Swear Jar Whisky
40% ABV - Canada
Nose: Lemon oil, varnish, caramel, malt, alcohol swabs, and slight baking spices. I will guess that there is a higher rye content.
Taste: Quite sweet, with strong caramel, cereals, and burnt sugar. Hints of black liquorice. There is no complexity and the sweetness starts to overpower into the finish.
Finish: Tangy ginger heat that sticks around with some caramel and sugar candies.
This is definitely a whisky that I didn’t expect to ever write a review for..! I was gifted this bottle on my birthday two years ago. It’s a very young whisky, that is possibly sourced and possibly column distilled, and I think that is important to keep in mind that Swear Jar Whisky is (very likely) intended for cocktails.
The other Swear Jar Craft Distillers premixed products (lemonade and an old fashioned) are much better than just this whisky on its own—it’s really meant for mixing and not for swirling around in a Glencairn glass trying to pick out the nuances like I am doing right now.
The nose on this is actually quite palatable, to my surprise. Now, I’ve had this bottle open for nearly two years, so I assume there must have been some "easing" of any harsh aromas… especially considering that this bottle is on its last legs. Although once you sip on this, and right through to the finish, there is a sickly sweet character that isn’t doing it for me.
There are little details to find about where this whisky is distilled. The company website is quite bare-bones and I’d hazard the guess that this is sourced from Alberta Distillers (though they do mention that the grains—rye, wheat, and barley—are sourced "from the west cost (sic)"… yes, that is a typo on their FAQs).
Overall, this is a cheap whisky that comes in interesting packaging. The bottle is adorned with markings that make it fit for an actual swear jar. It’s a good gift as it will make for some good conversation. As for what is inside, there is much to be desired. I’d recommend sticking with their premixed products… I acknowledge that they are not trying to market this product as a sipping whisky, but, as this is a whisky review website, I felt obliged to try it neat.
Tasting Notes (Official): Swear Jar is a three-year-old Canadian whisky that is simply loaded with flavours. Our recipe is made up of sweet, tangy, peppery heat, rich, mouth-coating caramel flavour, ginger, cloves and hints of fruit.
Tasted 11 October 2021. (Posted 24 October 2021.)
