Jefferson's Reserve Pritchard Hill Cabernet Cask Finish

This is a new release from the distillery, intended as a successor to a beloved previous bottling. That prior one is exceptional, one of the finest bourbons I've encountered and a superb bourbon-wine cask combination. Let's see how this compares. This comes from Batch A-450, Bottle Number 43. Nose: Red grape, old paper, and cola. Gala apple. Date, fig, raisin, and cranberry. A watermelon candy flavor. Nougat. Wintergreen. Cocoa, black tea, and black pepper. Toasted oak. Palate: Red grape, old paper, and cranberry. Dried apricot. Honeydew melon. Wintergreen. Date, fig, and raisin. Vanilla, caramel, milk chocolate, and nougat. Almond and walnut. Finish: Cola, cranberry, raisin, fig, and date. Red grape. Wintergreen. Gala apple, dried apricot, and old paper. Cinnamon, black pepper, clove, nutmeg, and oak. It lingers for a medium amount of time. This is a very good bourbon. The distillery clearly excels at selecting complementary wine casks for their spirits. At a reduced price of $53 (down from $65), it also represents good value. There's much to appreciate here. Now, to address the anticipated question. How does it measure up against the previous bottling? While this is a high-quality whiskey in its own right, it doesn't quite reach the pinnacle of the Groth, though the Pritchard Hill bottling is certainly commendable for its own merits. It's a distinctive release. It shares many of the positive characteristics and flavor notes of the Groth cask. If given the choice, I would opt for the latter, but as a replacement, this performs admirably. A score of 4.25/5.

Ruddy copper color, with the Cabernet cask influence clearly present. Very few slow-moving legs. An intense aroma alternates between classic bourbon notes like vanilla, caramel, and cacao, and the dark, ripe fruit from the cask. A distinct earthy quality underlies it all. A soft mouthfeel is followed by immediate warmth on swallowing. The palate begins sweet, transitioning to vanilla and caramel, then a dry oak and musty grain/grape skin flavor. The finish is of moderate length, initially dominated by Cabernet before fading with notes of dark chocolate-covered maraschino cherries.

On the nose, I detect subtle hints of chocolate-covered raspberry, cabernet, and oak. The initial sip reveals more oak and char, with the subtle cabernet finish being a very nice addition. The cabernet isn't overpowering, unlike other bourbons/whiskeys I've had that were finished in wine casks. I can perceive the dryness from the cabernet throughout the taste, but it's understated and welcome. I like this and will finish the bottle. Adding ice reduces the dryness, enhances smoothness, and brings the oak and char forward in the profile.

The wine finish is perceptible on the nose. Both neat and with ice, a subtle hint of the Cabernet finish can be detected, though the palate is primarily a standard oaky profile with a slightly briny/bitter end. It's smooth and easy to drink. While it offers a pleasant change of pace, it's not my regular choice. Revisiting it, I found the balance of flavors very good and it's exceptionally easy to drink. I'm upgrading my rating from 3.5 to 3.75.

The aroma is strongly reminiscent of Sharpie marker initially, with a wine undertone and a hint of tea. The palate combines wine and aged wood, followed by Earl Grey tea, and concludes with a taffy-like sweetness influenced by banana and caramel. I am not a fan; the prominent wine flavor dominates for a while, delaying the perception of other notes, and leaving little room for bourbon character.

Smell: Brown sugar, vanilla, caramel, and toasted bread. Taste: Vanilla with a subtle cherry flavor, possibly from the Cabernet finish. A good flavor, but not amazing. Finish: Brief. Hints of wine at the back of the mouth. Overall 3.25-3.5/5. It's decent, so I'd happily pour it. At 90 proof, it's easy to drink.