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Canada · Alberta

Alberta Distillers Limited

Alberta Distillers builds its rye identity from resilient prairie grain, glacial water and an unusual ability to process 100% unmalted rye through its own enzyme system.

Region
Alberta
Country
Canada
Location
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Status
ACTIVE

House character

What makes the spirit taste as it does

Alberta Distillers builds its rye identity from resilient prairie grain, glacial water and an unusual ability to process 100% unmalted rye through its own enzyme system. Combining high-efficiency continuous distillation with pot/batch distillation lets the distillery create both lighter base whisky and more characterful rye components. New oak, ex-bourbon and reused barrels then give the blender a broad maturation palette while retaining the grain's characteristic spice, fruit and sweetness.

Cask 23 on this distillery

Why we pour it

Alberta Distillers is one of the great engines of Canadian rye whisky and an important provenance point for mature sourced rye found in international brands. Its technical speciality is 100% unmalted prairie rye, handled with proprietary enzymes and distilled through both continuous and pot-based systems rather than a single still regime. That combination helps explain why mature Alberta rye can carry intense spice and grain character while still providing the polished texture needed for long ageing and secondary finishing.

Production

How it is made

Water

The distillery describes its water as pure, mineral-rich glacial water from the Rocky Mountains.

Malt

Its signature rye production uses 100% unmalted Canadian Prairie rye sourced from Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, together with a proprietary enzyme system developed for rye conversion.

Fermentation

Established specialist technical references describe approximately four-day fermentation following mash preparation, with around 20 washbacks and a proprietary yeast strain.

Stills & distillation

Alberta Distillers uses both continuous-column and batch/pot distillation. Specialist technical documentation describes a beer column feeding further continuous rectification as well as a kettle/pot-still route used for flavouring whisky and selected rye styles.

Maturation

Whisky is matured on site in new charred white oak, ex-bourbon and reused Canadian whisky barrels, with both rack and pallet warehouse systems.

At the bar

Cask 23 drams from this distillery

Open these in the Dram Explorer

WhistlePig Estate Oak Rye, Aged 15 Years

15 years · 46% ABV · Straight rye

WhistlePig Small Batch Rye, Aged 10 Years

10 years · 50% ABV · Straight rye