J.P. Wiser's Legacy Canadian Whisky

Another pleasant surprise from Canada. I suppose I shouldn't be surprised when Canadian whiskey doesn't all resemble standard Crown Royal, but finding this level of flavor richness and character depth in more than one bottle makes me rethink my general indifference to the category. Be careful not to let this sit in the glass too long, or the aroma will fade quickly. However, right after pouring, it's filled with baking spices and sawdust, all harmoniously blended. No single element stands out, and nothing needs adjustment, but while it's not overly complex, it is appealing. The palate is warm and coats the mouth from start to finish. It has a rich sweetness reminiscent of fresh caramels, with just a touch of buttery oiliness, followed by a return of the baking spices. Mostly vanilla, nutmeg, and cinnamon, but a subtle hint of white pepper and ginger add a welcome touch of heat that keeps it interesting. As it heads towards the finish, that heat intensifies a bit too much, and the first hint of dryness attempts to overwhelm the wonderfully fresh apple pie flavor that inexplicably appears. The dryness subsides at the beginning of the finish, allowing notes of wood, leather, and tobacco to briefly emerge before returning and leaving you with a very pleasant maple/vanilla sensation. I don't think it deserves a 94, nor is it my top choice among rich Canadian blends, but it's a solid drink, especially considering its very reasonable price.

Alongside Lot 40, it represents the peak of contemporary (American rye-style) Canadian whiskies. Flavors include creamy, vibrant vanilla, butterscotch, caramel, genuine maple (not artificial syrup), substantial oak – both freshly cut and toasted, with a touch of cedar. Wood sap. Green apples, red apples, assertive rye, dry rye, rye bread, pickles, sourdough, clove, cinnamon.... A velvety mouthfeel complemented by pleasant rye spice, white pepper, granny smiths, fresh bread, and baking spices, with faint citrus. Oak is prominent in the finish. Legacy stands out in the Wiser's range, even not being the priciest regular release (in fact, it's not even the second most expensive regular release, and it surpasses both the 18 year and the Red Letter considerably). Distinctly Canadian, yet it demonstrates that the Canadian whisky industry can produce remarkable expressions while retaining its unique character. It is both delicate and light, yet complex: featuring balanced, pleasing oak-spice flavors, and just a hint of sweetness. Forget your Crown Royal Northern Harvest; this is consistently my Canadian whisky of the year.

This whiskey has a nose very similar to the 'Stock and Barrel Blue Blend'. That's not a good thing. Fortunately, 'Legacy' is drinkable and lacks the artificial flavor of S&B. Strong butterscotch and maple on the nose. What makes this decent is the palate and finish. The artificial smell is gone and it's not too bad. I wouldn't purchase this again. $49.95 at LCBO (luckily I got it on sale for $35). 84/100

Sweet and spicy. Well-balanced with notes of caramel, oak, floral, and rye spice. Exactly the same flavor profile as Gibson's Finest 12 Year but more robust all around. It can be a little spicy to drink neat, but it has excellent flavor. It’s no longer produced, so make sure to get a bottle while you still can. $50 in Ontario.

Nose: oak, grain, shoe polish, vanilla, definitely rye! Palate: light mouthfeel. Spicy, clove with just a trace of sweetness, herbal, almost like amaro. Gingerbread. Finish: medium length, clean. A very good example of traditional Canadian whisky made correctly. A good value and something Wiser's can rightly be proud of. 89/100.

A score of 94 is quite unbelievable, though this is still a decent whisky. The nose lacks depth, with rye and oak being the most prominent. The palate is somewhat syrupy, leading to a pleasant but short finish. Once again, it's good but rather uninspiring.