Far too smooth to be likened to most U.S. ryes, this new ultrapremium – and very limited – bottling from Corby, which owns the Wiser's brand, is made from a mash bill containing only about 10-per-cent rye. Still, that's roughly double the content of Wiser's entry-level whiskies and many other Canadian brands. And the spirit manages to make the minority grain's presence felt. Master blender Don Livermore's interpretation of a 19th-century style espoused by whisky baron J.P. Wiser, it's unusual not just for its relatively high rye content, but also for its heavy reliance on new oak and lack of chill filtering, a stabilization technique thought to strip flavour. Pronounced vanilla, toffee and dried-fruit nuances are carried on a creamy texture that firms up with lively spice in the second act. Call me an infidel but I think it comes alive with an ice cube; $99.95 in B.C., $99.95 in Saskatchewan, $99.99 in Manitoba, $100 in Quebec.