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Alberta Premium Cask Strength

Alberta Distillers is the oldest distillery in Western Canada, having produced alcohol for over 70 years. It is part of the Beam Suntory portfolio and is the source of rye whisky for a number of brands across the world, including WhistlePig. While the distillery does not produce a wide range of offerings under their own name, the ones they do have garnered a number of awards and mentions. A consistent entry in their lineup is the Alberta Premium Cask Strength. Released in yearly batches, it is bottled at slightly various proofages and is distilled from 100% Canadian prairie rye, something relatively unusual even in the rye whisky category, and aged for at least 5 years. A blend of pot still and column still distillation, it is aged in heavily charred (#4) first fill ex-bourbon barrels from the Jim Beam distillery, along with virgin oak barrels and second fill bourbon barrels.

By Adam | July 20, 2023 | Foreign | No Comments |

Jura distillery is a seeming cat of a distillery, founded in 1810 and possessed of nine lives, or at least a timeline of eight owners. The last major rebuild of the distillery was in 1963, from whence it has been producing a variety of single malts. The island of Jura is very difficult to reach, with the distillery being one of the few actual businesses on it (one road, one pub, one distillery). With approximately 200 Diurachs – the Gaelic name for the inhabitants – living on the island, most everyone there knows someone who works at Jura. In 2018, the complete core line of Jura was retired as the distillery decided to move in a new flavor direction. The Jura 10 is the cornerstone of that relaunch, aging in ex-bourbon barrels before being finished for an undisclosed time in ex-Oloroso sherry casks.

By Adam | May 20, 2023 | Island | 2 Comments |

Being a distillery with nearly 200 years of history does not guarantee success in the present day. Creativity can be almost as vital as what is in the bottle. In 2020, Glenmorangie began a limited series of no-age-statement releases beginning with A Tale of Cake. Each ‘tale’ has a creative story from Dr. Bill Lumsden, Director of Distilling for Glenmorangie and Ardbeg, and is meant to invoke a certain moment or feeling or place. These whiskies seem geared toward a different demographic than their core offerings, what with the emphasis on story and bright package design. The Glenmorangie A Tale of Winter is the second in the series and is meant to evoke the coziness of being inside somewhere on a cold winter day (or night). Though no age statement comes on the bottle, the scotch was 13 years old and finished in ex-Marsala wine casks for an undisclosed time.

By Adam | February 20, 2023 | Highland | No Comments |