Jefferson's Bourbon
 | |
| Type | bourbon, rye |
|---|---|
| Distributor | Castle Brands Inc |
| Alcohol by volume | 40% |
| Variants | Jefferson's Small Batch, Jefferson's Reserve, Jefferson's Presidential, Jefferson's Ocean, Jefferson's Collaboration, Jefferson's Rye |
| Website | jeffersonsbourbon |
Jefferson's Bourbon is a brand of bourbon and rye whiskey produced and bottled in the US and Canada by Castle Brands Inc. The brand was founded by Trey Zoeller, an entrepreneur and bourbon expert born and raised in Louisville, KY.
It is known for creating unique expressions through blending and experimental aging techniques, such as aging bourbon at sea.
About
Jefferson's Bourbon was launched in 1997 by Trey Zoeller, a native Kentuckian, and his father Chet, a bourbon historian. He founded a company called McClain & Kyne after Zoeller's past relatives, including an 8th generation grandmother arrested in 1799 for moonshining.[citation needed] McClain & Kyne was later purchased by Castle Brands around 2005. The brand states that Zoeller chose the name Jefferson's because the bourbon was inspired by Thomas Jefferson's curiosity, experimental spirit and good taste.[1] Asked about the choice by author Reid Mitenbuler, Zoeller reportedly laughed and said, "I had no marketing budget. I simply wanted a recognizable face associated with history and tradition."[2]
The brand began with Jefferson's Reserve, then expanded with the addition of Jefferson's Presidential Select and then Jefferson's Small Batch. The brand now produces several varieties of bourbon and rye, including some limited edition offerings.
Production
Jefferson's is a non-distiller producer of bourbon.[3] The company does not own a distillery, but buys aged bourbon from other producers and then blends the various barrels to produce a consistent product.[4]
Varieties
Jefferson's produces six different whiskies:
- Jefferson's Small Batch Bourbon – Jefferson's entry-level product is produced by blending four bourbons of varying ages (41% ABV)
- Jefferson's Reserve – Jefferson's Reserve is also created by blending four different bourbons, but with older average age profiles than regular Jefferson's (45.1% ABV)
- Jefferson's Presidential Select – Originally a bottling from the famed, and now defunct, Stitzel-Weller Distillery, Jefferson's Presidential has evolved to encapsulate extreme-aged bourbons and rye from other distillers, as well (varies)
- Jefferson's Rye – The only Jefferson's bottling that is not a blend. The company states that it is 100% North American rye (47% ABV)
- Jefferson's Ocean – Initially an experimental bottling, Jefferson's Ocean has evolved into a standard offering. Barrels of bourbon aged 6-7[5] years are loaded onto ships, which then sail around the world for six months, a process that Jefferson's states ages the bourbon more quickly through the motion of the waves (45% ABV)[6]
- Jefferson's Collaboration – Jefferson's partnered with Edward Lee, the chef of a popular restaurant in Louisville, to create a bourbon that would pair well with food. The result is Jefferson's Collaboration, a blend of bourbon and rye[7] (41% ABV)
Reviews
Jefferson's is generally well-reviewed. Jefferson's Small Batch Bourbon and Jefferson's Reserve received a 92 and 94 respectively from the Beverage Tasting Institute in 2012.[8] Jefferson's Rye received a 92 from Wine Enthusiast in 2012.[9]
Food critic Morgan Murphy said "The dark amber of this bourbon makes it look like woodpile water, but the sweet caramel taste has a very restrained oak flavor."[10]
See also
References
- ^ Jefferson's Bourbon website
- ^ Mitenbuler, Reid (May 12, 2015). Bourbon Empire: The Past and Future of America’s Whiskey. Viking. ISBN 978-0670016839.
- ^ RW&B Bourbon Dictionary
- ^ Jefferson's Bourbon website
- ^ Breaking Bourbon website website
- ^ Food & Wine Magazine article
- ^ Serious Drinks blog review
- ^ BTI website review
- ^ Wine Enthusiast website review
- ^ Murphy, Morgan; Editors of Southern Living magazine (2014). Southern Living Bourbon & Bacon: The Ultimate Guide to the South's Favorite Foods. Oxmoor House. ISBN 978-0848743161.
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