Reifel Rye

Nose: subtle, yet still assertive. Butterscotch, tobacco leaf, and wet stone. A slight pungency beneath. Becomes herbal with time; dill, and is that rosemary?

Taste: medium-bodied and smooth at first, before some spices and oak char kick in mid-palate.

Finish: all tannins and spice.

Balance: kind of a middle-of-the-road rye in terms of intensity. Bolder and more complex than standard Alberta Premium, but not as bracing as the cask strength version. Would make an interesting comparison against Lot No 40. While it didn't blow me away, it is nonetheless a solid addition to the high-rye lineup in Canada.