Widow Jane 10 Year Straight Bourbon

A restaurant pour was superb – rich, creamy, coating, well-balanced, and packed with flavor. The bottle I purchased in January 2024 (Bottle 348, Batch 1026) was completely different when opened the next week. It was harsh, unpleasant, dry, excessively spicy, and far too woody. I considered discarding it and accepting the loss, as it was an $80 bottle and that still carried weight for me. So, I returned it to the cabinet. Periodically, I’d try a small pour, only to be disappointed again. After 8 months, I finally deemed it acceptable enough to add 2 oz to my infinity bottle (which contains contributions from Very Old Bartons, Old Tub, Evan Williams, and other mid-to-top-shelf selections). Tonight, I noticed the bottle had migrated towards the front, and with less than 4 oz remaining, I decided it was time for a review. However, this review is not what I anticipated. I poured a glass and swirled out of habit, noticing the legs for the first time – they were absent previously, I assure you. I also had to bury my nose in the Glencairn to detect any aroma. Previously, a quick inhale would sting more than horseradish. Now, it offers brown sugar, caramel, pecan pie, black cherries, waxy honeycomb, and blueberry compote. Could the palate have similarly transformed with prolonged air exposure? Having been let down so many times, I held little optimism. But I was mistaken. This is now, finally, good. Genuinely good. It's rich, creamy, velvety-smooth, coating my tongue with sweetness and absolutely no heat. Caramel, apple pie, blackberry, cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom, bing cherries, and dried apricot flow across the palate from start to finish. It's sweet, but I don't find it unbalanced, lacking tannins or alcohol astringency. A fantastic dessert beverage. So why the moderate rating? Because I believe an $80 bourbon should taste this way from the initial pour. The transformation is so drastic that I consider it a product defect. It already spent 10 years in the barrel; it shouldn't require an additional year of air time to become palatable. I might still keep it on hand at a bar if the bottle is nearly empty, but I won't purchase another bottle myself.

Served: Neat 1oz - A dash of water Observations: Immediately perceived rich cherry and almond notes, followed by a light orange hint, and concluding with graham cracker and caramel. Exceptionally rich and quite oily. Commentary: The sweetness and smooth progression of flavors indicate the bourbon's age. I've encountered more viscous bourbons, and this has virtually no spice. Then again, I appreciate rye. In other reviews, no one else reported caramel or graham cracker, so perhaps that's unique to my experience. It's distinctive, overly sweet for my preference, and somehow not distinctive enough for the price. Unless you're specifically seeking a sweet, fruit-forward bottle, I believe it's worth tasting but not purchasing. If it were slightly more complex and less expensive, I would consider buying a bottle. $75+ seems excessive, but those are just my personal notes. I sampled a glass, so I am unaware of the batch number.

Tonight, I had the opportunity to sample a few bourbons I've been curious about but hadn't yet purchased: Lost Republic, Wilderness Trail, and Widow Jane 10 Year... Among these three, Wilderness Trail was the preferred choice. But we are discussing Widow Jane here, so... It's challenging for me to provide a focused, detailed review while dining out. I require a more controlled setting to truly analyze the aroma, palate, and finish. However, suffice it to say, this is a good bourbon. Nothing particularly stands out, but it's decent... good flavor with no off-putting notes. It warrants a purchase, and perhaps I *will* buy a bottle and offer a more informative critique.

Appearance: amber Smell: brown sugar, cherry, vanilla, and oak Taste: vanilla, butterscotch, oak, baking spices, and a very subtle cherry note. Finish: medium. The finish is enjoyable, with the vanilla/butterscotch sweetness persisting. Overall: For a decade-old bourbon, this satisfies a craving that Eagle Rare might also fulfill (if I could obtain a bottle of ER). Considering the cost, I likely won't repurchase this bourbon – it doesn't offer enough to justify spending $80 for a 750mL bottle. Is it good? Yes. But for me, not outstanding.

An intense, single batch Straight Bourbon Whiskey by the Widow Jane Distillery in Brooklyn, New York, aged for 10 years in charred American oak and bottled at 48.5% abv. It has an aromatic beginning with notes of grains, fruits, nuts, wood & spices; while a bold middle adds notes of sweet corn, vanilla, orange, cherry, almond & maple; that led to a long & spicy end with notes of charred oak, cinnamon & nutmeg. December 2021 / August 2022

An intense, very limited batch Straight Bourbon Whiskey crafted by Widow Jane Distillery in Brooklyn, New York, aged for a decade in charred American oak. It presents a rich beginning with notes of corn, oak, vanilla, subtle hints of apples & raisins; a dry & balanced middle adds corn, vanilla, orange, cherry & char; culminating in a bold & tannic end with notes of orange, chocolate & spice. May / September 2019 / June 2020 / May 2021 / August 2022