Maker: Wiser’s/Corby, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Pernod-Ricard)
Distillery: Hiram Walker, Windsor, Ontario, Canada.
Style: Canadian blend
Age: 23 y/o
ABV: 64.3%
Michigan state minimum: $90
Appearance: Medium copper.
Nose: Christmas spices, caramel, leather.
Palate: Very full bodied. Sweet custard and caramel, then burn. More spice comes out with water. Chinese five spice, brown sugar.
Finish: Horehound cough drops, eucalyptus.
Parting words: This is a brand new offering from Wiser’s in the US. I’m very glad this and the 35 year old Wiser’s are now available in Michigan, since the Canadian border is more or less closed to booze shoppers like myself.
I’m even gladder that these offerings are at a high ABV. It makes the premium price more palatable, and helps overcome the dull palate and finish that plagues many Canadian Whiskeys, at least the ones that make it to the states.
Bourbon may be overblown and Scotch prices tariffed out of control, but we are living in the golden age of Wiser’s. I can’t think of very many better ways to ring in a new year than with an elegant, perfectly balanced, and relatively affordable aged Canadian whisky like this. Wiser’s 23 is highly recommended.
Sipology 