Tasted #239: J.P. Wiser's Triple Barrel

We've covered many Scottish, Japanese, Irish and American bourbon whiskies on this blog, though we've yet to cover many Canadian whiskies. Having only tasted (and enjoyed) the Canadian Club 12 year old a few months ago at the Whisky Rumble, I was curious when I heard that another Canadian whisky; J.P. Wiser's, was entering the local Australian market for the first time. J.P. Wiser's; Canada's oldest continuously produced Canadian whisky will join Pernod Ricard's ever expanding portfolio here in Australia - the move appearing to signal the increasing focus for Canadian distilleries on the local market and abroad, riding the global wave of whisky appreciation.

I was sent a sample of J.P. Wiser's Triple Barrel from CavCon for tasting - a blended rye whisky matured between five and eight years in three different barrels and vatted together. The Triple Barrel uses virgin American oak barrels, ex-Bourbon barrels and also ex-Canadian whisky barrels. 

JP Wiser's Triple Barrel (40% ABV, NAS, Ontario, Canada, $40AUD)
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J.P. Wiser's Triple Barrel packed beautiful characters on the nose though the palate was slightly disappointing as it was almost too gentle, too refined and light on characters, perhaps a characteristic of its triple barrel maturation approach. The Triple Barrel though make a good mixer given the inherent 'rye' spices that you get on the palate and finish.

Colour: Chinese tea

Nose: Layers of buttery scones, toasted fruit bread, toffee apple, floral. The nose is great.

Palate: Soft, almost too gentle, very light macadamia notes and some light (rye) peppery spices. There are also vanilla, caramel and peppermint notes. The notes on the palate did not line up with the notes I got on the nose, the characters I picked up on the nose were certainly more exciting than what I tasted on the palate.

Finish: The finish is short to medium with lingering dried (rye) spices.

Rating (on my very non-scientific scale): 87/100.

In addition to the Triple Barrel, J.P. Wiser's is also releasing the award winning 18 year old into the local Australian market. All the Wiser's are now available Australia wide.

Cheers,
Hendy.