Jefferson's Ocean Aged at Sea Voyage 14 Cask Strength

A 2oz serving. This is the outcome of aging a fine Kentucky bourbon on a ship for six months across the globe. It tastes like a quality Kentucky bourbon. USA! It's akin to a reluctant traveler, set in their ways, who becomes even more rooted in their traditional Kentucky origins after experiencing the wider world. A substantial cask strength Kentucky embrace. Notes of vanilla, butterscotch, and dark fruits. Intense bourbon spices: cinnamon, nutmeg, and dried citrus zest. Well-integrated oak. Where is the oceanic impact? No salinity, no sea salt, no ocean spray – just Kentucky. The concept for bottling is a gimmick, but the liquid itself is a strong classic. The cost for the non-cask strength versions is somewhat questionable, but around 90 USD for a good cask strength bourbon is reasonable, and I might purchase one. 89/100.

Received as a sample from a friend as part of the "Whiskey transfer program". Nose: Sweet vanilla and honey notes with significant oak. As it rested in the glass, I detected toasted nuts and dried fruits like figs and dates. A very faint hint of sea air, reminiscent of Islay Scotch, was in the background. Taste: Quite sweet with dark sugars and musty wood. Strong ethanol burn. Not as intricate as the aroma suggested. Finish: Drying and spicy, leading to a very dry oak finish. Medium in length. I found it to be acceptable. I wouldn't actively search for it, but it wasn't unpleasant. The aroma was very intriguing, but the taste and finish were quite plain. It felt like it almost reached something special but fell short.

I'm not sure why this isn't receiving more positive attention, apart from the price. Given its cask strength, I expected a more pronounced ethanol presence, but this was pleasantly smooth with a nice warmth in the aftertaste. The aroma, to me, included apricot and butterscotch. The palate was sweeter than I anticipated for cask strength but had good flavor, not overly complex, but a solid bourbon profile. A long finish with pleasant warmth/burn. It wasn't thin as others have mentioned; I found it to be quite viscous with a nice oily mouthfeel.

The aroma isn't too much, especially for cask strength. Notes of orange and vanilla are present. The palate is rich with salted caramel that lasts well beyond the finish. Adding a few drops of water opens up both the nose and more flavors. A distinct taste. This is connected to the Liquor Land in Detroit bottling. Batch 106 bottle 28

Consumed straight from the bottle, it offered initial sweetness followed by a warmth that persisted throughout. When mixed with coke zero, the sweetness becomes more pronounced with an almost berry-like note emerging through that warmth. Exceptional in either preparation.

That intense heat! From beginning to end, it packs a powerful punch with oak, vanilla, and cherry jubilee. Perhaps it picked up a trace of stone fruit after crossing the Equator four times! Who knows what really happens on that imaginary line?!