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マスターおすすめのアイラを。ちょっとだけ感じる甘味がいい。 #ardbeganoa #islay #scotch #whisky
Golden Hour
Défi d’écriture 30 jours pour écrire, 22 août
Thème : whisky/le soleil me fuit
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Le soleil me fuit tandis que mon ombre s’étire, il coule à l’horizon et teinte le monde d’un or de whisky. Il devrait se passer quelque chose. La scène est trop belle pour qu’il ne se passe rien. Mais moi et mon ombre sommes seuls, et bientôt il sera couché.
Lâcheur.
Je n’ai pas besoin de lui, de toute façon. Je n’ai pas besoin d’une golden hour où le monde est nappé d’or et où des choses extraordinaires m’arriveraient. Pas du tout.
C’est juste que des fois… j’aimerai bien, vous comprenez ? J’aimerais bien vivre dans un film et que les moments comme ça soient impactants, forts, authentiques. Vivre des émotions à 100 à l’heure, vivre des euphories et des drames, vivre jusqu’à en crever, vivre enfin !
Au lieu de ça, le soleil achève sa fuite, et je rentre chez moi. Je vais retrouver ma télé, mon canapé, mes chats. Et du temps pour m’imaginer tout ce qui aurait dû m’arriver pendant cet instant parfait.
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Review #1: Alberta Premium
Alberta Distillers Limited (ADL) has garnered a reputation as the darling distillery of folks who enjoy rye, North and sometimes even South of the border. Indeed, ADL’s focus is on rye; it is a specialty of theirs. All rye, or as near to it as matters. A good deal of what they make ends up exported to the U.S., where it is treated to a relabelling and a fierce markup (looking at you Whistle Pig). But at home they have a reputation for making solid whisky, available at a respectable price in their Alberta Premium label.
As ever in Canadian whisky, we’re short on tangible details. The bottle itself offers no age statement, but their website claims this to be at least five years of age. (Take that with a grain of salt.) What is certain is this is one hundred per cent rye. ADL claims to use “one of three distillation processes” in the creation of their products. That’s ambiguous, but I’d guess one process uses a column still, distilling to a high proof base spirit; another would use a pot still to create a more flavourful spirit. It is traditional Canadian whisky-making practice for these whiskies – base and flavour – to then be blended in varying proportions. So, does this offering hold up to scrutiny? Let’s find out!
Alberta Premium Alberta Distillers Alberta Rye Age: NAS ABV: 40%
Price paid (MLCC): $25.75 Reviewed: 2023-02-02
Colour: Dark Yellow
Nose: Distinct grain-y, bread-y rye; orange zest follows. Then clove and buttered toast. Rich toffee. Slight floral note. Linger too long and a vodka-like note asserts itself.
Palate: Candied orange peel and baking spice; peppermint candy cane. Toffee and vanilla. Green apple skin.
Finish: Citrus peel, vanilla, and a hint of green apple. Vodka comes up fast.
Well, there’s certainly things to enjoy in this. But is it some exemplar of quality or of value? Hardly. It’s anemic, with a thin mouth feel. Particularly off-putting is the vodka-like note that arises on the nose, and on the finish. It shows this to be a young, rough whisky that is nevertheless muted where it counts: in the breadth and depth of flavour.
Score: 2 out of 5
Every few years I buy another bottle of this to give it a try, apparently forgetting just how poor a whisky it is. Hopefully now I’ll remember and not restock it. Up next is Alberta Premium Cask Strength.
Scoring Guide 1 out of 5: Terrible; no redeeming qualities, just say no. 2 out of 5: Poor; possesses qualities that detract, fodder for mixers. 3 out of 5: Mediocre; middle-of-the-road whisky, sippable but perhaps better in a cocktail. 4 out of 5: Good; a solid pour, enjoyable neat and outstanding in a cocktail. 5 out of 5: Superb; continues to surprise and delight, something to cherish.
Picture that I took of a vintage whiskey bottle and few blue bottles :)