Review: J.P. Wiser’s Canadian Whisky 42 Years Old
Review: J.P. Wiser’s Canadian Whisky 42 Years Old
Nestled along the Detroit River in Windsor, Ontario, J.P. Wiser’s is no stranger to producing whisky with multi-decade age statements. Their newest stateside offering — the first of “The Decades Series” — comes with an eye-popping 42 year old age statement.
Distilled in 1982, this blended Canadian whisky was aged across a combination of Speyside single malt casks, Canadian oak barrels, and ex-bourbon barrels.
Let’s see how it tastes!
Moderately smoky at first, the early nose is a mashup between campfire embers, pencil shavings, and damp oak. Semi-savory notes lie a little further in, including applewood smoked bacon and pink & green peppercorns. Burnt almonds and walnuts develop even deeper in, along with scents of pine tar and hard apple cider. Vanilla custard and almond extract finally come forward after long minutes in the glass, a subtle but welcome pairing of sweetness compared to earlier aromas. It’s a bit smokier and certainly sharper than I had anticipated (but my interest was still piqued).
Compared to the nose, a first sip is markedly lighter and sweeter, the smoky elements falling to the background. In their place, we get honey-sweetened black and sun teas, saltwater taffy, and lightly salted meringue cookies. Light oak builds toward the midpalate, lending some heft to the whole experience. (We presumably want some signs of age on a 42-year-old sipping whisky.) Macadamia nut and vanilla extract round out the mid- and back palates. Overall, the flavors tell a fairly ordered narrative, though the mouthfeel is a shade thinner than I would have hoped, which likely throttles the impact of some notes.
The finish leans into baking spice, with a pop of finely grated nutmeg, along with baked green apples and caramel. It’s the fruitiest and most wood-forward part of the experience, leaving behind a noticeable hint of oak but stopping well short of becoming drying.
Ultimately, I enjoyed J.P. Wiser’s 42 Years Old, but I could see this being a polarizing pour. The largely smoky, savory nose tells a pretty different story than the palate and finish, which could be jolting for some drinkers. I wouldn’t fault anyone for deciding it’s too great a misalignment for their tastes. That said, patience is a virtue with many a very old whisky, and I’m glad I gave this one my time.
104 proof.
B+ / $350 / jpwisers.com
J.P. Wiser’s Canadian Whisky 42 Years Old
$350
