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Whisky: J.P. Wiser 40 Year (1982), LMDW Ex-Libris Small Batch

Country/Region: Canada/Grain

ABV: 61.9%

Cask: Ex-Speyside Single Malt, Ex-Peated Quarter Casks

Age: 40 Years (Distilled 1982, Bottled 2022)

Nose: Sweet and creamy with pudding, corn, custard; loads of wood, mesquite, woody underbrush, minerals and sandstone; boat engines and muddy waters in the background.

Palate: Medium-bodied, oily, very woody, cream custard, hints of orange; peppery toward the end with vanilla, and lacquered wood.

Finish: Long with woody tannins, pepper, and caramel.

Score: 6 (76)

Mental Image: Pontoon Boat Picnic

Narrative & Notes: Sweet custard and corn pudding drifted alongside weathered oak picnic tables and sandstone. A touch of mesquite and dry woody underbrush, the kind that grows along a stoney lake shore, pushed through the cream. Hints of fumes from the engine of a small lake boat lingered in the background with dried grass and muddy waters. Medium-bodied and oily with plenty of woody tannins washing in creamy custard and orange flan. Woody with cracked pepper, tonka beans, bleached driftwood, and lacquered antiques. The finish was long with woody tannins, pepper, and gooey caramel.

From an old grain whisky I expect two things: tons of creamy custard and a fair bit of wood. This delivered on both— the aroma was wonderfully sweet and creamy with intriguing earthy and mineral elements further in, though it was still quite woody.  The palate fell a bit short as it was very wood-driven and tannic, which is not a surprise after forty years. Those tannins grew longer with each sip so that by the end of the glass it had a drying astringency on the finish. All things considered, I am impressed that this was still quite palatable and tasty, even if it was far from a nuanced whisky.

Overall, old and stately— likely to please the bourbon oriented, beavers, and people who love a big age-statement.