Review: J.P Wiser’s Apple Whisky   (82/100)
a review By Chip Dykstra (Aka Arctic Wolf)
Published on May 06, 2018

John Philip (J.P.) Wiser, purchased a distillery in Prescott Ontario in 1857, and began to produce Wiser’s Whisky.  In fact, it may have been J.P. Wiser who first used the term “Canadian Whiskey” on a whisky label when he introduced his spirit to the World at the Chicago’s World Fair in 1893. From the beginning J.P. Wiser established his brand as a quality whisky with high standards of production. As a result, the distillery grew side by side with the popularity of Wiser’s style of whisky, and by the early 1900′s Wiser’s was the third largest distiller of whisky in Canada.

The Company merged with the H. Corby Distillery Company sometime after the death of J.P. Wiser in 1917.  Shortly after in 1932, production of the Wiser’s brands moved to the Corby distillery. A controlling interest in the Corby distillery was acquired by Hiram Walker several years later, and by 1989, the Corby distillery was closed, and all production was moved to the Hiram Walker Distillery. Today Wiser’s is distilled at the Hiram Walker Distillery in Walkerville, Ontario, and aged in their facilities at Pike Creek near Lakeshore Ontario. Through all of these changes the Wiser’s Brand has been recognized as a vital component of each company’s portfolio of brands.

J.P. Wiser’s Apple Whisky was recently released across Canada. According to the J.P. Wiser’s website:

” … Apple-flavour occurs naturally in several our whiskies, so it was only natural that we crafted an Apple-flavoured whisky that celebrates that flavour note in a bold and delicious way. This whisky is flavoured using all natural ingredients, without any artificial sweeteners or flavours …”

J.P. Wiser’s Apple Whisky is bottled at 35 % alcohol by volume:

In the Bottle: 4/5

Pictured to the left is a bottle shot of the new J.P. Wiser’s Apple Whisky. The whisky is housed in a tall rectangular bottle with a square base. One thing I like about these rectangular bottles is how easily they stack on my whisky shelf. The label design features easy to read fonts on an apple green background. I do have a bit of a quibble with the flimsy metallic cap which seals the bottle. It cheapens the look and reminds me of lower shelf economy brands. (This offering is priced at $28.45 at the LCBO which certainly is a bit more than those economy brands.)

In the Glass 8/10

The amber coloured spirit is slightly thickened, and when I tilt and twirl my glass I see thick droplets forming indicating that the spirit has been sweetened as well as apple flavoured.

The aroma is quite nice with firm apple scents accompanied by light oak spice and vanilla. As the spirit sits I notice that the oak spices build up just a little. I appreciate this as it indicates that the underlying whisky has some legs in the glass so to speak, and it has not been completely smothered by the apple flavour.

In The Mouth 49.5/60

When I was sampling the J.P. Wiser’s Apple Whisky for the first time, it was in a blind format where I was also happened to be sampling Crown Royal’s Regal Apple Whisky (see review here). In my opinion the J.P. Wiser’s apple spirit had a crisper more natural apple flavour and the underlying whisky seemed to have firmer expression as well with both oak spice and light butterscotch and almond flavours of the whisky pushing through the apple. My only niggle was that there was just a touch more sweetness than I would personally prefer.

In The Throat 12.5/15

The spirit has a medium body and mid-length finish, both features which are more a result of the added sweetness than the actual whisky. The dominant exit flavour is of course sweetened apple however some whisky spice washes the back of the throat as well. After the swallow, vanilla, sugar and spice all linger for just a little while.

The Afterburn 8/10

J.P. Wiser’s Apple Whisky is a nice flavoured spirit. It might be just a touch too sweet; but the apple flavour is crisp and the whisky shines through and I appreciate that.

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Suggested Recipe

Apple Tonic

2 oz J.P. Wiser’s Apple Whisky
4 oz Tonic Water
splash Orange Curacao
Ice Cubes

Add ice to a tumbler or rocks glass
Pour Apple Whisky over ice
add a splash of Orange Curacao
Complete with Tonic Water
Stir and Enjoy

Note: If  you are interested in more of my original cocktail recipes, please click this link (Cocktails and Recipes) for more of my mixed drink recipes!

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As always you may interpret the scores I provide as follows.

0-25 A spirit with a rating this low would actually kill you.
26-49 Depending upon your fortitude you might actually survive this.
50 -59 You are safe to drink this…but you shouldn’t.
60-69 Substandard swill which you may offer to people you do not want to see again.
70-74 Now we have a fair mixing rum or whisky.  Accept this but make sure it is mixed into a cocktail.
75-79 You may begin to serve this to friends, again probably still cocktail territory.
80-84 We begin to enjoy this spirit neat or on the rocks. (I will still primarily mix cocktails)
85-89 Excellent for sipping or for mixing!
90-94 Definitely a primary sipping spirit, in fact you may want to hoard this for yourself.
95-97.5 The Cream of the Crop
98+ I haven’t met this bottle yet…but I want to.

Very loosely we may put my scores into terms that you may be more familiar with on a Gold, Silver, and  Bronze medal  scale as follows:

70 – 79.5    Bronze Medal (Recommended only as a mixer)
80 – 89.5     Silver Medal (Recommended for sipping and or a high quality mixer)
90 – 95         Gold Medal (Highly recommended for sipping and for sublime cocktails.)
95.5+            Platinum Award (Highest Recommendation)