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Wiser's 35 Years Old

Norther Border Collection Rare Releases IV of IV

4 894

@talexanderReview by @talexander

15th Mar 2018

1

Wiser's 35 Years Old
  • Nose
    23
  • Taste
    24
  • Finish
    23
  • Balance
    24
  • Overall
    94

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Distribution of ratings for this: brand user

Wiser's 35 Year Old is the oldest whisky they have ever bottled (and, I believe, at the highest proof at 50% ABV). It is 100% corn.

The colour is a medium caramel. Shy on the nose with soft vanilla, wood smoke, allspice and something akin to salted caramel (but much more subtle). Grassy. Not as oaky as you would expect, but the wood is definitely there. The fruity notes (dates, apples, papaya) are very gentle. Water brings out more wood smoke and a touch of honey. Quite lovely.

Warming on the palate with a perfect balance between oak, fruit and spice. Cayenne, cloves, mouth-pulling tannins and poached pears. Rich honey. Mildly citrusy. Caramel and vanilla stays in the background. A bit tight but beguiling in its softness; becomes rounder with a drop of water, which also brings out some orange pith.

The long finish features a lot of baking spices with that mouth-pulling oak and red apple skins. This is incredible stuff. The beauty of its softness and subtleties cannot be overstated. I'm going to do a side-by-side with the 18 Year Old (which is the closest in age to the 35 Year Old of any other Wiser's product) - it's also an extraordinary whisky, but with punchy rye spice and a bitterness that is not present in the elegant 35.

Both the Lot 40 12you CS and the Wiser's 35 are pretty much gone - thank goodness Corby's has a 2018 release of this collection coming out!

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8 comments

@paddockjudge
paddockjudge commented

Another great review @talexander! This is my favourite Canadian Blended Whisky. It could have easily been named Time is on My Side. After spending 35 years maturing in used cooperage along the shore of lake St. Clair, this double column distilled spirit has redefined Canadian Whisky. For those who ask the question, What is Canadian whisky?, this 35 YO masterpiece is the definitive answer. Don Livermore has left his mark on the whisky world with this iconic release.

...yes, I did listen to the Rolling Stones' 1964 version of Time is on My Side while sipping W35 from a Canadian Glencairn glass.

Thank you @Nozinan for rescuing one of these from the Big Smoke and allowing me to give it safe refuge up north.

6 years ago 2Who liked this?

@talexander
talexander commented

@paddockjudge But is it not 100% corn? As opposed to blended?

6 years ago 0

@talexander
talexander commented

@paddockjudge And myself, I would pair this with the Stones' Can You Hear Me Knocking, from Sticky Fingers. The guitar solo lends itself well to aged contemplation.

6 years ago 0

@paddockjudge
paddockjudge commented

@talexander, W35 is not 100% corn, there is actually some rye in the mix ...to the best of my knowledge, CC 40 YO is 100% corn. These two come from the same stills, same warehouses.

6 years ago 1Who liked this?

@talexander
talexander commented

@paddockjudge OK then Davin was wrong when he wrote about this in Whisky Advocate, which is where I got my info from.

6 years ago 0

@paddockjudge
paddockjudge commented

@talexander, bless Davin's soul. He is the protector of Canadian Whisky ... and perhaps this information in Whisky Advocate is not as thorough as it can sometimes be.

6 years ago 0

@casualtorture
casualtorture commented

@paddockjudge bless his soul? As we in the South say bless his heart? It's one of the most passive aggressive, condescending things you can tell someone around here. satisfied

6 years ago 1Who liked this?

@Robert99
Robert99 commented

@talexander The grassy note of the W35 was what makes it very interesting to me. I didn't buy W35 (or CC40) as I am not into corn whisky but W35 was more interesting for me than the CC40. Thanks to you, I was able to taste those and thanks to Cricklewood, I was able to get a bottle of Lot40 CS because, yes, I am into rye.

6 years ago 1Who liked this?