Jefferson's Rye Cognac Cask Finish

We all have them, don't we? The whiskey version of the one that got away. Bottles that catch your eye and rouse your curiosity but that you don't pick up because there's something else you want more, something for which you've already set your whisky budget the month aside. We put that second bottle off for a month or two, figuring we'll get to it, and when it finally moves to the top of the list, its gone! That was Jefferson's Rye Cognac Cask Finish for me. Part of the reason it wasn't at the top of my list was that, from everything I'd read, Jefferson's bourbon quality doesn't match up with its price; however, having read also that this is the first rye they've produced in years, and having an affinity for various cask finishes, especially when it comes to rye (see, e.g., my tastings of Hudson Back Room Deal and Sagamore Spirits Tequila Cask Finished Rye), this Jefferson's seemed right up my alley. And while, in the spring, the shelves in my area were well-stocked, by the time I got around to looking to purchase it, it was gone. Cut to a few weeks ago, I stopped into a FW&GS I don't usually frequent, after getting hit with my booster shot, and I figured that since I'd been a big boy and hadn't flinched when they jabbed me, I deserved a treat, and there the Jefferson's was, back from "Out of Stock." And of course, there's that green wax seal above the label that just shouts, Christmas whisky, even if this isn't technically a Christmas whisky. So, I figured it was about time, and before it disappeared again, maybe for good this time, I would get it. And... The rye spice mingles nicely on the nose with the cognac influence, which introduces a soft floral sweetness of lavender-infused ginger bread. There's an undercurrent of freshness as well, like laundry that's been dried on the line outside on a clement summer's day. It's subtle and enjoyable and not at all overwhelming. In fact, I'd say the aroma is muted, not in a bad way but in a way that has you going back to tease out exactly what it is you're smelling. On the palate, the floral notes continue, but we're also introduced to a wood note, though it's not oak so much as cedar. It's similar to the note in Glenfiddich 14 that I find to be soapy (so be forewarned, that note can hit all types of people in all types of different ways; I've seen reviews raving about the 14 and I could hardly finish the bottle) but here it stops just short of soapiness and remains enjoyable. The flavors, like the nose are subtle (actually much more subtle than any cask finished rye I've had), but the mouthfeel is a little wanting and watery. The finish, when it comes, is short and peppery, and doesn't necessarily prove the most memorable part of the experience (the most memorable part is probably the nose). This Jefferson's Rye isn't quite as satisfying to me as the Sagamore Tequila finished Rye nor is it as interesting as an experiment as the Back Room Deal (though of the two, this one is closer to Back Room Deal's flavor profile, which is odd because Back Room Deal is finished in barrels that held peated scotch). I'd say it's worth the whirl at $60 if you're already into cask finished rye, but if you're not, I think you can skip it and you're not missing out on much. Overall, it's a solid entry, though I think you could knock $10 off the price to make it cost what it's actually worth, but then again, price isn't a measure of quality most of the time so much as availability. Not bad, but I'd say it falls a quarter-star shy of truly spread-the-word exciting.

This is very complex. It comes on a bit like sherried scotch, but then that quickly dissipates to a sweetness that’s nearly characteristic of rum. Granted, I’m not very familiar with cognac. It’s interesting, but not one I’d have very often.

Very smooth. Rich. Can taste some of the subtle sweet of the cognac but it’s not overpowering