Jefferson's Ocean New York Edition and Jefferson's Ocean Rye

I’d like to thank Jefferson’s Bourbon and their PR team for providing this review sample with no strings attached.

IMAGE: Jefferson's Ocean New York Edition along with a sample bottle of Jefferson's Ocean Rye

Last week, I got myself a shipment of whiskey from the PR agency that represents Jefferson’s Bourbon. I’ve enjoyed Jefferson’s in the past but as I was often critical of the cost of the bourbon, I was a bit surprised when they offered me a sample of their new releases. But since “too expensive” is relative, I try to not let that stop me from exploring a new bourbon. Especially when they are providing the sample for review.

Tonight’s two whiskeys are again from the Jefferson’s Ocean lineup. Because we have a lot to cover, let’s just let Jefferson’s tell you what they want you to know about each whiskey and then we can discuss what they taste like.

First, Jefferson’s Ocean Rye:

Welcome aboard rye’s first voyage, joining our Jefferson’s Ocean Aged at Sea family as our 26th voyage. This double-barreled rye whiskey travels the world on ships at sea, blending the bold flavor of Rye with the rich caramelization that comes from the unique sea aging process.

And now Jefferson’s Ocean New York Edition

Prior to landing in New York, the barrels of bourbon traveled around the world sailing through rough and smooth seas while experiencing a wide range of temperatures. When they finished their voyage, they arrived at Manhattan’s first distillery since prohibition. From here, New York’s famous water was used to cut the bourbon to a 98 proof and it is non chill filtered creating a bigger and bolder liquid.

Ok, now that that’s behind us, Let’s see how they taste.

Jefferson's Ocean Rye

Purchase Info: This sample bottle was provided at no cost for review purposes. The suggested retail price is $79.99 for a 750 mL bottle.

Price per Drink (50 mL): $5.33

Details: 48% ABV.

Nose: Wintergreen, cinnamon, bubblegum.

Mouth: Cinnamon spice, nutmeg, bubblegum, and cardboard.

Finish: Medium in warmth and length. Notes of bubble gum, spearmint, and baking spice.

Thoughts: Lots of bubble gum on this one. At least to my palate. This isn't a world-beater by any means, but it isn't bad. It just doesn't align with my palate. I prefer my rye whiskies to have a little more ' 'rye" flavor to them. So I'm neutral on this one. I'd drink it if you were pouring, but probably wouldn't choose it off the shelf if I was pouring

Jefferson's Ocean: New York Edition

Purchase Info: This sample bottle was provided at no cost for review purposes. They did not provided a suggested retail price but the Bourbon Review is reporting it as $99 for a 750 mL.

Price per Drink (50 mL): $6.67

Details: 49% ABV. Cut to proof with New York water.

Nose: Cinnamon, vanilla, red berries, and hints of oak and wintergreen.

Mouth: Spicy cinnamon, red fruit, brown sugar, wintergreen, dried grain, and raw almond.

Finish: On the longer side of medium length. Notes of nutmeg, wintergreen, vanilla, and cinnamon.

Thoughts: I'm very pleasantly surprised by this one. I'm not usually a huge fan of Jefferson's Bourbon, but this one is pretty good. It has a nice spiciness. Unlike the other Jefferson's Bourbons I've had recently, this doesn't stray too far away from the stereotypical "Bourbon" flavor profile. I usually describe Jefferson's as a "change of pace" bourbon because it is a bit different than the other bourbons on the market. This needs no such disclaimer. I'm a fan. Though the $100 price point of the Jefferson's Ocean New York Edition release does leave a bit to be desired. Especially if you are on a dogsitter’s budget like I am.

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Uncle Nearest Single Barrel Whiskey

This review sample was kindly provided by the PR team for Uncle Nearest Whiskey with no strings attached.

IMAGE: a bottle of Uncle Nearest sitting in the morning sunlight. With a dog in the neighbors yard in the background.

We’ve talked a lot about Uncle Nearest in the last couple of months. Why is that? Well, they are putting out a lot of new products this fall as part of their “12 Days of Christmas” celebration. So far they’ve released a distillery-only barrel-proof rye whiskey, a 100 proof rye and now a Single Barrel version of their Tennessee whiskey. Plus there are rumors of one more on the horizon.

Uncle Nearest is a brand that celebrates history (if you don’t understand why I say that check out my breakdown of that history from early 2020) and I’m thinking that releasing three to four brand new whiskeys in the span of a couple of months has got to be right up there when it comes to historical firsts. This particular release is a high-proof, single barrel version of the whiskey used to make their initial two products. Here is what the company website has to say about it:

This single barrel is different. It has the most distinct flavor profile of any of our whiskeys and was bottled at barrel strength to capture every nuance of this one-of-a-kind spirit. Our distillery’s triple filtration process ensures perfection in every sip. Distilled, aged and bottled in middle Tennessee, home of premier master distiller and teacher, Nearest Green. The smooth character of our whiskey is what distinguishes it from all others. The legacy of our namesake is what makes it unrivaled. This product is available in: AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, IA, IN, KY, LA, MD, ME, MN, MO, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OK, RI, SC, SD, TX, VA, WA, WI, WV, WY

So, now that we all know why we are talking about Uncle Nearest again tonight, let’s see how this one tastes.

Uncle Nearest Single Barrel

Purchase Info: This sample was provided for review purposes. The suggested retail price is $79

Price per Drink (50 mL): $5.27

Details: 60.5% ABV. Barrel #7.

Nose: Vanilla, caramel, oak, and light mint.

Mouth: Spicy and hot. Notes of caramel, cinnamon, nutmeg and almond.

Finish: Long and warm with notes of oak, almond, and chewable vitamins.

Thoughts: This is really good. It's too hot for me to drink neat, as is to be expected at 120° proof. But it takes just a little water to tame the heat a bit and bring out more leather and biscuit notes. I like it.

Did you enjoy this post? If so, maybe you’d like to buy me a cup of coffee in return. Go to ko-fi.com/bourbonguy to support. And thank you, BourbonGuy.com is solely supported via your generosity.

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Uncle Nearest Rye, 100 proof

This review sample was kindly provided by the PR team for Uncle Nearest Whiskey with no strings attached.

It’s been snowing for the last two days. I hate snow. It’s cold. It’s wet unless it isn’t, in which case it is even colder. It’s heavy, especially when it is wet. It’s just all-around unpleasant. Though that is an unpopular opinion around here. Most folks in the area love winter. Or they claim to. I secretly think they are just stubborn and don’t want to move.

And don’t you worry, I’m thinking of moving. I think about it with every shovel full of snow that I throw off the driveway. Every time I look out at the snow-covered deck and think about deck drinks. Every time I have to bundle up to walk to the mailbox at the end of my driveway. Every time I think about moving. But…then I don’t. I have family here. My wife has a good job. I can afford to pay the heating bill. There is a lot of inertia in staying put. At least I have tasty rye whiskey to help keep me warm on a cold winter’s night.

Sometimes, like tonight, that rye comes from Canada, a place even colder than Minnesota. Though tonight’s comes from Canada by way of New York and Tennessee. Yep, once again, we are looking at an Uncle Nearest Rye. About a month ago, we looked at the limited edition uncut and unfiltered version. Tonight’s is the mass market, 100° proof version. The press release has the following to say about it:

Due to the challenges around growing rye in Tennessee, this whiskey originates in Canada – according to the exact American specifications required to be a straight rye whiskey – and is then aged in New York for a minimum of four years before moving down to Tennessee, where it is then rested in used Uncle Nearest barrels for additional maturation. The liquid is then tasted, barrel by barrel, and blended by Victoria. “When I was doing my research on Nearest Green, I came across a handwritten letter from President William Taft,” said Fawn Weaver, founder and CEO of Uncle Nearest. “The letter was dated May 16, 1911, and was addressed to his U.S. Secretary of War, Jacob M. Dickinson, thanking him for sending his favorite rye whiskey ‘of the Lincoln County variety.’ This letter led me to believe rye whiskeys were being made in this area, so after I found that letter there was no doubt in my mind a straight rye whiskey would one day be added to our portfolio of whiskeys.”

So, let’s see how it tastes, shall we?

Uncle Nearest Rye, 100 proof

Purchase Info: This sample was provided by the producer at no charge for review purposes. The suggested retail price is $59.

Price Per Drink (50 ml): $4.00

Details: Distilled in Canada, Aged in Canada, New York, and Tennessee. 50% ABV.

Nose: Toffee, almond, a hint of mint, and chocolate.

Mouth: Thick mouthfeel. Cinnamon, mint, toffee, and almond.

Finish: Medium to long and warm. Notes of cinnamon and toffee.

Thoughts: Sweet and thick in the mouth. Nice spice. Almost too sweet for my palate. This would probably be amazing in an Old Fashioned, though. (Spoiler from after I took the notes…it is. Works great in an Old Fashioned with Angostura bitters and the oil expressed from the orange peel garnish.)

About a month ago, we covered the Uncut/Unfiltered Limited Edition Uncle Nearest Rye. So how does the 100° proof version compare? Well, this is very similar on the nose. The mouth of the 100° proof is a bit less punchy than the barrel-strength version. Which at an almost 20° proof difference is to be expected. The flavors are very similar, as you might expect, but the barrel-proof version is hotter and more vibrant. Both are quite good, though.

Did you enjoy this post? If so, maybe you’d like to buy me a cup of coffee in return. Go to ko-fi.com/bourbonguy to support. And thank you, BourbonGuy.com is solely supported via your generosity.

Of course, if you want to support BourbonGuy.com and get a little something back in return, you can always head over to BourbonGuyGifts.com and purchase some merch. I’ve made tasting journals, stickers, pins, posters, and more.

Redemption Sur Lee

This bottle was provided by the producer for review purposes with no strings attached.

If you’ve been here a while, you probably know that I love it when whiskey companies experiment with things. My very first review was applauding an experimental whiskey from craft distiller friends of mine. I applauded the experimentation, even though I didn’t care for the results. Not every experiment is successful but even failed experiments yield valuable data.

So when the folks at Redemption reached out and asked me to take a look at their new product that was the result of their own experimentation with the whiskey aging process, I was happy to take a look.

Well, what did they do differently? I’ll actually quote from the bottle for this one since they were nice enough to illustrate and outline the process they used right on the label.

  1. THE MASH. 5% barley 95% rye. We begin with our classic pre-Prohibition style Redemption Rye Whiskey mash bill.

  2. FERMENTATION. When added to the mash, the yeast consumes the sugar, converting it into alcohol & CO2.

  3. THE BACKSET. During distillation, alcohol is separated from the grains and yeast creating a flavorful backset, which we call the “whiskey lees.”

  4. ON THE “LEES.” We add the “lees” into our barrels, a technique inspired by a French winemaking process called “Sur Lie.”

  5. ROLLING THE BARRELS By periodically rotating the barrels during the aging process, we cause the grain and yeast cells in the “lees” & the whiskey to continually interact, infusing the liquid over time to create a deep and complex expression.

  6. CHILL HAZE. We non-chill filter the whiskey to preserve its best flavors and aromas. The whiskey may appear cloudy when chilled.

  7. ENJOY. The result of this innovative process is a whiskey that is soft around the edges with bold, rich taste, accentuated with a creamy mouthfeel and a hint of rye spice.

And from the Press Release:

Said Tom Steffanci, President of Deutsch Family Wine & Spirits, which produces Redemption: "At the beginning of our creation process, we were curious to see what flavors would be imparted if we applied a technique similar to the French winemaking sur lie process to our amazing classic rye mash bill. We spent a lot of time adjusting the approach to get it just right and we are delighted with the delicious outcome. I can't wait to hear from consumers once they have the opportunity to taste it."

Now, this might offend purists, but at the end of the day, experimentation like this is what differentiates products that would otherwise be basically the same. This takes (probable) MGP whiskey and does something interesting to it. Which I applaud. But the most important thing is how it tastes. So let’s dig in.

Redemption Sur Lee

Purchase Info: This bottle was provided for review purposes by the provider and their PR team. The suggested retail price is $59.99, and it is available for a limited time in NY, DE, FL, CA, TX, and MA.

Price per drink (50 mL): $4.00

Details: Three years old. 47% ABV. Aged with a bit of setback from the fermentation process.

Nose: Cedar, mint, almond, and nutmeg.

Month: Caramel, cedar, almond, and cinnamon.

Finish: Medium length. Initial notes of cedar and mint fade to reveal cardamom.

Thoughts: This is a decent rye. I'm partial to the 95% rye mash bill, so I'm enjoying this. I really dig the cardamom note right at the end of the finish. Makes me want to go back for another sip.

Compared to the standard Redemption rye: The noses are pretty similar. If I didn't have them side by side, I wouldn't notice a difference. But since I do, I'd say Sur Lee has the same notes, just more pronounced. The Sur Lee has a softer mouthfeel, and the sweet and cedar notes are more prominent. The finish on the Sur Lee has that fun cardamom note that standard is missing.

Did you enjoy this post? If so, maybe you’d like to buy me a cup of coffee in return. Go to ko-fi.com/bourbonguy to support. And thank you, BourbonGuy.com is solely supported via your generosity.

Of course, if you want to support BourbonGuy.com and get a little something back in return, you can always head over to BourbonGuyGifts.com and purchase some merch. I’ve made tasting journals, stickers, pins, posters, and more.