J.P Wiser's Legacy

Can't get this in Oregon. 'Shame.

@ vanPelt - one of my favorites and a great big heavy-based, square-shouldered, rugged bottle that is almost impossible to tip (in my younger days, one of the the old-timers told me at hunt camp "don't buy the round bottles, they just roll under the bunk") and easy to store in the cabinet. This expression was introduced in 2010 at the outrageous price of $85 in Ontario; by the spring of 2011 the price tag had dropped to $50. I purchased a case of this upon discovering the price change, anticipating that it would be short lived. It is now two years later and the price is fixed at $50 and at least four subsequent lots have found their way to Ontario store shelves. Only one bottle in my cabinet remains from the initial lot L10... What is the Lot number on your bottle? - located at the base under the square label on the front face. Not all batches are created equal - the L10 and L11 batches are brilliant!

Looking forward to hot summer days. Cheers!

@paddockjudge I have a bottle of L10 and did the same thing as you when they lowered the price. I concur with you; it really is a brilliant batch.

I am disturbed by the converse of the comments by @paddockjudge and @michaelschout. So L12 Legacy is not as good as the prior Legacy I am used to? THAT is disturbing to me. Oh well...Sic transit gloria mundi.

This post made me go check out my unopened bottles of Legacy. I have one L10 and one L11. I can breathe again...

To be perfectly honest @Victor, I've had a few of the L12 and it is fantastic, but the L10 and L11 are, well...Glorious! It's gotta come up short once in a while, it was damn near perfect the first time.

@paddockjudge Thank you for the input. It appears my bottle is L12. Of course I'm wondering: What details do you think would change in my description, if I had tasted the previous batch?

@vanPelt - I've sampled from more than 20 bottles of Legacy since the launch and have never experienced a less-than-great bottle.

The orange rind you perceive on the nose is to me, citrus pith; and the grapefruit rind on your finish is grapefruit pith in my notes. Your references to anise and fennel are interesting, and for me actually a refreshing alternative to the usual rye whisky descriptors, but I have a few to share that you didn't employ.

Nose: promise of sweetness - pralines. Baking spices - vanilla/cloves/cinnamon, floral notes, doughy rye bread rising, sawdust.

Palate: The promise of baking spices and sweetness translates to the taste - mackintosh toffee, white pepper, cloves, citrus pith, cinnamon, a hint of cocoa, silky, and then tingly peppermint building to peppermint pop-rocks with increasing heat and intense peppery pin pricks.

Finish: long for a Canadian (not nearly as long as Laphroaig QC), dry mouth, continuing heat in the mouth after the exit. Grapefruit pith and lingering rye/baking spices. A refreshing pour of world class whisky at a sensible price. I had originally rated this at 91. I am now inclined to assign a rating of 95 to this masterpiece.

@paddockjudge Thanks-- It's hard to ask for more than that! Contrasting our descriptions, I am imagining that the earlier batches display a wider cabinet of spices ("cocoa", "clove") and a deeper malt-like influence ("doughy"); whereas L12 is slightly "cleaner". But, of course, I would need them side by side-- Hopefully someday that happens. In any case, I am not disappointed and plan to keep this around.

@vanPelt - I believe that in time your bottle will evolve and you will be able to experience some of the characteristics that I have detected...our interpretations are different and your opinion has alerted me to the possibility of (new) flavors that I may have overlooked. If you enjoy this one, try Lot No. 40...I struggled with Lot 40, but time has been kind to an open bottle and I'm a believer now - price is right!

@vanPelt - your comment about malt (rye) stuck with me (no pun intended).

The launch price of Legacy, literally in Wiser's own back yard, was $85. This "malt price" was just that. It ocurred to me that the $35 price decrease (June '11) may be a function of an adjustment in the mash. There are no claims for malted rye in Legacy, although there was great speculation surrounding the launch that malted rye was a constituent part of this expression.

I am once again a "rye hound", sleuthing and lurking about stores in search of an L10. Last night I located 4 bottles of L11196BY... and today I have a lead on some L10 bottles. Perhaps some Easter treats are in store with a pending L10 vs L11 "pour down".

Are you implying that there might not be rye in this? ("no claims"?) A little quick internet searching seems to confirm in all directions that it is a blend with rye, and it would be quite surprising I think.... Or maybe you just mean that the proportion of rye could have changed between different lots.

@vanPelt, rye in Legacy? Of course there is, quite obviously. Malted rye? Not necessarily. The rye could be completely unmalted, just as it is in most US straight ryes.