepper and a subtle vegetal funkiness on the nose. Possibly a wet galvanized metal aroma. I’m digging the nose on this one.

The entry is silky and sweet, a hint of caramel, not thin, a faint reminder of TAB diet soda, rushing into some mid-palate heat with a tingle on the exit....popsicle sticks chase this one and linger in the finish... watch you don’t catch a sliver. The finish lasts for a few minutes.

AP 20 can be grouped with CC 100% Rye, Pendleton’s 20 YO Director’s Reserve, and Pendleton’s 12 YO, which is my favourite of the bunch, but not a favoured whisky in my books. I believe it is barrel char making all four of these uncharacteristically different from the highly regarded Ryes originating from Alberta Distillers Ltd., such as Masterson’s, WhistlePig, Lock Stock & Barrel, Hochstadter’s, Alberta Premium standard, AP 25 YO, and Alberta Premium Cask Strength. AP 30 is the fence sitter, so close to greatness, yet so far, but what a nose, even better than AP 25.

Alberta Distillers Ltd. makes excellent rye, there just isn’t enough of it in AP 20 YO.

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9 comments

@Nozinan
Nozinan commented

You tend to score Canadian whisky higher than I do.

I'm still holding onto my bottle, and waiting on a promised sample to try before opening.

While the descriptors of the nose are intriguing, I'm inclined to wait for the sample, as, I think, you have suggested to me in the past.

3 years ago 3Who liked this?

@paddockjudge
paddockjudge commented

@Nozinan, I recall saying something like that....and I suppose I should pour off a sample immediately.

3 years ago 0

@OdysseusUnbound
OdysseusUnbound commented

@Nozinan I’ve got a sample bottled and ready for you. If only this lockdown would end. It might be interesting to compare the sample from my bottle to a sample from someone else’s bottle.

3 years ago 1Who liked this?

@Nozinan
Nozinan commented

@paddockjudge You said I should wait until I taste it. You didn't promise me a sample. But @OdysseusUnbound is right. it would be interesting to compare 2 bottles.

3 years ago 2Who liked this?

A
Astroke commented

You are a tad more generous than I was. I scored this an 82 on Whiskybase. Not even sure I will hang on to the back up bottle when the LCBO returns to taking returns.

3 years ago 2Who liked this?

@OdysseusUnbound
OdysseusUnbound commented

@Astroke In my notes thus far, I have rated this about 70/100 points, but I chalk that up to how hard it is for me to get around the exhaust fume/wet metal aroma on the nose. It hangs around forever and I just can’t get around it. But that may be my particular genetics and not the whisky.

3 years ago 2Who liked this?

@BlueNote
BlueNote commented

@OdysseusUnbound @paddockjudge I see now where those "vintage" tumblers of yours came from. It's sounding like the best thing about AP 20 is the bottle. I did have a sample from @paddockjudge but I can't remember what our group thought of it. I don't think it was one of the more memorable samples.

3 years ago 2Who liked this?

@JasonHambrey
JasonHambrey commented

I was dissapointed with the release after the stunning 25 and 30 year old releases.

I'm always glad to see a @paddockjudge review. We don't get enough of them.

3 years ago 6Who liked this?

@paddockjudge
paddockjudge commented

@Astroke, In late 2019 I had requested a store transfer for 4 bottles of APCS. When the order arrived it was four bottles of AP 20 YO. I had provided the name and sku#, but the wrong merchandise was waiting for me upon arrival for pickup. I refused the order.

3 years ago 2Who liked this?

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