JPWiser's 1998 Ex Libris Smaller Hero

Volume: 0.7 litres | Alcohol content: 64.5% | Chill filtration: No | Colouring: No

Special Features:

Smaller Hero combines extended maturation in oak casks (Seasoned Oak) with cask-strength bottling. Distilled in 1998 at Hiram Walker & Sons, this Canadian blend matured for 22 years. La Maison du Whisky selected it for the Ex Libris series and commissioned its bottling at 64.5%. The small-batch edition comprises 1,428 bottles and comes in gift packaging.

The edition takes its name from Mordecai Richler's novel Son of a Smaller Hero. The maple leaf on the bottle and box reflects its Canadian origins, while the understated design recalls a book cover. In the glass, the whisky has a topaz hue. Its character ranges from wood and rye notes through caramel sweetness and spices to tropical fruit and floral accents.

Tasting Notes:

• Nose: The nose opens powerfully and with concentration, revealing varnish, wood putty, balsamic vinegar and musk. With air, apricot kernels, heather honey, raspberry spirit and salted butter caramel emerge. Rye and prunes then become more prominent.
• Palate: On the palate, the whisky is lively and sharply defined. Cinnamon and grated ginger meet a texture that quickly becomes creamier, accompanied by coconut, coffee and mocha. As it develops, caramel, liquorice root and sponge cake bring more sweetness and suppleness. Tobacco, praline and coriander appear at the back of the palate.
• Finish: The long, balanced finish begins more gently and is distinctly fruity, with fresh fig, banana, pineapple, candied orange and Napoleon cherry. Almond paste and raisin cake give way to liquorice, quince jelly, rose petals and Turkish delight. On the exhale, the aroma recalls a field of rye ready for harvest. The empty glass retains bold spice notes of cinnamon, clove and paprika, alongside hints of hemp and toast.

Distillery/Bottler:

The history of J.P. Wiser's dates back to 1857. Today, the whisky is made at Hiram Walker & Sons in Walkerville, Ontario, across from Detroit. Its production approach involves making and maturing grain whiskies separately before blending them. Different distillation methods yield both light base whiskies and more aromatic components for the blends.

Master Blender Dr. Don Livermore combines work with historical recipes with his research into wood and maturation. When developing whiskies, he can also draw on a yeast collection whose history dates back to 1935. Alongside the major releases, this diversity makes smaller editions such as Smaller Hero possible. For this release, La Maison du Whisky made the selection for Ex Libris.

Facts: