Widow Jane 12 Year Straight Bourbon

Two weeks into our stay-at-home order in NJ/NYC, the new center of nCV19, the small virus that halted the world. The small virus that disrupted global supply chains. The small virus that caused our portfolios to drop 25-30%. Two weeks in, working from home, with children attending online school, and my wife and I sharing an office. Two weeks in, and I'm still married; 2 weeks in, and the kids haven't harmed each other. Two weeks in, and our 80-year-old grandpa living with us remains safe. There are several other things to be grateful for besides still being married and the children not having hurt each other after 2 weeks of close proximity confinement. We still have jobs. We are still healthy and have not contracted the virus. We will get through this. One way or another, we will be alright. The human race has endured WWI, WWII, the Black Death, three Crusades, and much more...so, we will be alright. So, this week's celebratory pour is a 12-year bourbon produced by MGP, bottled by Widow Jane, kindly given to me by my friend, the King Of American Spirits. I had one Widow Jane previously, one aged in apple wood, which was quite good...but the value for money wasn't there. This is similar—quite good, but $100 for a 12-year MGP is a bit steep, especially considering you can obtain a Barrell bourbon for slightly less and at cask strength. This has the classic taste of cinnamon rolls and sweet corn. It's a bit light, making it suitable for regular sipping. I still preferred their Applewood version, but this was a welcome pour after another challenging week of shelter-in-place and working on the front lines of the corporate nCV19 response task force. Thanks to my friend for the pour!

Widow Jane 10 was fantastic. So what will an additional two years, 4% ABV, and a single barrel release achieve? Quick details: Barrel#: 19103; Bottle#: 81; Bottling Year: 2017. Let's dive in. Nose: Apple, caramel, brown sugar, cocoa, fudge, toffee, and leather. Ginger, clove, and nutmeg. Orange peel and tobacco smoke. Possibly some raisin and plum. Vanilla. Rye characteristics; rye bread and licorice with a hint of dill. No ethanol, but there's cinnamon heat. A strong oak presence. An excellent nose. Palate: Caramel and vanilla. Tobacco smoke, black pepper, black tea. Caramelized apple, apple cider, and brown sugar. A maple note. Rye bread and dill. New leather and rich oak. Honey and green tea. Cherry cola. Nutmeg, clove, and cinnamon. Amazing. Finish: Apple, brown sugar, and leather. Cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, and dill spice. Tobacco and barrel smoke. Solid. Medium-to-long duration. Solid. It compares well to the 10-year, which I really like. The essence of the profile is similar, as expected from virgin oak-aged MGP distillate; however, it manages to stand out from the 10-year, let alone other MGP distillate-based whiskies. It's absolutely delicious. Your experience might differ. At a sale price of $73, I believe it's well worth it. That's considerably less than I typically see it for. Perhaps I got a good barrel at a very low price. But based on what I have here – combined with my experience with the standard 10-year – I'm fully committed to Widow Jane's brand. I'm eager to see what they can produce with their own distillate. 4.75/5.

Appearance: Reddish-copper color. It looks like a bourbon that has aged for 12 years. Nose: The oak was unavoidable in this pour. Varnished wood is prominent. There's a subtle sweetness almost hidden in the aroma, but that varnished wood, that dark charred oaky note mixed with pepper and spice are simply inescapable. Taste: From my perspective, this whiskey is over-oaked. I prefer aged whiskies that balance spice and oak with sweet vanilla, butterscotch, toffee, and maple flavors. For me, the Widow Jane 12 brings flavors of raw varnished oak without any sweetness to balance it. Finish: Medium length. More oak... the oak sensation never ceases with this one. I sampled this neat in a flight using a glencairn glass. I imagine people who favor overly oaked, dry, tannic whiskies will enjoy this immensely. It is not for me.

Neat. After being open for a few weeks, I wasn't planning a review, but the aroma really captivated me. It leads with abundant honey and graham cracker, followed by vanilla and pepper. There's salted caramel and a subtle touch of oak for balance, along with a hint of mint on the nose. The texture is pleasantly thick. It starts sweet with sugar and maple, then quickly hits you with honey, vanilla, and that pepper note again, plus a slight rye presence. A delicious, dessert-like MGP. A fantastic selection from Party Source.

Consumed neat. A Party Source selection. Apples, cream, and vanilla on the nose. A pleasant, bright aroma. A hint of oak and spice. The kind of nose that builds anticipation for a sip. I can definitely detect the MGP origin. A pleasant mouthfeel. Apples and brown sugar initially. Apples and vanilla give way to oak and spice. A hint of chocolate on the legs. Well done, Widow Jane and Party Source. I should have purchased this much earlier. An excellent MGP offering.

Consumed neat. This is potent, rich in brown sugar, spice, and almost excessively oaked...to the extent that this tasted significantly older than its actual age. The oak contributes to a hotter profile and a heavier alcohol sensation than is present. The minerality characteristic of Widow Jane is evident, and this is a robust and skillfully crafted product. Enjoyed.