Jefferson's Reserve Single Barrel

JEFFERSON'S RESERVE SINGLE BARREL (BARREL 18/BOTTLE 168) (Working my way through a backlog of notes, so you may get tired of me for a few days.) *AROMA: Oak Spice, Cedar, Leather, Unlit Cigar, Caramelized Sugar, and a Dollop of Heat. With time in the glass, a Fresh Cut Grass note emerges. *NEAT: Nice Coating Mouthfeel. Lots (and I do mean LOTS) of Oak Spice without being overly tannic. Vanilla Creme, Hazelnut, Cinnamon, Yellow #2 Pencil. The Tingly Cinnamon/Oak Spice really ramps up and coats the palate on the Long Finish with a nice blooming KYHug deep in the chest. *SPLASH: Aroma loses some of the Heat and gains some Tartness. Rhubarb? On the palate the Oak becomes a little Less Spicy. The Tartness makes its way here as well, with Tart Cherry over Vanilla Ice Cream. Still a good bit of Spice on the Finish. I'm thinking this will stand up to a Large Cube of Ice very well. *VERDICT: Curiosity got the best of me. Can a company known for blending barrels from various sources put out a decent single barrel? In short, YES. I really like this. Spicy Oak and Cinnamon Heavy but with just enough Sweetness to keep the Tannins in check. I love a Bourbon that can pull that off and this one fits that description perfectly. Keep in mind that as a Single Barrel, your experience may vary.

Selected by Bull City Bourbon Club; Named "Moving On Up" Barrel No. 138; No age statement Opened 3.5 months ago Aroma: Caramel, peanut brittle, crème brulee, vanilla, cinnamon, light orange peel, light oak, and faint ethanol. Palate: Smooth caramel and vanilla, salty peanut shells, toasted bread, cinnamon, clove, and a bit of bitterness. The finish is medium-short with dry oak tannins, some rye spice, peanut brittle, grain, and sweet fresh-cut grass. This was my initial purchase from this brand. I had avoided it because the general opinion is that most of their bottles are overpriced. For a 100 proof single barrel, it's not bad, but I must concur with the majority. You can find comparable or superior options in the $30-40 range, mainly from Heaven Hill and Wild Turkey. It's a weak/smooth 100 proof neat. I suspect Elijah Craig, Evan Williams SiB, Russell's Reserve 10Y, and WT 101 would all perform well blind against it. At $60, it's somewhat of a rip-off given the alternatives. To summarize, it's a pleasant drink but an unfortunate purchase.

The bottle I'm trying was chosen by the store (by Coast Guard Exchange). This nose is soft with notes of nuts, like almonds. There's a little sweetness, but it was hard for me to pick it up. On the palate, the nutty flavors come through a little stronger, but not overwhelming. The finish is soft, light, and somewhat short. I don't mind this, but it doesn't wow me. I do have to say that the nutty flavor is a little surprise.

Store Pick Single Barrel, 100 proof Nose- muted. Ethanol is prominent with some faint sweet oak and a candied note that reminds me of circus peanuts. A bit of a letdown Taste- a pleasant nuttiness that I typically get from HH products, a faint bit of chocolate and light caramel Overall: an easy sipper that hits some solid sweet/nutty notes. Would be a great daily pour if the price weren’t so high

The initial taste is fantastic, featuring gentle oak notes and a pleasant spice. However, the ending is where it falls short for me. It's somewhat peculiar and unpleasantly acidic. A superior finish would significantly elevate its score, but this aspect is quite off-putting.

This was on sale. This is absolutely incredible. Smells like baking spices. Vanilla, mild baking spices, and mild caramelly oak. Truly fantastic.