WRITTEN BY GERALD GLAVOTA
Beyond the number of letters in rye, the number 3 has always had unique significance. “The ancient Greek philosopher, Pythagoras, postulated that the meaning behind numbers was deeply significant. In their eyes, it was considered as the perfect number, the number of harmony, wisdom and understanding.” The number three biblically represents divine wholeness, completeness and perfection. After visiting Alberta Distillers Limited and learning about the history of the distillery, the process of making whisky, and exploring the surroundings I gained appreciation for its perfection.
Alberta Distillers Limited (ADL) has over 75 years of making rye whisky but it has been over the last decade, or so, that we’ve seen a rising appreciation of rye whisky by whisky drinkers and cocktail drinkers. The flavours, aromas, and the mouth feel are warming, tasty – it is also surprising to many that other whisk(e)y makers have had contracts to use ADLs rye
If we look at the basics, all you need to make whisky are three things: water, grain, and yeast. The success of making ADL’s rye, which is generally difficult, is attributed to George H. Reifel who is described as “The legendary master distiller who laid the foundations of Alberta Distillers over 75 years ago, and whose standards, commitment to the craft, belief in local ingredients, obsession with extraordinary flavour, and adventurous spirit still characterise ADL’s distilling culture today.” So the significance of 3 here is committement, belief and obsession lead to an adventurous spirit.
If we look at the basics, all you need to make whisky are three things: water, grain, and yeast. The success of making ADL’s rye, which is generally difficult, is attributed to George H. Reifel who is described as “The legendary master distiller who laid the foundations of Alberta Distillers over 75 years ago, and whose standards, commitment to the craft, belief in local ingredients, obsession with extraordinary flavour, and adventurous spirit still characterise ADL’s distilling culture today.” So the significance of 3 here is committement, belief and obsession lead to an adventurous spirit.
The main local ingredients include rye and glacial water. The rye is 100% Canadian Prairie rye grain. The glacial water is a unique distinction for all products produced at ADL. With the breathtaking mountain surroundings, it was amazing to visit the Three Sisters mountains (they are three sandstone peaks of differing sizes) from a helicopter. During the summer you don’t see many white caps but you see these feats of mother nature that stand tall and are also included on some ADL product labels. During the tour the river system and various glacial lakes radiated from above with their various hues of blue and green. It is amazing how all this filters down into the whisky.
WE TOURED THE DISTILLERY WITH GEORGE TEICHROEB, GENERAL MANAGER OF ALBERTA DISTILLERS. THERE ARE OVER 500,000 BARRELS OF WHISKY MATURING IN WAREHOUSES THAT ARE IN ONE OF TWO TYPES: RICKHOUSES AND PALLETIZED.
After the tour we tasted three of the rye whiskies made at the distillery. We first tasted the Alberta Premium (LCBO $29.75) which is the original 100% rye. On the nose you get banana, toffee and some spice; much the same on the taste. We were told as we progressed through the whiskies that we would get more vanilla and carmel due to the type of barrels used. Canadian Club 100% RYE (LCBO $31.95) The nose is a bit more balanced with sweeter vanilla, hints of caramel and some cinnamon; the taste is spicy, caramel and some oak and there’s what was described as clove, oak and vanilla.
Alberta Premium Cask Strength (LCBO $85.95) which is distilled in a pot still and aged in new oak barrels. The nose is sweeter, there is more vanilla and caramel; the taste was described as smooth with notes of caramel, vanilla and a hint of choclate balanced with the spiciness of rye. After visiting Alberta Distillers, all I can say is that it’s all about the Rye, Rye, Rye. Seriously, I don’t have the room to go into great detail but you can see how harmony, wisdom and understanding come together to make great products.