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J.P. Wiser's 35 Year Old

2018's Big Canadians - Part IV of VII

6 1192

@talexanderReview by @talexander

8th Jun 2019

1

J.P. Wiser's 35 Year Old
  • Nose
    24
  • Taste
    23
  • Finish
    22
  • Balance
    23
  • Overall
    92

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Distribution of ratings for this: brand user

Yes, I'm still trying to complete this series....I mean, it's only June 2019...

Not much to say about this one - it's 35 year old corn whisky bottled at 50%. Simple, right?

The colour is a medium-dark honey. On the nose it is big honeyed corn whisky, with marzipan, butterscotch, wood polish and a hint of nutmeg. With the vanilla we get creme caramel. Milk chocolate. Some cotton candy in the background. Orange pith. With water we get toasty oak and some wood smoke. Absolutely quintessential aged Canadian corn whisky.

On the palate some mint and fennel rests underneath the notes we've already established - butterscotch, vanilla, roasted corn on the cob and brown butter. Caramilk (but dialled down a few notches). Water turns that roasted corn into charred on the BBQ. Delicious and super easy-to-drink for 50% ABV.

The finish is oaky with cinnamon, clove, maple and dark honey. No surprises in this stellar hallmark of the Wiser's brand. How does it compare to last year's release? On the nose, 2017 seems to have richer oak but less honey. On the palate the 2017 is creamier than the 2018, more buttery but also slightly astringent (though that could have been from being in an open bottle for over a year). The 2017 has a spicier finish as well (overall, I think I prefer the 2017 release by a smidge). Now just for shits and giggles, let's compare to a newly opened bottle of 18 Year Old. The 18 is lovely, but with a much thinner mouthfeel; with the exception of that huge oak, all the other notes are dialled down significantly. These three Glencairns in front of me prove the class and beauty of the older Wiser's whiskies.

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11 comments

@Nozinan
Nozinan commented

Great review, not surprisingly.

Am I correct that this one has a little bit of rye added to the mix?

How does it taste with gi- oh, never mind...

5 years ago 2Who liked this?

@OdysseusUnbound
OdysseusUnbound commented

@Nozinan I can’t help but wonder if they’ve taken advantage of the 1/11th rule here...If they added less than 9.09% 2 year old Rye “spirit” to 35 year old corn whisky, could this whisky still carry a 35 year old age statement, since that would be the youngest whisky in the bottle? Either way, this is a terrific sipper, as @talexander aptly points out...

5 years ago 0

@Victor
Victor commented

@talexander, thanks for your review.

Haven't had the pleasure of the 2018 Wiser's 35 yo. The 2017 release was out of this world good.

5 years ago 1Who liked this?

@talexander
talexander commented

@Nozinan I don't know about the rye or not - @paddockjudge might know?

5 years ago 0

@cricklewood
cricklewood commented

@OdysseusUnbound if I remember correctly the rule states that any spirits added up to 9.09% must be aged a minimum of 2 years, this allows the blend to retain it's age statement, so the doc knows how to color within the lines. I would love it if the ratios were given on these bottles but I suspect the marketing department prefers not to, there's also a question of keeping the recipes guarded too I guess. I believe Livermore has already publicly stated that the 35 does contain a hint of rye.

5 years ago 1Who liked this?

@OdysseusUnbound
OdysseusUnbound commented

@cricklewood But I’m curious if it’s 35 year old rye whisky or 2 year old Rye “spirit”....

5 years ago 0

@OdysseusUnbound
OdysseusUnbound commented

At the end of the day, this is fantastic stuff. I’ve sampled it a few times, I have a sample or two at home as well as a full bottle of the 2018 release. My curiosity should not be mistaken for criticism. I simply like to nerd out on details, when they’re available.

5 years ago 0

@cricklewood
cricklewood commented

@OdysseusUnbound I think many of us are curious, it's definitely not 35yrs old but definitely older than 2. I think it's probably a 10-12 yr old rye i.e. Lot 40 but who knows really, there is a lot of experimental stuff in the Hiram Walker Lab that doesn't get press that could be used, early batches of Brasetto rye,Tequila barrel finished corn whisky and French oak finished lot 40 actually that last we will see shortly!

5 years ago 1Who liked this?

@OdysseusUnbound
OdysseusUnbound commented

@cricklewood I don’t think they could label it a 35 year old if it had 10 year old Rye in it. I could be mistaken but I believe the age statement must refer to the youngest whisky in the vatting, 9.09% rule or not. That’s why I was guessing it was a less than 3 year old Rye spirit. But maybe I’m wrong.

5 years ago 0

@Nozinan
Nozinan commented

@OdysseusUnbound i wonder if one of our Connosr agents who is “in” with the (other) doc could find out about the actual letter of the 1/11 law....

What do you think @paddockjudge - is there someone who might be able to weasel out that info? Someone who refuses to let me ask about e150a perhaps? innocent

5 years ago 1Who liked this?

@fiddich1980
fiddich1980 commented

@talexander Spot on review. I recently, opened a bottle and my first impression was no where near your notes. Now on second tasting, allowing a long rest in the glass it shines.

4 years ago 2Who liked this?