Clayton James Tennessee Whiskey

This Tennessee-style whiskey appears to have an inconsistency issue. The last ten or so cases I purchased were all excellent, truly good. However, the two cases I bought today taste harsh, exhibit significant sediment, and I couldn't help but notice that Big Machine, the new owners of Clayton James (perhaps the source of the problem?), first stopped indicating the barrel age on individual bottles, and as of today's purchase, they've also stopped putting it on the case! The barista assured me they age a minimum of four years when I inquired. I also learned today that their original master distiller retired in January 2023. Perhaps this is the reason for the issue, or maybe it's a combination of this and the new ownership. Similar to what happened with JD when Brown and Foreman acquired them years ago. I even speculated if they sourced this batch and bottled it as their own; it's that different. A close examination and comparison between one of the most recent bottles and one from my last purchase, which clearly stated aged 52 months only on the case, shows that the newest product was very lightly colored compared to the prior bottle. A taste comparison between the two was like contrasting a fine Cabernet with a bottle of Mad Dog 20-20! Hopefully, they can recover from this decline; I certainly hope so because, until today, they had been my most favored whiskey. I'll give them about a year to resolve things; if they can, otherwise, I'll be back to searching for a new favorite. It will be incredibly difficult to surpass the old Clayton James. Fortunately, I checked my inventory and found five older bottles remaining, so I'll be able to manage for a while. If this hadn't occurred, I would have given this whiskey five stars...

Poured neat. Evokes autumn with its aroma of pine sap, ginger, charred wood, and toasted peanuts. A slight sharpness on the initial tongue contact, which then softens as you sip. It's sweet and spicy, reminiscent of candied jalapenos, with a robust smoky character that unifies everything. A subtle hint of apple cider lingers beneath the dominant notes. As anticipated, it finishes with the typical charcoal and leather notes of a Tennessee whiskey. Overall, a highly drinkable whiskey, also suitable for a smoky BBQ sauce when I next use my smoker. A satisfying bottle considering its cost.

I genuinely wanted to enjoy this whiskey. My proximity to the distillery, some familiarity with the owners, and my positive experiences with the staff there all contributed to this desire. I'm confident it will improve with age, but the 24-month expression currently available has a minor, unidentifiable aftertaste. I'm eager to sample longer-aged versions to see if this issue resolves. It's possible others will appreciate it more, and I encourage you to try it yourself. I will definitely revisit it.

The charcoal filtration is clearly responsible for the smoothness. Decent character, but displays a hint of youth that could benefit from further aging. Satisfactory for neat consumption, though possibly better suited for cocktails. 4.0 - Good: a respectable pour. Suitable for sipping, would also make a quality cocktail.

I wanted to enjoy this whiskey, but the agave flavor is very prominent. Underlying this are notes of vanilla and caramel, but one must search for them. It works well in margaritas and whiskey sours, though. 😬

Acceptable. It lacks distinct characteristics but isn't unpleasant either. A decent choice for everyday drinking if the price is reasonable.