Jefferson's Reserve Groth Reserve Cask Finish

Jefferson's Groth Cask. A truly uncommon find. Recognizing this, I purchased it immediately. I don't live near that store, and it was the last bottle. It's the first and only bottle I've encountered in years. So, it's rare, but how does it taste? Is it worth the extremely high resale prices? Let's find out. Batch No. 4 Nose: Some red fruit notes. Black currant. Cherry, cranberry, raspberry, plum, raisin, fig, date. Also some peach. Some caramel, vanilla, toffee, graham cracker, and brown sugar. Oak. These are excellent notes. The issue is, they are barely perceptible. I had to concentrate hard to detect any of them. I opened last night's bottle of Stranahan's to check my sense of smell. Conclusion? The whiskey is the reason, not my nose. Update: What a difference 3 months of air makes. The nose is lively; in fact, it's the most prominent aspect of this whiskey. I previously deducted significantly for its weakness, but now I'm very impressed. Palate: Cantaloupe, tangerine, peach, apricot, cherry, plum, red grape, cranberry, raspberry, plum, raisin, date, and fig. A nice blend of orange and red fruits. And there's no mistaking any of it in the taste. Bold and delicious. Maple and molasses, caramel and milk chocolate, toffee and brown sugar. Plenty of oak. Ginger spice. In earlier tastings, I detected an odd note I can only describe as newspaper. This was prominent and unpleasant before. Several months later, this has faded into the background and now serves as a pleasant textural element. Overall, a spectacular palate. Finish: (Mostly dry) Red fruit. Plum, cranberry, raspberry, raisin, date, fig. Consistent throughout. Then, the spices finally appear. Cinnamon, black pepper, allspice, nutmeg, clove, ginger, and oak. Dry, sweet, and intensely spicy. Surprisingly, it's of moderate length, almost long, despite the relatively low alcohol content. A peculiar one to rate. I wrote down a substantial list of notes for the nose. I could have just as easily left that section blank. It was mild, to say the least, which is unacceptable in my opinion. From there on, however, this is absolutely outstanding. So much flavor and delightful fruit. The Groth cask had a noticeable impact (on the palate and finish.) It's incredibly expensive wine. Does its reputation hold up? I couldn't say. I know very little about wine. But I can say this bourbon is worth its price. Due to the subpar nose, I can't give it more than 4 stars. Otherwise? Sensational. With almost half a year of aging, this has become one of the better-tasting bourbons I've had recently. Very impressed with Jefferson's ongoing innovation - though this one is apparently a few years old. Speaking of which, is it worth the secondary market price? Only if you absolutely need to own everything. I believe $200 is far too high. The $84 I paid for it? Absolutely. This is very unique and quite tasty. If not for the lackluster nose, this would have been a 5-star whiskey. Update: Increased the rating by half a star because the nose improved dramatically. Update again: 4.75. Two and a half years later, it has improved even further.

My journey with this Scotch Distillery Tour train is making a stop in Kentucky. It's possible due to some complex science and a time-travel device, very technical and I won't trouble you with the specifics. Anyway, this Kentucky straight bourbon is matured for 6 years in new American oak and then finished for 9 months in French oak barrels previously used for aging Cabernet Sauvignon from Groth Vineyards in Napa Valley, California. It has a 45.1% ABV and, like all Kentucky straight bourbons, it has a natural color that I would describe as a deep copper amber. I'm unsure if it's chill filtered. This particular one is from batch #6. Initially, the nose is very mint-forward, which was a surprise. The fruity wine notes quickly take over. It's quite similar to a port wine finished whisky but with some distinctions. Oak, vanilla, toffee, caramel, and butterscotch become apparent once the strong wine notes start to fade. There's a typical corn sweetness found in most bourbons, and then a distinct bubblegum note appears. Brown sugar, cinnamon, and clove emerge after it rests in the glass for a while, followed by similar spices like mulling spices. I have a small container of mulling spices, so I took a quick whiff; it's comparable but less intense. There's also something else. Something quite pleasant that I'm struggling to pinpoint. A whiskey with a complex aroma. Mint is again prominent on the palate. A good, strong vanilla note follows the mint. Fruity wine notes and mild oak are present. It has a rye-like spice. I'm uncertain if rye is in the mashbill, but that's what it brings to mind. It has a fairly light mouthfeel that is semi-dry, yet also mouthwatering. The finish is medium-long, with fruity sweetness reminiscent of blackberries/raspberries and some oak. I must admit, I was quite surprised by how excellent this bourbon is. This is my first from Jeffersons, but it certainly won't be my last. It's sweeter and smoother with much more complexity than I anticipated. I'm really enjoying these spirits with a wine finish. I believe this bottle cost around $90, which is expensive for a bourbon, but a reasonable price for a good scotch, so I would readily purchase a full bottle. One minor critique is that I feel bottling it at 48% instead of 45.1% would have elevated it further. Thanks to a friend for the sample. 4.25. Cheers

As the work week ends, I look forward to relaxing with a sample. I decided to try an American spirit instead of Scotch. I poured a glass of this while watching television. This American pour was not at all what I had anticipated. A pour and a sniff revealed sweet, dark fruit; wine-like notes reminiscent of port. However, this fruity spirit also possesses an appealing, balanced spicy character of rye and cinnamon. As it airs, the wine notes become more prominent, yet the spice remains, and the rye quality transforms into something like allspice. Bourbon characteristics of vanilla and brown sugar also emerge, creating a complex aroma. The initial sip delivers a spicy, hot burst due to the pleasant higher proof. The medium-bodied liquid, on first taste, displays the Cabernet finish, with grape notes gradually unfolding, along with wine-like grape tannins. While this sounds like a wine review, it is undeniably a whiskey. Those wine notes combine and intertwine with bourbon flavors: corn, vanilla, rye, brown sugar. This blend creates an effect similar to mulled wine. As this interplay of flavors begins to fade, the fruity wine notes linger on the palate, alongside woody/oak and vanilla, but regrettably and surprisingly, only briefly. I was genuinely impressed by this whiskey; it offered something quite distinctive. The wine casks impart a pleasing variation to a bourbon. The darker wine balances the sweet and spicy elements. It's a versatile whiskey suitable as an aperitif, with a main course, or for dessert. The only drawback isn't the flavor, but its availability and cost. The whiskey retails for over $86, placing it at the higher end of the price spectrum and likely out of reach for many. Nevertheless, it's worth seeking out at a bar or restaurant, even if not purchasing a bottle. Gratitude to a friend! [Dry Glass: Grape juice and butterscotch][89/100][Tasted: 3/10/17]

This was my contribution to the small bourbon tasting last night. I've enjoyed quite a few Jefferson's Reserve bourbons. I bought this bottle to help a friend complete the current Jefferson's collection. I thought this would be the most interesting because wine-finished scotch has become very appealing to me lately. This bottle is 90.2 proof and contains 6-year-old whiskey that was finished for 9 months in French oak casks that previously held Groth Cabernet Sauvignon wine. Immediately, there was a burst of dark berries and grapes on the nose. It hits you as soon as you open the bottle. The vanilla and oak notes are somewhat subdued and are only really noticeable about halfway through the sip. There's a noticeable rye presence throughout the entire sip, but it doesn't interfere with or overpower the wine flavors, and it actually helps mask the expected dryness. It has a long finish where all the flavors linger, demanding attention before slowly fading. I'm glad I purchased this bottle, as the rest came home with me after the tasting. I think I'll really enjoy sipping this one for a while. I believe the price point was a bit high ($70), but most Jefferson's are a bit expensive, so this was expected and not too bad. Overall, quite tasty and another nice addition to my collection of rye and bourbon reviews. Cheers.

This limited release was aged for an additional 9 months in former Cabernet Sauvignon barrels from Groth Vineyards. It begins with a fragrant profile of peach, blackberry, caramel corn, and toffee. The palate is bold and intricate, revealing notes of burnt oak, red wine, cinnamon, spice, dark fruits, and dried fruits. The lengthy finish is dry, with hints of anise, sweet tobacco, cornbread, and baked apples.

The aroma is rich with sweet fruits and an unexpected alcohol bite. It's very smooth with woody notes on the tongue. It has a full mouthfeel. The conclusion is brief. Some mild bitter notes emerge later. An easy drink. 3/31/17. A store selection from TWCP. This is vibrant, yet still has the intense cabernet notes. Tannic at the end. 10/27/17 A store selection from Broudy's. Rich fruit, but not heavy; this is very vibrant and has a pleasant caramel, vanilla, and honey flavor. This is approachable for newcomers but also offers enough for experienced drinkers. Liked by many. 1/20/18