J.P. Wiser's Triple Barrel Rye

Tasting Date: 03/29/2018 Nose: 13/20 Bright and sweet notes of caramel-covered apples. A hint of zesty, sweet, and juicy navel orange. The aroma is warm and sweet, yet piquant. Red currant and dried cranberry. Mild fennel seed. The nose suggests a bourbon. Initial Taste: 11/15 Bourbon notes on the first impression, but immediately followed by unmistakable rye spice. The rye spice lingers in the sinuses like horseradish. Caramel crème candies, similar to Cowtails. Quite mild initially, but every perceived element is pleasant. A very gentle rye! Body/Mouthfeel: 7/10 Medium-bodied. The alcohol doesn't thin out the texture on the palate. Exceptionally smooth and caramel-sweet with a sugary slickness, reminiscent of caramel creams. Taste: 11/15 While chewing, the initial notes persist: bourbon corn undertones, followed by some rye spice, settling into light caramel and sugary crème filling, with a gradual shift to the navel orange note detected in the nose. No prominent herbal, minty, or sharp spicy notes. Notably, a bready backbone is absent. Finish: 12/20 For a whiskey that presents so smoothly and delicately, the finish is quite persistent! The rye spices, bready and pungent with caraway, coriander, and star anise, create tingling sensations all over and continue to fill the nose. However, the palate is left rather dry, inviting another sip. No excessive astringency, no cloying sweetness, but not a great deal of complexity and a moderate alcohol burn. Value: 10/10 For $16, I purchased this... Absolutely worth it, and I may buy another bottle! Overall: 6/10 Decent on its own, but serious rye enthusiasts might find it lacking in depth or intensity. Every note is good, but there isn't much to explore. A pleasant drink, but somewhat uninspired. It's certainly enjoyable for sipping, but an excellent choice for mixing in any rye cocktail, especially those featuring strongly aromatic bitters. It would likely serve as an excellent introductory rye for those who enjoy very mellow bourbons and wish to explore some spice, particularly given the low cost of a bottle.

APPEARANCE: Amber-orange. VISCOSITY: Very viscous liquid clinging to the glass; slow, oily streaks appeared as it ran down. AROMA: Extremely subtle and understated; faint notes of caramel and acetone; barely perceptible at first, but after a few tastes, a rich caramel sweetness emerges. RATING 3/10 PALATE: Oily texture that coats the mouth; a sharp rye spice stings the tongue and throat; wonderfully sweet and creamy caramel; notes of pepper and cinnamon; hints of drying oak tannins; quite robust and full of character; a rich, mouth-filling creaminess. RATING 7/10 AFTERTASTE: Lingering finish; the spice remains on the tongue for an extended period, leaving a tingling sensation; sweet liquid caramel persists. RATING 7/10 SUMMARY: Initially quite underwhelming, with an aroma that suggests little will develop; however, the taste compensates with a burst of sweet spice in the mouth; the finish is long and spicy; this is a very pleasing rye – reserved initially, but rich and delightful after further exploration. WEIGHTED SCORE 5.8/10

Nose: Smells of rye bread, bubblegum and oak with a bittersweet edge, raspberry cream and marshmallow, chalky lime candy, aged dusty wood, mixed berries (cranberries, blueberries, blackberries), rose petals, rich caramel, some clove, a fresh garden green scent, a subtle espresso/fresh coffee bean aroma, an eau de cologne floral scent, creamy butter, fresh ripe green apples, a grape-like medicinal note, grape juice, maple, sweet tea, applewood, cinnamon and black pepper, ripe pears Palate: Tastes of nectarines, apples and raspberries, black pepper and cinnamon, honey, light toffee and rich caramel, oak spice, lemon peel, oak with a bittersweet edge, lemon pith, candied lemon, rye spice Finish: Tastes of rye bread, candied pear, old toffee and caramel, tannins from the barrel, lemon peel

As someone who prefers their whiskey neat, this is a below-average spirit. The initial aroma was surprising, very different from American rye. After a few months, it has changed significantly. It's quite sweet with a noticeable spicy mouthfeel. There's a prominent flavor I can't identify. I'm new to Canadian whiskey, so this might be typical, but it's not particularly enjoyable. For $18, I can't really find fault. One might even consider this a high-quality budget whiskey. Suitable as a background drink? However, I'll be mixing this with other spirits to achieve a better balance. It's too sweet on its own.

Rye, rye, rye, with hints of caramel, mint, eucalyptus, cooked fruit, and vanilla detected from the glass. Immediately, sweet simple syrup and a bitterness hit the tongue. As it opens up, notes of rye bread and spice, cinnamon and ginger, plus a touch of cloves emerge. The finish persists with sugar syrup, rye, dill, and mint.

I've repurchased this multiple times! For $16 and 90 proof, it tastes significantly more expensive. The aroma is rich with caramel, vanilla, and rye. The palate is quite enjoyable, featuring forward vanilla and rye notes, with a dark fruit taste (reminiscent of wine) in the finish. The most unexpected budget find I've encountered. A big fan!