Based on
4 categories
JP Wiser 18 Year
Company: Pernod Ricard
Distillery: Hiram Walker and Sons, Windsor, Canada
Mash Bill: Mostly corn.
Age: 18 years
Style: Blend
ABV: 40% (80 Proof)
Price: $60
Bottom Line: This is a fantastic whiskey! The blend, made from a very high percentage of corn (surprising for a Canadian whiskey), is sweet and subtle; there is nothing big or flashy about this whiskey. But the rich buttery palate is distinct and memorable. A worthy 18 year old , and great value for the money.
Background: Founded in 1857, JP wiser is among Canada’s oldest whiskey brands, and has been produced at Hiram Walker in Windsor since 1935. The adroit Dr. Don Livermore, a microbiologist by training with many years in the whiskey industry, serves as JP Wiser’s master distiller, a position he’s held since 2012.
Nose: A light nose with sweet corn, vanilla, and faint herbs. Based on how good the palate is, wished there was a stronger nose.
Palate: Creamy butter, corn bread, caramel, and vanilla, with some light oak. There is nothing big or in your face. The JP Wiser 18 year is unabashedly mellow and relaxed, and the wonderful complexity starts to reveal itself as you drink.
Finish: A smooth, delicate, warming, long finish; sweet butter is front and center, with vanilla and Carmel.
Conclusion: The JP Wiser 18 year starts slow and gradually opens up with creamy sweetness. Many bourbon and scotch stalwarts have an either ‘love it’ or ‘hate it’ relationship with Canadian whiskey. or have just never tried it. This is the whiskey for all three groups. The magic here is the buttery sweetness packed into a mellow, easy drink. It certainly has a lighter feel than many of your bourbons or scotches, consistent with Canadian blends, but it is not thin or frail by any stretch. While the 18 year is a bit unusual for a Canadian whiskey given its very high corn content, it truly shows the full potential of Canadian blends. Kudos to Dr. Livermore on a fine whiskey.
