So what AREN'T you drinking now?

@OdysseusUnbound about a year or two back, I heard solid talks of the release of a 15 yr old ADL rye and excitedly told @paddockjudge, who laughed and said he'd believe it when the bottle actually appears on shelves.

They've been teasing the release of a line extension for ages. They better not cock this up.

@cricklewood I’d really love to see an ADL rye at a higher Proof. The bottom-shelf Alberta Premium, bottled at 40% abv is actually a very decent neat sipper. A 15 year old, bottled at say, 52-55% abv would be amazing. But I’m not holding my breath.

@OdysseusUnbound Well, if they give us this at half the cost, then I am in.

whiskeyenthusiasts.com/whiskey/…

@OdysseusUnbound the retro bottled AP rye is a surprising little sipper.

I suspect it's steady sales is the reason why Suntory is going the route of if it's not broke don't fix it.

@OdysseusUnbound oh there is high proof ADL Rye (distillate). It's called WhistlePig Boss Hog, and it costs $ 250 to $ 600 per bottle, depending on the release.

What you want is something with Alberta in the name, or at least labeled as obviously from Alberta. .

@OdysseusUnbound, Alberta Premium is by NO MEANS a bottom-shelf sipper. That is akin to claiming lesser batches of Ardbeg Uigeadail as bottom-shelf sippers. Not all batches are created equal. The late David Pickerel, a whiskey industry legend, claimed the best rye in the world to be sitting in warehouses at Alberta Distillers Limited of Calgary, AB. A bad glass of Alberta Premium is still a good whisky. Perhaps you mean budget-minded? lol

@OdysseusUnbound, thanks for the heads-up, it's encouraging to know Alberta Distillers Ltd. plans to release something special. Dark Horse was one of their specials. They've been promising for years. I hope they come through this time! Freddie may have created some in-house competition, or perhaps embarrassed them.

@OdysseusUnbound, here are my two favourite "bottom-shelf Alberta Premium, bottled at 40% abv" along with a few of their country cousins.

I'm wondering, does bottom-shelf refer to price or quality...or actual positioning on the shelf?

@paddockjudge I have sent about 20 emails to Suntory over the years, begging for an aged, higher proof AP. I even stated to them that they were now years behind Corby and should fight back with their aging barrels of AP. I am sure they deleted the emails within seconds anyway. If they release a double digit aged high proof AP, I will be buying it by the case.

What this country needs is an all out Rye war between distilleries to put out the best cask strength Rye.

@paddockjudge , historically, "bottom shelf" literally meant located on the bottom shelf, the shelf hardest to see and requiring bending over to access. The lowest price products of least profit margin to the merchant were logically placed there so that the higher profit margin products could easily be seen and accessed. The lower price did also correlate to lower expectations for quality and desirability. This is still the way things are around here, for sure. We still have products on the bourbon bottom shelf sold below $ 10 per 750 ml, and almost all on that shelf would be below $ 20.

@Victor, I know that you know. I spent the first 35 years of my life in retail and know all too well about bottom shelf vs top shelf. Some people just won't stoop to that level.

Definitely not drinking now, after smoking a turkey (in parts plus extra white) and making many jars of horseradish.

About to seal the collection until sundown April 27.

Wishing everyone a happy holiday weekend, whatever you are ( or are not) celebrating!

@Nozinan WARNING: Smoking can kill you.

@paddockjudge “Bottom shelf” refers strictly to pricing. There are quite a few “bottom shelf’ers” that have impressed me, I’m Canadian as well as scotch, Irish, etc.... I’ve considered getting some Alberta Springs 10 Year, but it’s only available as a forty-pounder near me, not as a twenty-sixer. I’d like to sample it before I take the plunge.

@OdysseusUnbound, one of these days we'll sip a few bottom shelfers together.

The 750 ml Alberta Springs 10 YO was discontinued by the LCBO a few years back. It is rumored to be NOT 100% Rye. I recall the 25 YO version. I haven't seen one in a long while...emptied a few when they were available. You can't go wrong with a forty-pounder, it makes excellent cocktails, $40.

@OdysseusUnbound, My absolute favourite bottom shelfer is ............

@paddockjudge I’d love to try some of that....

Whisky. I visited 2 KGBOs in Ottawa. The only small bottles I could find were Glenlivet Founder’s reserve and JD number 7. Both 200 cc. No way I was going to buy those. I would never have finished them.

I poured a few sample bottles but those are for a mini summit later this week...

Looking at my previous post here. Ruled out buying a JD#7 mini, eh? Funny how times change.

Today I'm on call. I had NO CALL scheduled for June (don't worry, I make up for it in July), but then someone asked if I would take her 12h day today. Sure, I can still have a dram after. Then another guy realized he was on call tonight and he as a neurosurgery clinic out of town and can't get back in time. Given that he has helped the rest of us more than I can even count, I jumped at the opportunity to help him out. So nothing for me tonight either.

But if I were drinking alcohol I would be celebrating the first Canadian Basketball team to be one win away from clinching an NBA title.

And to properly celebrate that, I would have had to use the appropriate National spirit....Bourbon (because all the players are American). I would probably choose Old Grandad Bottled in Bond because it is bottled at 50%, I'm 50, and compared to the players I might as well be a grand-dad.

Raptors win the first NBA title by a team based outside the US (though the commissioner said, for some reason, that the first NBA game ever was played in Canada... I thought we just invented the game)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

But it's 0030 and I have to be up at 6.

But if I WERE celebrating with a dram.... it would definitely be something Canadian. Possible Lot 40 CS, or, if this is the beginning of a dynasty.... Wiser's Legacy!

The beginning of a Dynasty absolutely calls for Legacy.

@Nozinan Legacy was absolutely the right call, since we want the Raptors and Wiser's to BRING IT BACK !!!!

. . . anything from my Glencairn that I just broke whilst cleaning it! The annoying thing was I'd actually finished cleaning it and was rushing to get on with making tea for the little one when I caught it on the hob. Feels like I've lost a good friend. Trumpets please . . .

@RianC A moment of silence for he was a good lad

@cricklewood - Your prayers are graciously received. Still not to worry, I shall have to Christen a new foundling . . .

The King is dead, long live the King!

Lots of reasons not to drink today. It's 11 am. I'm on meds for a sore back. Oh yeah, I'm also on call.

But I wanted to send out my thoughts and wishes to @paddockjudge and his family, who have suffered the loss of a loved one, and in the past we have raised a special dram in their honour. If I could, my friend, I would do it now. I would choose Wiser's Legacy, as the most appropriately named Canadian whisky I own.

Found an almost empty bottle of Taos Lighting 5Y Rye. It had a good 4 ounces left. Great Rye, felt good to clear out an old bottle. Oxidized a little but not in a bad way.

@Benancio, Ben, you've made my day! Welcome back!

@Victor, Peg n I spent 3 days in Taos last week, we stayed at the La Fonda in the plaza. Had a great time, Shopping, golfing and drinking well. Must be the reason I pulled out the Taos Lighting Rye, even though it’s made by MPG in Indiana. We hope you and @paddockjudge are doing well.

I’m drinking a discontinued bottle of Espolon Reposada Tequila. I bought a case, 5 yeas ago, when they changed distilleries, my liquor guy let them go really cheap. Not too bad, pretty ok stuff!

When fall gets here I’ll pull out the scotch and Paddock’s Canadian.

Cheers Benancio

@Benancio excellent to hear. I don't think that you have seen the last of me. My love to Peg.