Red Letter is uncertain if it belongs with the traditional style (smooth, sweet, vanilla, butterscotch, gentle, maple) or the modern style (spicy like American rye, strong, grain-prominent) of Canadian whisky. It tries to bridge the gap, but the compromise leaves everyone dissatisfied, especially considering its over $100 cost. The aroma presents abundant cedar, cigar box, honeycomb, tart apple, and cooked fruit notes. There's a slight solvent scent alongside caramel, vanilla, mild wood smoke, citrus, and maple. The palate is rather delicate, featuring wood spice, cooked fruit, tart apple, vanilla, caramel, butterscotch, a hint of rye bread, pure wood notes, some citrus peel, and a subtle dill presence. The finish is zesty and woody. It's a perfectly acceptable whisky (and hats off for being, as far as I know, the sole Canadian whisky available that isn't chill-filtered). However, it's drastically overpriced. For half the cost, Wiser's Legacy offers a much better option within the same company's range.
J.P. Wiser's Red Letter Canadian Whisky (2015 Edition)
Whiskey Canadian Whisky Ontario No age statement 45% ABV
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About this bottle
The original Wiser’s Red Letter, created by J.P. Wiser in the late 1800s, was a special bottling for his guests. While the exact original recipe is unknown, Dr. Don Livermore has used his extensive knowledge of that historical period in Canadian whisky to recreate a version of Red Letter. The 2015 Edition features a double-distilled spirit aged in virgin oak, presented non-chill filtered and without caramel coloring. This bottling is not currently distributed in the U.S.
How it tastes
Measured across 14 flavor axes. Tap a note to find other bottles that lead with it.
Reviews
Showing the most detailed of 4 parsed reviews.
2013 Edition. The aroma reminds me of Granny's rum balls, Christmas cake, and the expected Wisers caramel. On the palate, more rum-soaked baking, and loads of thick, viscous caramel, very reminiscent of an older Wisers, some wood in the background, perhaps pine needles. The finish is longer than expected, and is very caramel and butterscotch dominant, but it does show some cinnamon and clove as well. This is a great bottle for winter. I miss some of these old Wisers releases.
This was actually the 2018 commemorative bottling. Brown sugar, raw oak, pepper. From the port, January 29, 2018.
Slightly more potent than the 2014 version. Add a little water.
Tastes like this
Closest flavor profiles across the whole catalog.
