Jefferson's Ocean Aged at Sea Voyage 17

Distilled by: Undisclosed Bottled by: Jefferson’s Parent Company: Castle Brands Proof: 90 proof Age: NAS, but the Ocean Aged at Sea project originally took a blend of 6-7 year aged bourbon that was then aged an additional 6 months at sea. Mash Bill: Undisclosed Barrel Char: Undisclosed Price: $79.95 at NC ABC Rested 5 minutes in a Glencairn, and then another 5 minutes because I got distracted. Neat. Nose: A lot of burnt sugar up front. Caramel. The oak comes through with some ethanol heat, with a slight touch of dried fruit underneath - ever had craisins? That. Palate: The fruit that was hiding a bit on the nose comes through in the palate. Pepper, with some kind of baking spices mixed in (clove? Allspice? Not quite sure). This palate is unique: it’s not like any of the other bottles I’ve had so far. The profiles aren’t overly complex, and you have to sort through them a bit rather than them having a nice progression. It’s a touch hot for the proofing, but not unpleasant. Finish: Medium-long. The fruit disappears pretty quickly, leaving the mouth coated with straight oak and tannins. It’s a bit bitter, and a bit tangy. Raw pecans pop up as the finish fades. Not bad. Overall: This glass, like I mentioned in the palate notes, is unique. It’s good, but a bit hot for 90 proof. I like to justify my ratings based on what I feel the value is rather than a score, and at $80 this... doesn’t do it for me. $80 is going to set the bar mighty high anyway, but this feels like a gimmicky bourbon that somehow got popular enough for the parent company to get away with the price tag it has. It’s a bottle with a fun story, if you’re into that.

Smoooooth and salty and caramel!