Alberta is the land of oil and gas, right? And of cowboys and rodeos. And mountains and skiing. No surprises there. But here’s a surprise. It’s also the land of the world’s greatest  whisky.

Or so says Jim Murray, he of the Whisky Bible. And Jim must be taken seriously. To be included in the top list of the internationally renowned whisky critic and his prestigious bible is an honour whisky companies cherish. 

And this year Murray’s top choice, 2021 World Whisky of the Year, is Alberta Premium Cask Strength Rye.

But perhaps this isn’t quite as surprising as one might think. After all, The whisky is made with 100 per cent Alberta rye grain and water from the Rockies. There is no better rye grown anywhere and water from the Rockies … well, enough said. According to George Teichroeb, general manager of Alberta Distillers, the maker of the whisky, “Anybody in the whisky business knows that if you have a hundred percent rye grain whisky, it’s probably coming from Alberta.”

His company, operating out of Calgary, has been mentioned in Murray’s bible before when its Alberta Premium was named Canadian Whisky of the Year. Its winner this year won out over 1200 tasty competitors.

Slàinte Mhath!