LouisianaLonghorn
Jefferson's Reserve Pritchard Hill Cabernet Cask Finish
Bourbon — Kentucky, USA
Reviewed
August 7, 2020 (edited February 21, 2022)
So I'm starting to see more finished bourbons on the market. Some are crackers, like Belle Meade or Angels Envy (you can already see where this is going...), and some don't quite stick the landing, and fall short of a memorable pour. I like finished bourbon as a category, and it's shaken up what was perhaps if not a stagnant market, then not a very diverse one. Sadly, this bottle does not offer much to run out and buy one.
The nose feels like two drinks working against one another. I get the deep, fruity, grapey notes from the wine, and I get the neutered rye spice from the bourbon. It's been a minute since I had regular Jefferson's bourbon, but the fact that I can't recall much in the way of tasting notes moves it more into the "forgettable" category. The combination of the two noses leads to an uncomfortable olfactory experience; not a promising start.
It enters HOT on the palate. Much hotter than 45% should. The comedy of errors from the nose returns once the alcohol simmers down. Grape must, boarding on cough syrup, with caramel and barrel tannin from the bourbon. These are flavors that are lovely on their own, but combined it's like peanut butter and mustard. Not for me. Or most sane people. The finish is warming, but not enough to salvage this mess.
So after sifting through the wreckage of my tasting notes, I remembered that I also paid $60 for this bottle. I've made some bad purchases in the past, but this one may take the crown. Fortunately, I have a good friend who's into cocktail alchemy, and I'm sure he'll be able to make this palatable with some combination of bitters, vermouth, or amari. I will happily bequeath it to him. In the meantime, don't buy this bottle. Instead get one of the lovely Belle Meade cask finishes (or hell, regular Belle Meade) and be much happier with your purchase. Cheers.
60.0
USD
per
Bottle
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Interesting I didn't like this one a lot, but found it marginally pleasing. OTOH at the price point it really should do better, as I consider standards Jeffersons at below 30$ one of the good values in bourbon.
@WhiskeyLonghorn Hahaha, @Anthology mentioned yesterday that I could order it for pick up at Total Wine in Las Vegas then just grab it whenever I happen to be in the city!
@PBMichiganWolverine I see it online for between $90 and $200. But it looks like you have to go to either Mass, Las Vegas, or San Diego.
@WhiskeyLonghorn how much is it in secondary ?
@PBMichiganWolverine I haven't heard of any others yet. I don't no how Jefferson's charges such high prices.
@WhiskeyLonghorn Agreed, but if they ever re-released it at MSRP it sounds like it would be a good buy.
@PBMichiganWolverine word on that one is that the price to play is a bit too high on secondary.
@ContemplativeFox @dubz480 wondering if the only Jefferson’s that’s worth it is their Groth
Well, thanks for taking one for the team @WhiskeyLonghorn and @dubz480 . Glad I don't need to wonder if it's good or buy a bottle myself.
@WhiskeyLonghorn haha 💯! I didn't dislike like this as much as you but cost factored it's pretty trash
@ContemplativeFox I believe @dubz480 would file this under “taking one for the team”.
Sounds awful. I'm far more interested in trying peanut butter with mustard than I am in trying this bottle after reading your review.