Vanilla custard | Green apple | Mint | Honey | Light spice | Straightforward

Hearty nut | Rye grain | Maple | Rye spice | Excellent mouthfeel

Candied apple | Leather | Mild oak | Nut | Slightly dry | Light ethanol | Warming spice aftertaste

At first sip there wasn’t much that impressed me right out of the gate. The nose is pleasant and efficient, the palate is a nut and spice forward affair, and the finish is a bit flat. Tasting through it with more of a keen eye (or tongue), parts of the whiskey start to reveal their virtues. The nose is straightforward, yet the vanilla custard against the spice is compelling. The palate is spearheaded by its maple and nut notes that work well in tandem, and are capped off with a silky mouthfeel. Finally, while the finish is uneventful, it's more than serviceable, offering a candied apple note against its warming spice. The mileage you get out of this 130.2 proof batch of Alberta Premium Cask Strength Rye seems to change on a sip by sip basis. At times it's quite enjoyable, others merely serviceable, yet it never ventures close to completely wowing you either. For its price, it offers just enough to warrant a look.