Whisky Connosr
Menu
Buy Whisky Online

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

Show rating data charts

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.

Related Alberta Distillers reviews

Read more Alberta Distillers whisky reviews

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.

4 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.

4 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.

4 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.

4 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.

4 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.

4 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.

4 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.

4 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.

4 years ago 2Who liked this?