Excessive-rye whisky is get pleasure from ing a revival in Canada, led by releases from Lot No. 40, Canadian Membership, Crown Royal, and Alberta Distillers Excessive-rye whisky is having fun with a revival in Canada, led by releases from Lot No. 40, Canadian Membership, Crown Royal, and Alberta Distillers Restricted, in addition to craft distillers. Many of those strong whiskies at the moment are findin shelf house in U.S. retail outlets. After all, a few of this good things has been crossing the border for years, even when its Canadian provenance isn’t all the time so evident.
For those who’ve loved Masterson’s, Lock Inventory & Barrel, or WhistlePig, you then’re possible a fan of Al berta Distillers Restricted. That’s as a result of till just lately, ADL, because it’s identified, has centered most of its enterprise on distilling and ma turing rye for different labels. These days it has turned to creating its personal manufacturers, though unbeknownst to many, ADL’s Alberta Premium has lengthy been the world’s best-selling all-rye whisky.
Canadians have all the time nicknamed their whisky “rye,” no matter its mashbill, however most Canadian distilleries produce some excessive or very high-rye whisky. Crown Royal’s foray into high-rye started in 2015 with a single-barrel providing referred to as Hand Chosen Barrel. Made with a conventional mashbill of about 65% corn, 32% rye and three% barley malt, and distilled in a modified Coffey nonetheless, every barrel finds its personal place on a taste scale from bourbonesque to hard-core rye. That growth was shortly eclipsed by a flurr of consideration round its new Northern Harvest rye that very same 12 months. However essentially the most thrilling Crown Royal so far got here simply earlier than Christ mas 2022: Crown Royal 29 12 months outdated Additional Uncommon is made out of Crown Royal’s signature mash of 95% rye, with simply sufficient barley malt added to transform the rye starches into fermentable sugars.
On the Hiram Walker Distillery in Stroll erville, Ontario, Lot No. 40 Darkish Oak is the newest and most strong in what has grow to be a collection of expressions. Just like the core Lot No. 40, Darkish Oak is made out of 100% rye, pot dis tilled, and aged in new American oak barrels with a No.-2 char stage, however Darkish Oak additionally undergoes a ending interval. Grasp blender Don Livermore determined to offer Lot No. 40’s already hearty flavors a second exercise in No.-4 char new oak barrels. After the whisky was matured in No.-2 charred oak, which he believes favors sweeter extracts, he trans ferred it to the extra closely charred barrels. The primary run of Darkish Oak was completed for 11 months. “We’re planning subsequent bottlings which can be even longer,” says Livermore.
“The best way we distill Lot No. 40 in a column then a pot nonetheless concentrates the spicy rye notes,” Livermore provides. “We additionally elevated the power to 96 proof for the Darkish Oak line. At increased strengths, wooden and grain charac teristics dominate.” The result’s a large whisky that balances the spiciness of rye with the sweetness of the No.-2 charred oak.
As for ADL, it was based by the Reifels, one in every of Canada’s biggest distilling households and the undisputed leaders of west coast Prohibition bootlegging (see sidebar). In the present day the distillery is reviving that legacy in its first new rye in many years, Reifel rye, a full-fla vored sipping whisky. Progress was delayed by COVID-19, nevertheless it lastly rolled out throughout Canada in 2022. ADL consulted with George C. Reifel, a fourth-generation member of the distillery’s founding household for this launch. Timing for a U.S. launch remains to be pending.
There’s a lot extra occurring in Canadi an rye whisky, however for now the massive distillers have the lead. Come again in a number of years, when Sons of Vancouver, Stillhead, Odd Society, Final Straw, and a raft of different craft whiskies come of age. For Canadian whisky, many candy, spicy days lie forward.
Alberta Distillers and the Reifel Household
The story of Alberta Distillers started in 1888, when German-Alsatian immigrant Heinrich Reifel arrived in British Columbia and started constructing his now largely forgotten brewing and distilling empire. When assist for Prohibition in British Columbia gained steam throughout World Warfare I, Reifel and two of his sons set off for Japan to assist set up the Anglo-Japanese Brewing Firm. The fermenting methods they discovered there would later are available in very useful in making rye.
Prohibition in British Columbia lasted from 1917 to 1921, so the Reifels headed house to Vancouver and obtained again to brewing in 1921. Seeing alternative in spirits due to American Prohibition, the household recommissioned the shut tered British Columbia distillery in Vancouver. For the subsequent decade, they reigned because the prime whisky provider to America’s western Rum Row—Pacifi ports of supply from Puget Sound to Baja California. Having made their fortune, they offered their distilling and brewing pursuits after U.S. Repeal in 1933.
In 1946, an investor group from Alberta approached the Reifel household, requesting assist to determine a brand new distillery. A 3rd-generation member of the family, George H Reifel, agreed to construct and handle the place, which might be referred to as Alberta Distillers Restricted. Native farmers grew largely rye, so ADL opted to concentrate on rye whisky.
CANADIAN RYES TO TRY
Alberta Premium, 40%, $27
Created in 1958, this 100% rye whisky is distilled in each steady and pot stills and matures in a mixture of new oak, bourbon, and Canadian whisky barrels. It’s candy, spicy, and fragrant, with scorching peppers, gentle floral tones, and woody traces resulting in a brief crisp end. Good stuf for Highballs and sessioning.
Alberta Premium Cask Power, 63.5%, $84
All pot distilled and matured completely in new oak. Bottled straight from the barrel at pure cask power. Sweetness and oak meld with hints of vanilla, pears, rye spices, and scorching pepper. Sip and savor its gradual fade into darkish fruit.
Canadian Membership 100% Rye, 40%, $21
This creamy all-rye mix of pot and column distilled whiskies, most matured in new oak, balances spicy rye with toasted grain, light oak, hints of cloves, and the model’s signature darkish fruit.
Crown Royal 29 12 months outdated Additional Uncommon, 46%, $400
The primary in Crown Royal’s U.S.-exclusive annual Royal Sequence was distilled in batches utilizing a minimal of 95% rye mashed with barley malt and matured for 29 years or longer earlier than mixing. Darkish fruit, peaches, and spices reveal tannins with out bitterness, then fade to applesauce. (6,000 bottles)
Lot No. 40 Darkish Oak, 48%, $63
It’s Lot No. 40’s weightlifting massive brother. All pot-distilled rye aged in new No.-2 char oak and completed in new No.-4 char options aromatic vanilla, apple juice, and spiced balsamic marinade on hefty caramels, oak resins, and glowing rye spices. An extended fade via peppermint, cloves, and wooden char to complete.
Reifel Rye, 42%, $TBA
A high-rye (over 90%) mix to salute Alberta Distillers founder George H. Reifel. Solely pot distilled and matured in bourbon barrels and new charred oak. Candy, floral, and fruity, with creamy butterscotch, natural tones, and tingling scorching spices. Finishes heat with refreshing oak tannins.
