Canadian whisky doesn't get enough serious attention from collectors, and that's precisely why bottles like JP Wiser's 1998 Ex Libris Smaller Hero exist — to make you reconsider everything you thought you knew about the category. This is a 22-year-old single cask expression bottled at a hefty 64.5% ABV, and it carries itself with the kind of quiet authority that suggests two decades in wood were well spent.
The Ex Libris series from JP Wiser's has carved out a niche for itself among whisky enthusiasts who appreciate Canadian craft at its most uncompromising. The 'Smaller Hero' designation hints at a cask that punched above its weight — a barrel that the blenders clearly felt stood on its own merits without intervention. At cask strength, there's no dilution masking what happened between 1998 and bottling. What you're getting is the unvarnished truth of over two decades of maturation, and at 64.5%, this is a whisky that demands your attention from the moment you crack the seal.
Let's talk about what 22 years means for Canadian whisky. The category has historically been associated with smooth, approachable blends — pleasant but rarely challenging. A cask-strength release at this age is a statement of intent. It says this liquid has enough depth, enough complexity, and enough backbone to stand alongside aged bourbons and single malts without flinching. The price tag of £213 reflects that ambition, and honestly, for a 22-year-old cask-strength whisky of any origin, it represents reasonable value in today's market where Scottish equivalents routinely command twice that figure.
Tasting Notes
I won't fabricate specifics here — what I will say is that Canadian whiskies of this age and proof tend to develop remarkable richness. The high ABV suggests this cask retained serious concentration over its long rest, which typically translates into layers that reveal themselves slowly over a session. This is emphatically not a whisky you rush through. Give it time, give it air, and let it tell you its story at its own pace.
The Verdict
At 8.4 out of 10, the JP Wiser's 1998 Ex Libris Smaller Hero earns its place as one of the more compelling Canadian whisky releases I've come across. It represents a category pushing beyond its comfort zone — cask strength, single barrel, over two decades old — and doing so with conviction. For collectors and curious drinkers alike, this is the kind of bottle that changes perceptions. Canadian whisky has always had more depth than its reputation suggests, and releases like this are the proof. If you can find one, it's worth the investment.
Best Served
Pour this neat in a Glencairn and add water gradually — at 64.5%, it practically insists on it. Start with a few drops and work your way up. Each addition of water will unlock something new. This is a contemplative dram, best enjoyed after dinner with nowhere to be. Don't you dare put this in a cocktail.
