Hannah’s Jefferson Reserve Bourbon Review
Original review was written on November 21, 2019
GENERAL DESCRIPTION:
Not sure if the bottle purchased is an accurate representation of what this bourbon can/could be, but if our bottle’s offering was standard in taste, I’m not impressed. 58/100
VITALS:
– Made in: Kentucky, USA
– Distiller: Kentucky Artisan Distillery (KAD). Castle Brands has a 20% stake in KAD
– Classification: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey; Small Batch
– Age: nas
– Mash Bill: undisclosed; believed to be high rye
– Casks: undisclosed char
– Barrel Entry Proof: undisclosed
– Batch #360; Bottle #05070
– ABV: 45.1% (90.2 proof)
– Price: $46.95 USD in Idaho
Visit jeffersonsbourbon.com for more information
ENJOYMENT METHOD:
I enjoyed the juice neat from a Glencairn with father and fellow Whiskey for the Ages reviewer, Brian.
Check out his review for this bourbon here!
SETTING:
For this, I imagine standing on a small plot of land where tall herbs tickle the hips and palms of outstretched hands. The wind creates a playful rustle in the herb stalks, bathing you in the bright, floral scents of your small garden.
Photo by Sharon McCutcheon on Unsplash
NOSE:
Smells very oaky and caramelly on the first draw. Brown sugar and other syrups join in, even when my nose is far from the dram. On deeper breaths, I get the ethanol bite of alcohol. Overall, this smells like something one with a love of candied bourbons would enjoy, but this is far too sweet for me. Not to mention that there also seem to be undertones of a medicinal herb-quality that I catch traces of every now and again. Not looking for a doctor’s visit here, but okay.
Nevertheless, the nose is favorite aspect of this bourbon.
PALATE:
– Mouth Feel: Tingly and a bit sharp
– Balance: Unbalanced – I feel as though there is a battle of sour and bitter here…
– Visual: No crown, but long legs; tawny color
– Taste: The herbs from the nose are carried in unfortunately in an even more dominant way than before. The herb in question I would say, is lavender, and it has uplifting qualities just at the end of the sip. This kick almost seems to give the bourbon a… bubbly feel? Like it’s carbonated? Not a fan.
The aftertaste of the lavender sticks around between sips also, which I’m not thrilled about.
Taking larger sips to coax out other flavors (like the sickly sweet sugar I’m suddenly craving) only brings more of the same lavender to the palate, maybe with a sprinkle of lemon zest.
With a Kentucky chew, the alcohol finally appears in all its burning glory, only to be overtaken by the bright and happy lavender and lemon, like it’s meant to cheer you up.
I guess I like my bourbons a bit dark, sarcastic and sinister.
FINISH:
– Lasting Power: Medium. I can feel the warmth in my throat. And the aftertaste, I’m pretty sure, is tattooed into my tongue.
– No More: As I keep sipping, taking the same volume of sips each time, the alcohol kick is unpredictable and wild, causing me to uncharacteristically cough a couple of times. At only 90 proof, this should not be happening.
Towards the bottom of the glass, the flavors begin to mellow out, but the lavender and lemon are still the overriding flavors.
Hard to tell what the empty Glencairn smells like. I guess a soft wood? Eventually, it becomes a bit more intense, but a sudden resurgence of caramel from the original nose turns the glass a bit sickly once again.
WORTH THE PRICE?
No
RATING: 58/100
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