J.P. Wiser's Rye (DISCONTINUED)

Oh, the weather outside is frightful...so I guess I'm stuck inside with a few 50ml samples to try. First up: Canadian blend J.P. Wiser's Rye. It's your standard 80 proof and looks really clean in the Glencairn. I'm not sure what a full bottle costs, but I doubt it's really expensive. The nose consists of everything you expect from a blended, rye whiskey: oak, peppers and a hint of vanilla. No surprises here, except maybe that they are all a bit muted. On the tongue it's quite enjoyable, especially for a rye (not my favorite style of whiskey by a long shot). There's lots of vanilla and oak present, while the pepper and cinnamon notes take a back seat. The finish is quick and to the point. Smooth and creamy with no kick. Very seldom do I find myself enjoying rye (or Canadian) whiskies. It seems like I always end up recommending them as mixers and that's about it. This one actually stands up on its own when neat and I can really appreciate that. This might be my favorite Canadian whiskey to date. Cheers.

(3.20.15) Preface my review with the fact that I got this on sale, with rebate for a grand total of $4.25 for the bottle. I couldn't lose. For the price, this was a home run. Disregarding the price I am still fairly pleased with the value I got. I would even go so far as to tick off the Crown folks out there by saying I would take this over standard Crown most days of the week. I appreciate Paul's (reviewer) comment about not calling this a rye if blindfolded. I totally agree. This lacks the spice I expected and instead just reminds me of a rye influenced fresh bread. It is fairly sweet with a strong alcohol odor. [6.26.18] An update. Probably won't buy this again but it provided another nice evening with friends over ice. Sweet and fresh, light spice. I gave the last half of the bottle to a homeless man in Knoxville; at least he was honest and asked me for a drink instead of money "for food".

Appearance: This blended Canadian had a caramel syrup color with thick watery legs. Nose: The nose was inoffensive in every way. Notes like caramel apples, maple syrup, and vanilla greeted me first, followed by ground black pepper, green banana, and a faint hint of fresh carrots. Taste: The uncomplicated palate boasted a creamy mouthfeel, with notes of peppery spice, Irish cream coffee creamer, and vanilla. Finish: It had a shorter length sweet finish. Thoughts: This whisky was pretty alright. Nothing to write home about, but for an easy sipper while watching The Office after getting home from work, I didn’t mind it one bit. It’s definitely a sweet Canadian blend, but if you want a cheap easy drink, it’ll do. Thanks, J. P.! Cheers!

JP Wisers Rye, bottled in Canada, only sold in the US. recently formula/bottle has been changed and is called triple barrel rye. ABV: 40%. No age listed, minimum is 3 years. This variation is no longer made and this bottle is likely from 2014/2015. Aroma: not much, some fruitiness and vanilla/maple sweetness. Taste: light to medium sweetness, tart, grainy, mild oakiness/used barrel, and some spice. Some astringency at the end. Pretty smooth with some minor off notes, if I ever see the newer version of this I will give that a try. Cost: $15.00 for a 750 ml bottle that came with glasses (gift set). Grade: C

This review is actually of the Deluxe Blended Canadian. Nose of sweet almond cake and light floral notes. Taste is almond extract softened by confectioners sugar and maple syrup. Nothing complex or subtle here. Decent value.

First Rye. Actually drank it all and forgot to rate it. I wouldn't turn it away but it is not going to be my first choice after having tasted a few others.