Redemption Rye Whiskey
$59.99
We're in a bit of a rye renaissance at the moment. It seems the whisky world has finally woken up and is rediscovering a classic style of whisky that has been kept away from the spotlight for a while. This big and spicy throwback from Redemption, however, hearkens back to an age when rye was king. We're not talking about the drink we Canadians like to call 'rye' (usually corn); we're talking right proper rye grain distillate. The mashbill on this weighty little number from Indiana's MGP distillery is 95% rye and 5% malted barley. You know what that means, right? Spice, spice, spice! And while it really does work well in high end cocktails, the sharp pristine grain here is best sipped neat from a good whisky glass.
46% abv
Producer Tasting Note
Beautiful flavored rye spice with light floral and citrus notes. Slight mint finish makes this great for sipping or mixing in a classic cocktail. (Think Manhattan, Old Fashioned, and Sazerac). True Rye flavor.
750 ml
Straight Edge Bourbon
$81.99
This Bourbon is a blend of 5,7 and 8 year old Bourbons from Kentucky and Tennessee. Produced from a mashbill of 70% corn and the balance a mix of rye and wheat. The Bourbon was finished in Napa Cabernet barrels before bottling at 42%. Only a little over 10,000 bottles were produced.
Evan's tasting note:
Nose: Vanilla and hibiscus, a combination of Juicy Fruit and Wrigley's Spearmint Gum. Also lime zest, cherries, cinnamon hearts, marmalade, toffee and candied bacon.
Palate: Lime Pith, marmalade again. Some acidity helps bring out light spice notes. Oranges and cloves, nutmeg and cinnamon, hints of balsamic vinegar without going too over the top.
Finish: Faint notes of dried fruits (apricots and dates) mingle with the wood spices nicely.
Comment: Fairly robust and complex for 42% ABV. Nice complexity. The wine cask finishing works well on this Bourbon.
Producer Tasting Note: "Aromatically intriguing with brown sugar, maple, caramelized oak, exotic spices, orange peel and campfire. The palate is velvety smooth, rich and packed with flavors of brown spice, honey and intense caramel. The complexity is apparent and the finish is persistent, long lasting and focused."
Jim Beam Bonded Bourbon
$37.99
This is a Bonded Bourbon from Jim Beam Distillery in Kentucky.
The term "Bonded" or "Bottled in Bond" means that this whiskey had to adhere to the following standards as originally written into law by the Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897:
- All whiskey in the bottle must be produced by one distillery and by one distiller over the course of one distillation season.
- The whiskey must be at least four years old.
- It must be bottled at at least 100 proof / 50% ABV
- The whiskey must be aged in bonded warehouses under United States federal supervision.
- The label on the bottle has to state which distillery it comes from and also where it was bottled.
Bulleit Bourbon 375ml
$25.99
375ml Bottle
According to company lore, the first batch of Bulleit was first made in the 1800s by Augustus Bulleit, but discontinued after his death. In 1987, the great-great-grandson of the original creator, Tom Bulleit created the first modern-day batch, which was introduced in 1999. In 1997 Bulleit was bought by Seagram, and is now distilled in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky. Following an acquisition of Seagram, the Bulleit brand is now owned by Diageo. This Kentucky Straight Bourbon has been matured at least 6 years, and is bottled at a strength of 45%. It is made from at least 30% rye grain, giving it a rich, deep flavour.
Wild Turkey Rare Breed 58.4%
$82.99
Wild Turkey actually has a pair of master distillers – the father/son duo of Jimmy and Eddie Russell.
This Wild Turkey offering has been around since 1991. Typically blended from casks aged from 6, 8, and 12 years old. Bottled at a Batch strength of 58.4% ABV.
Jack Daniel's Single Barrel Rye 47%
$64.99
Whoa! Old No. 7, this ain't. This Single Barrel Rye caused a bit of a buzz when it launched, being JD's first new mash recipe since 1866! With a mashbill consisting of 70% rye and less than 20% corn, expect this lil Tennessee treat to bring a big spicy complexity to what we normally think of when we hear the words Jack Daniels. This rye is a far cry from the hot bite of young corn-led whiskey we see usually see behind the iconic black and white label. And make no mistake...this is no shooting whiskey; instead, this is a rather spectacular example of well-crafted American whiskey with a dangerous degree of drinkability. Should suit both rye-hounds and bourbon-fiends.
Producer Tasting Note
"Complex flavors of ripe fruit mingle with light toasted oak notes to create a taste rich with spice and a pleasant lingering finish. This is a big, bold rye that does not overpower."
Four Roses 80 Proof
$41.99
Four Roses is finally back in Alberta - at least in its most basic form. This Kentucky Straight Bourbon utilizes all ten Bourbon recipes used at Four Roses Distillery from a combination of two different mash bills and five different yeast strains, it is bottled at 40% ABV.
This used be known as the Four Roses Yellow Label. The label is no longer yellow, and another recent change is the signature on the front. For years every bottle had legendary Master Distiller Jim Rutledge’s name on the front, but he left the distillery in 2015 and his protege Brent Elliott took over. Brent’s signature graces every bottle produced since then.
Wild Turkey Longbranch
$59.99
Longbranch is a Bourbon made by Wild Turkey Distillery of Lawrenceburg, Kentucky. It is aged for eight years in virgin oak barrels before being finished in barrels with extra charred White Oak staves and then Texas Mesquite staves added before being cut to 43% ABV and bottled.
Famed Oscar-winning actor and naked bongo drummer Matthew McConaughey joined the Wild Turkey brand as Creative director in 2016. In the two years since he has been the center of much of their advertising and commercials. In 2018 he left even more of a mark on the distillery and brand by getting his signature on a new bottle in the Wild Turkey line called Longbranch, which he had a hand in creating. McConaughey is the only person to have his signature on a Wild Turkey other than the father and son Master Distiller Duo of Jimmy and Eddie Russell.
Jim Beam Repeal Batch
$32.99
A throwback to an earlier style of American whiskey. Jim Beam Repeal Batch serves to (very belatedly) commemorate the end of American Prohibition. Ummmm...okay. Better late than never, I guess. And let's face it...who hasn't lost a bit of time after a few glasses of bourbon?
But all joking aside, this Kentucky Straight Bourbon was released on the 85th anniversary of what has become known as Repeal Day.
The strength of JB Repeal has been ratcheted up from the standard 40% to 43%, but that's not the real kicker here. What we love more than the higher abv is the fact that they've left this one a little more naked and natural. It has been barrier-filtered, but not chill-filtered. In short...all the thick, natural oils have been left in the bottle. That means a richer delivery of flavour and a longer finish. Just as would have been the case in the years following the repeal of one of America's dumbest laws ever to hit the books.
43% abv