Jefferson's Ocean Aged at Sea Voyage 17

Lots of rye, then there is some rye, a faint molasses sweetness with chocolate and…. Some rye. Ryete-on. If this was marketed as a rye id love it. I love hammer in the face rye. But… if youre expecting a smooth bourbon, sea-tossed as the literature might suggest, you will likely be surprised

Continuing to work through whiskies in my collection that I’ve not yet reviewed. I received Voyage 17 of Jefferson’s Ocean Aged at Sea as a gift. The “Aged at Sea” seems like a marketing ploy. According to the company, “Barrels of Jefferson’s Ocean Aged at Sea® Bourbon travel aboard ships that visit ports all around the globe. The constant motion of the sea churns the whiskey, increasing its interaction with the wood of the barrel. Extreme weather ranging from the coldest of coldest to the warmest of temperatures hyper-ages the liquid in ways no rickhouse could. Jefferson’s Ocean Aged at Sea® Bourbon is Aged At The Mercy of The Sea. Experience a voyage yourself.” It’s an interesting concept: the churning and warmer weather corroborate (conceptually) with the claim of “hyper aging,” though this claim is rendered moot due to the lack of an age statement. And I’m not so sure about the coldest aspect helping with the aging. At any rate… Color is a clear Pantone 138. There’s a certain dusty reticence upon initial nosing, but this fairly quickly resolves to dill pickle, rye, a little vanilla, and spearmint. The palate starts afresh with more rye, and then amplifies it with rye spice, and more heat than the 90 proof would suggest. The finish has some light woody tannins (perhaps due to the swirling of the distillate on the ocean) and a long finish of…rye. Rye, rye, rye: significant rye on the nose, palate, and finish. Since it’s labeled a bourbon, the mashbill has to be at least 51% corn, but I’d wager the remaining 49% is rye. This is a bourbon to me that is initially offputting because it lacks bourbon typicity. It’s like tasting a glass of orange juice that is actually limeade: it’s not bad, but the confusion detracts from the drinking experience until you recognize the familiarity of the unfamiliar. The marketing aspect is not perfunctory; apparently there are separate URLs for each voyage, replete with an interactive map, photos, and a “Captain’s Log” (Voyage 17 can be found here: https://jeffersonsbourbon.com/jeffersons-ocean-voyage-17/). The last sentence of the Captain’s Log exhorts the drinker to “get yourself…an ice cube or two and enjoy”: call me a purist, but when the company itself is telling you to drink an already diluted spirit with ice which not only dilutes it further but reduces the aromatics and taste due to the the physics of cooling, I can’t really take it too seriously. And although this was a gift, I’m not interested in spending $75-80 on a bourbon that doesn’t taste like bourbon, is only 90 proof, and is cloaked in heavy marketing (even if it is interesting, innovative, and perhaps somewhat legitimate). Would I buy it? No. Small-batch blend of straight bourbon whiskeys, so it’s at least two years old. 90 proof. 2.25 on the Distiller scale. N.B.: All spirits tasted neat in a Glencairn glass.

A gift from my friend on his many travels, this is a treasured addition of my collection. The nose on the Voyage 17 is beautiful and rich. Burnt brown sugar, caramel, vanilla, and oak spices hit hard. Subtler notes include pear, apricot, and seaspray. On the palate the spices hit the back of the throat and linger nicely. The brown sugar, caramel, and vanilla coat the roof of the mouth and create a salivation to occur wanting for the next sip. The brine from the seaspray is present but very faint (I wish there were more of this here as per other Voyage offerings). Also on the palate is a black cherry note that adds to the peppery notes from the spice. I am a big fan of the Jefferson's Ocean releases and love the voyages with more brininess as the spray adds to the flavor profile in the most delightful way. The Voyage 17 must have encountered very calm seas as this note is very indistinct. A unique bourbon and worth pursuing. Nose: 4/5; Taste: 4/5 Finish 4.25/5 Overall: 4/5 Repurchase: Not available in my area but Yes if I encounter it along my travels Type: Special Occasion