Jefferson's Rye Cognac Cask Finish

I apologize for the length of this review. You know the first time you try A Midwinter's Night Dram and you say to yourself: "Wow. Now I understand." This aims to do the same thing for rye aged in cognac that MWND did for rye aged in port. I initially wanted to say that "it just failed to achieve the same great heights," but now I'm not so sure it falls short. It's less punchy; it's more subtle; and here I am spending far more time with this bottle than I ever intended for a mid-week review. So, yes, let me be clear, I find this to be a successful and intriguing pour, and I recommend it. Nose: So many analogies come to mind, but there are three basic components here jostling for control: smoke, citrus, and pine - and once in a fleeting while, a hint of tobacco. In the interest of full disclosure, I tasted this in a kitchen wherein I just cooked bacon, so, I'm sure that had something to do with the first thing that popped in my head... but, I kept coming back to this image of eating a citrus braised, peppery cuban style pork shoulder in a restaurant next to a cigar lounge. Alternatively, it reminded me of being in a Vietnamese restaurant being served a mixture of salt, sugar, and pepper in a small porcelain bowl with lime to accompany some roast dishes. If neither of those food analogies work for you, you might also be reminded of Pine-sol but not in bad way. In a word, the rye quality here is very bright. Don't let it sit in your glass too long though. After a while, you lose some of the citrusy, more unusual aromas and it begins to smell more and more like a normal rye. Flavor: This drinks like it was never aged in new charred oak but was just a rye mash aged in used barrels from the beginning. It immediately coats your tongue like light syrup but without the sweetness. This is the texture of cognac, and this same sensation came to mind, first and foremost, with every taste. Then, before I was ready, it transformed into rye. This is a dangerous pour. I kept coming back, sip after sip, because I wanted to understand that hint of cognac better, but it kept disappearing before I was done. I understand why other members of this group suddenly found themselves with a half-empty bottle after a very short time. All-in-all, the flavors here are muted, but in a good way. It drinks easily and leaves you reaching for more. There is a familair rye spice background that ties everything together, but it never over-asserts. In the finish, the cognac comes back, accompanied by black tea and the citrusy lime quality that I first noticed in the nose. A light, smokey, sweet tea quality remains as the finish slowly fades.

Mellow rye flavor with a sweetness

Spice like a rye but tastes soapy to me. I don’t care for it.

Lucky enough to find this at a random stop at our local store. Picked up immediately despite some hit and miss with other Jefferson lines. Nose: a light nose... Maybe pit fruits? Apricot and vanilla. Sweet and approachable. Taste: the cognac makes an impact. Gives it a nuttiness reminiscent of a chestnut cask. I still get the apricot vibe, with just a hint of that chocolate others are picking up. Beautiful mouthcoat and a full rich creamy profile more typical to a bourbon than a rye. Finish: slight tingle on the tongue. Medium finish that lingers, but no burn. Impressions: Wow. I like this a lot. I think the balance of flavors are spot on. The rye spice is there (which I prefer), but it's not the only note. It sips like a high end whiskey to me, and for $60 is a welcome bottle. I would buy it again without hesitation if I found it.