Jefferson’s Very Small Batch bourbon is put out by Castle Brands under the Jefferson’s name and unlike a lot of shifty shady NDPs out there they actually disclose that they don’t make the whiskey in their bottles. They also don’t make you search for that information, they place it right upfront in big letters so there’s no mistaking what they’re doing:
“We seek out new and aged barrels of bourbon from established distilleries that have perfected their art over hundreds of years. Then we do some old-fashioned experimenting, building balance and adding complexity through different selection, agitation and environmental processes until we find the taste Jefferson’s is known for.”
That disclosure is just one of the reasons I’ve been a fan of Jefferson’s for a while now. Instead of trying to play that cat and mouse game of hiding the fact that they didn’t distill it they focus their time and attention on the whiskey. Like High West they focus on putting out the best batches of whiskey they can, which is exactly how it should be. I don’t care if you didn’t distill it yourself so long as you don’t lie about it and you put out a good product at a fair price.
Jefferson’s Very Small Batch Info
Region: Kentucky, USA
Bottler: Jefferson’s
Cask: New charred oak
Age: NAS
ABV: 41.15%
Batch: 322
Bottle: 0329
Price: $26
Jefferson’s Very Small Batch Review
EYE
Light caramel
NOSE
Soft and sweet with notes of bourbon spice, vanilla, caramel, dark fruit, honey and citrus peel with a touch of anise and fruit compote. It’s on the lighter/sweeter side of bourbon and in some ways it reminds of a wheater.
PALATE
Slightly richer and denser than the nose, but still on the light side, the palate is layered with notes of burnt caramel, cinnamon heavy spice, dark fruit leather, honey soaked baklava, pie crust and a touch of wood.
FINISH
Long and woody with notes of caramel syrup, spice, vanilla, biscuits and some astringency. The finish might be the strongest part of this whiskey.
BALANCE, BODY & FEEL
Not totally balanced with the sweet overpowering the savory, medium body and a light soft texture.
OVERALL
Jefferson’s Very Small Batch isn’t bad, but it’s not very exciting either. Even though the palate is a bit richer than the nose neither one is really powerful and it’s the finish on this batch that’s the most interesting aspect. Despite being a rather light whiskey in general what’s there is pleasant.
Jefferson’s Very Small Batch is cheap, light, smooth, and manages to retain a decent character. If you’re looking for something new to try in the low-mid $20s this would definitely fit the bill. Just don’t expect a whole lot from it, or at least don’t expect a whole lot from this particular batch if you comes across it.
SCORE: 81/100
