J Henry & Sons Review Archives – Whiskey for the Ages

J Henry Patton Road Reserve Bourbon Review

Posted on 05-September-202010-August-2022 by whiskeyfortheages

Hannah’s J Henry Patton Road Reserve Bourbon Review

Original review written on September 3, 2020

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

J Henry Patton Road Reserve Bourbon Review: Very different in an explosive way from the 5 YR from this distillery. Fruity, spicy, floral, it makes for an excellent and enjoyable pour. 92/100

VITALS:

– Made In: Wisconsin, USA
– Distillery: DSP-WI-15005, 45th Parallel Distillery
– Aged at: J Henry & Sons
To a- Classification: Single Barrel Cask Strength Bourbon Whiskey
– Age: 7 yrs.
– Mash Bill: Red heirloom corn=60%; Heirloom winter wheat=14%; Heirloom spooner rye=14%; malted barley=12%
– Casks: Char #3 (after 2 yr stave seasoning and light barrel toasting)
– Barrel Entry Proof: unpublished
– ABV: 59.75% (119.5 proof)
– Barrel No. 55; Bottle No. 74
– Price: $104.99 USD in Wisconsin

For more information, visit jhenryandsons.com

ENJOYMENT METHOD:

I enjoyed the juice neat from a Glencairn glass with father and fellow Whiskey for the Ages reviewer, Brian. Towards the bottom of the glass, we pulled out some Wisconsin style Parmesan cheese. Definitely worth it!

Check out his review for this bourbon here!

SETTING:

With the warmth and explosion of this 7 YR bourbon, I easily see sipping this in a park, surrounded by people on picnic blankets. Look up at the night sky and enjoy a bright and colorful firework show with 7 YR in one hand and some quality cheese in the other.

Photo by Erwan Hesry on Unsplash

NOSE:

Woody and sharp floral scents hit my nose straight off, with an undertone of fruit leather (of a dark stone fruit), and brown sugar. Despite being of higher proof, the alcohol is not overbearing, rather, it’s pleasant and brings an extra warming factor to the glass. Further draws coax out white pepper and ginger – the ginger reminiscent of the punch you’d get in a gingerbread cookie.

Soft and sweet corn melds with traces of vanilla, making the overall vibe of the pour complex, warm, and ever-so-inviting. How different this is already from its younger brother, J Henry & Sons 5 YR!

PALATE:

– Mouth Feel: Effervescent. Pops like a firework while being soft in body.
– Balance: Fruit heavy, but there is sufficient spice to keep it interesting.
– Visual: Honey in color, there is barely a crown with many clinging droplets. Closely packed legs drop quickly.

– Taste: This starts with a firework of warmth and alcohol tickle, which falls into an equally punchy floral element. It almost seems rosy. The ginger is still here from the nose, but it seems to have a light vanilla as its dancing partner in the palate. Still, the white pepper didn’t fade, mixing with perhaps a green grape quality.

Nothing about the palate seems particularly dark to me – it’s bright, exciting, and very complex… I can almost taste the syrup found in a fruit cup, backed by enough alcohol burn to not be sickly. Instead, it’s incredibly delicious.

A Kentucky chew on this Wisconsin bourbon elevates the once-subtle white pepper/green grape combination, while not burning too intensely. It leaves the salivary glands working overtime long after the sip. Very pleased and am still in shock only two extra years in the barrel can do this to the original 5 YR.

FINISH:

– Lasting Power: Long. While the warmth doesn’t disperse everywhere, it and the flavor won’t abandon the tongue.
– Between Sips: The fruit cup juice, particularly grapes stick around and leave a fruit-flavor-profile-lover like me in absolute heaven.

– No More: Consistent throughout the glass, which I really appreciate. We brought out some Wisconsin style Parmesan cheese to have with this pour, and the two greatly complement one another.

The empty Glencairn is a sweet and pleasantly sugary oak… I love this bourbon quite a lot, I’ve decided.

WORTH THE PRICE?

I hesitate to say that anything over $100 dollars, is truly worth it, but given the natural rarity – being a single barrel – and being purchased from a Non-ABC state (check out our Vocab sheet!), I could be persuaded to buy this again. I think it’s bright, fun, and very fruity in its sweetness, and there isn’t much more I could ask.

RATING: 92/100

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J Henry 05 Yr Bourbon Review

Posted on 31-August-202010-August-2022 by whiskeyfortheages

Hannah’s J Henry 05 Yr Bourbon Review

Original review written on August 29, 2020

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

J Henry 05 Yr Bourbon Review: I first tasted this with family in the state of Wisconsin. While I may not have been originally impressed, I come back to it constantly surprised by its soft warmth and complexity. 90/100

VITALS:

– Made In: Wisconsin, USA
– Distillery: DSP-WI-15005, 45th Parallel Distillery
– Aged at: J Henry & Sons Distillery
– Classification: Wisconsin Straight Bourbon Whiskey
– Age: 5 yrs.
– Mash Bill: Red heirloom corn=60%; Heirloom winter wheat=14%; Heirloom spooner rye=14%; malted barley=12%
– Casks: Char #3 (after 2 yr stave seasoning and light barrel toasting
– Barrel Entry Proof: unpublished
– ABV: 46% (92 proof)
– Batch No. 57; Bottle No. 1865
– Price: $49.99 USD in Wisconsin

For more information, visit jhenryandsons.com

ENJOYMENT METHOD:

I enjoyed the juice neat from a Glencairn glass with father and fellow Whiskey for the Ages reviewer, Brian.

Check out his review for this bourbon here!

SETTING:

This bourbon screams comfort and coziness. It’s the perfect pour to enjoy surrounded by reclaimed wood in a large room, tucked into a leather armchair and covered by a thick, fluffy blanket.

Photo by Drew Coffman on Unsplash

NOSE:

This has a very mild nose, with dusty grain and a yeasty warmth being the first things to hit me. Underneath, I get winey-tannins – not particularly grapey, but there does seem to be a date fruit flavor, or perhaps prune that accompanies the tannins. Either way, the fruit seems dried.

There is also a dark, but non-bitter sugar that conveys a warmth that’s comforting, but not overwhelming. I don’t think it’s caramel or syrup; it could be molasses, but I’m unsure on account of the lack of bitterness. This sugary flavor could even be roasted peanuts or an extra oily peanut bitter.

A soft, but subtly spicy oak lies at the foundation and makes all of the aforementioned flavors mesh together nicely.

PALATE:

– Mouth Feel: Very soft, smooth and oily – so much so, it could be dangerous.
– Balance: Surprisingly complex, with no flavor overpowering another.
– Visual: Tawny in color, this has a crown with clinging droplets. Once they become legs, they drop quite quickly.

– Taste: The oak from the nose comes through first, remaining soft, but chewable all at once. Surprisingly, cherries follow the oak, but they aren’t the maraschino cherries of milkshakes, rather a mildly sweet, pitted cherry. Little spice to be found, minus the tiniest tickle of nutmeg or cinnamon, which kicks at the back of the sip.

Other mild, sweet flavors can also be found, like sweet bread buns (e.g. hamburger buns) and apples. Touch of simple syrup, graham cracker crust, and macadamia nuts… It’s impressive, especially since initial sips did not leave me with a complex impression. Yet each sip shows that there’s still more to be found.

A Kentucky chew brings out an oaky tannin component with white pepper, grains and prunes bursting forth. It barely burns at all, and while being relatively low proof for bourbon (at 92), I see it being dangerous in its smoothness.

FINISH:

– Lasting Power: Medium. I have some leftover warmth in my cheeks and some lasting flavors at the back of my tongue. Neither travel anywhere else.
– Between Sips: The cherry, oak, and grain linger on the palate between sips, combining with the warmth nicely to make a grand, cozy feel.

– No More: Everything about this pour stays consistent throughout with its warmth and flavors. This is a solid offering, with subtle complexity and coziness being the main takeaways. No new surprises – just pleasantly steady.

The empty Glencairn is a sweet oak with little else, but it’s still incredibly satisfying. It could be a bit warmer, I suppose, but I’m not about to complain.

WORTH THE PRICE?

Hovering at $50 USD, I’m hesitant to call this necessarily a bargain. I think it is a great option for those who like mellow tastes, or like having something simple in the bunker. Yet I’m unsure I would go out of my way to secure future bottlings. However, it does carry a happy experience with me in my memory. So for nostalgia purposes, I could be persuaded to buy another bottle should the brand become available in Idaho.

RATING: 90/100

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J Henry 05 Year Bourbon Review

Posted on 31-August-202010-August-2022 by whiskeyfortheages

Brian’s J Henry 05 Year Bourbon Review

reviewed: 29-August-2020

J HENRY & SONS 05 YEAR OLD WISCONSIN STRAIGHT BOURBON REVIEW:

J Henry 05 Year Bourbon is so soft and subtle it could almost be dismissed if mixed, blind tasted, or poured after having another whiskey. When first introduced by a brother over several nights during a week long vacation, I had previously enjoyed pours of Dry Fly Bourbon 101, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof C919, Old Ezra 07 Year Barrel Strength, and Weller Antique 107. How unfair; I’m glad I reserved judgement and secured a bottle for my own controlled review. J Henry & Sons 05 Year Wisconsin Straight Bourbon deserves its place in the sun; to stand on its own. When enjoyed on in this manner, it shines. I believe this bourbon would be a nice addition to any bar or bunker.

J HENRY & SONS 05 YEAR OLD WISCONSIN STRAIGHT BOURBON VITAL STATS:

– Category: Small Batch Bourbon
– Region: Wisconsin
– Distillery: DSP-WI-15005, 45th Parallel Distillery
– Aged at: J Henry & Sons
– Mash Bill*: 60% Red Heirloom Corn, 14% Heirloom Winter Wheat, 14% Heirloom Spooner Rye, and 12% Malted barley (N. WI sourced)
– Barrel Char: #3 (after 2 year stave seasoning and a light barrel toasting)
– Barrel entry proof: unpublished
– Age: 5 years
– Batch No.: 57
– Bottle No.: 1865
– ABV: 46% (92 Proof)
– Price: $49.99 USD (Wisconsin, 2020)

“All of our bourbons are made using Heirloom Red Corn, Heirloom Wheat, and Heirloom Rye, all grown on our farm in South Central Wisconsin, which has been in our family since 1946.” – J. Henry and Sons
*Learn more at https://jhenryandsons.com/.

ENJOYMENT METHOD:

Three ounces were poured and enjoyed from a new bottle several days before conducting this review. For the evaluation, review portions were alternate poured into two Glencairns and the whiskey was reviewed neat, with my daughter and fellow Whiskey for the Ages reviewer Hannah.

Check out her review for this bourbon here!

NOSE:

On the nose, J Henry 05 Year Bourbon’s aroma is gentle with an almost creamy potpourri of fruit tree blossoms, fresh shucked sweet corn and soft wheatiness. A fruity nectar of ripe berries, soft caramel over apples and Maraschino cherries is well blended in this bourbon. Allspice and white pepper mix with a yeasty breadiness and a hint of graham crackers in vanilla custard which lingers with notes of fresh vanilla taffy and light brown sugar. Aromas of cashews and pinenuts, new cut sweet oak and hazy toasted wood can also be coaxed from the glass with continued nosing.

PALATE:

The first sip is not exactly warm, but all the same, quite “bourbony”. As the liquid fills my mouth, the potpourri of fruit tree blossoms and wheatiness sensed on the nose amplifies. The cacophony of fruits in the aroma becomes concentrated; like the the nugget syrup inside chocolate covered cherry confections. Spices of powdered ginger, pepper, rye and allspice dance with apple cinnamon pie filling and a yeasty dough on the tongue. I also sense faint traces of milk chocolate creaminess and a touch of light vanilla in buttery soft caramel, mixed into pinenuts and walnuts. And on the back of the tongue, dry, hazy toasted wood, notes of oak barrel char and an earthy leatheriness treats as the sip is swallowed. As I enjoy the liquid, I felt J Henry 05 Year Bourbon would take a scoop of ice cream over a slice of warm apple pie fresh from the oven to the next level.

Balance, Body, Feel and Look:
In the mouth, the bourbon is solid and well blended, mellow and creamy. When the glass swirled and held to the light, a well defined inverted crown quickly gives way to widespread, but thin long legs falling back into the deep honey colored bowl of the Glencairn.

FINISH:

J Henry & Sons 05 Year Bourbon has a medium, smooth and warm finish. The hints of sweet corn, wheat and white pepper noted in the aroma and taste bend nicely with a sweetness of crushed cashews in light brown sugared cream cheese frosting and a sensation of new tanned leather. Dry oak and hazy toasted wood with notes of barrel char linger on the back of the tongue as each sip fades away. And when the pour is gone, sweet oaky barrel char wafts from the empty Glencairn and the longer the vessel sits, the deeper the oakiness becomes.

MY RATING: 87/100

Will I seek out this whiskey in the future? Yes
_{Click to read Brian’s scoring process.}

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WHISKEY TRAITS AND FLAVOR NOTES AND PROFILE GRAPH:

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