Month: February 2023

Jefferson’s Ocean New York Edition and Jefferson’s Ocean Rye

I’d like to thank Jefferson’s Bourbon and their PR team for providing this review sample with no strings attached.

…

I’d like to thank Jefferson’s Bourbon and their PR team for providing this review sample with no strings attached.

IMAGE: Jefferson's Ocean New York Edition along with a sample bottle of Jefferson's Ocean Rye

Last week, I got myself a shipment of whiskey from the PR agency that represents Jefferson’s Bourbon. I’ve enjoyed Jefferson’s in the past but as I was often critical of the cost of the bourbon, I was a bit surprised when they offered me a sample of their new releases. But since “too expensive” is relative, I try to not let that stop me from exploring a new bourbon. Especially when they are providing the sample for review.

Tonight’s two whiskeys are again from the Jefferson’s Ocean lineup. Because we have a lot to cover, let’s just let Jefferson’s tell you what they want you to know about each whiskey and then we can discuss what they taste like.

First, Jefferson’s Ocean Rye:

Welcome aboard rye’s first voyage, joining our Jefferson’s Ocean Aged at Sea family as our 26th voyage. This double-barreled rye whiskey travels the world on ships at sea, blending the bold flavor of Rye with the rich caramelization that comes from the unique sea aging process.

And now Jefferson’s Ocean New York Edition

Prior to landing in New York, the barrels of bourbon traveled around the world sailing through rough and smooth seas while experiencing a wide range of temperatures. When they finished their voyage, they arrived at Manhattan’s first distillery since prohibition. From here, New York’s famous water was used to cut the bourbon to a 98 proof and it is non chill filtered creating a bigger and bolder liquid.

Ok, now that that’s behind us, Let’s see how they taste.

Jefferson's Ocean Rye

Purchase Info: This sample bottle was provided at no cost for review purposes. The suggested retail price is $79.99 for a 750 mL bottle.

Price per Drink (50 mL): $5.33

Details: 48% ABV.

Nose: Wintergreen, cinnamon, bubblegum.

Mouth: Cinnamon spice, nutmeg, bubblegum, and cardboard.

Finish: Medium in warmth and length. Notes of bubble gum, spearmint, and baking spice.

Thoughts: Lots of bubble gum on this one. At least to my palate. This isn't a world-beater by any means, but it isn't bad. It just doesn't align with my palate. I prefer my rye whiskies to have a little more ' 'rye" flavor to them. So I'm neutral on this one. I'd drink it if you were pouring, but probably wouldn't choose it off the shelf if I was pouring

Jefferson's Ocean: New York Edition

Purchase Info: This sample bottle was provided at no cost for review purposes. They did not provided a suggested retail price but the Bourbon Review is reporting it as $99 for a 750 mL.

Price per Drink (50 mL): $6.67

Details: 49% ABV. Cut to proof with New York water.

Nose: Cinnamon, vanilla, red berries, and hints of oak and wintergreen.

Mouth: Spicy cinnamon, red fruit, brown sugar, wintergreen, dried grain, and raw almond.

Finish: On the longer side of medium length. Notes of nutmeg, wintergreen, vanilla, and cinnamon.

Thoughts: I'm very pleasantly surprised by this one. I'm not usually a huge fan of Jefferson's Bourbon, but this one is pretty good. It has a nice spiciness. Unlike the other Jefferson's Bourbons I've had recently, this doesn't stray too far away from the stereotypical "Bourbon" flavor profile. I usually describe Jefferson's as a "change of pace" bourbon because it is a bit different than the other bourbons on the market. This needs no such disclaimer. I'm a fan. Though the $100 price point of the Jefferson's Ocean New York Edition release does leave a bit to be desired. Especially if you are on a dogsitter’s budget like I am.

Did you enjoy this post? If so, maybe you’d like to buy me a cup of coffee in return. Go to ko-fi.com/bourbonguy to support. And thank you, BourbonGuy.com is solely supported via your generosity.

Of course, if you want to support BourbonGuy.com and get a little something back in return, you can always head over to BourbonGuyGifts.com and purchase some merch. I’ve made tasting journals, stickers, pins, and more.

Barrel Tax Bill Under Consideration in Kentucky Legislature

February 28, 2023 – Kentucky state lawmakers have just 11 legislative days left to consider a bill that would phase out the state’s “barrel tax” on barrels of aging Bourbon. House Bill 5 would start phasing out the tax in 2026 and end it completely in 2039, and is pending in the Kentucky House Appropriations and Revenue Committee. Kentucky is the only state that taxes inventories of maturing spirits, and the tax raised approximately $40 million for local governments in 2021. Distillers have the ability to take a credit for the barrel taxes they pay against their corporate state income Read More »

February 28, 2023 – Kentucky state lawmakers have just 11 legislative days left to consider a bill that would phase out the state’s “barrel tax” on barrels of aging Bourbon. House Bill 5 would start phasing out the tax in 2026 and end it completely in 2039, and is pending in the Kentucky House Appropriations and Revenue Committee.

Kentucky is the only state that taxes inventories of maturing spirits, and the tax raised approximately $40 million for local governments in 2021. Distillers have the ability to take a credit for the barrel taxes they pay against their corporate state income taxes, but income tax cuts in past years have made it so that they pay more in barrel taxes than they do in state income taxes.

The bill is the product of the General Assembly’s “barrel tax task force” that met last summer in Frankfort to hear testimony from stakeholders, including the Bourbon industry and local government officials. It would continue the current 100% credit through 2025, but distillers would only receive a 3% credit starting in 2026 with incremental increases each year until 2039, when the tax would be eliminated. That would significantly increase the amount of money the tax generates in the first 10 to 12 years of the phaseout, while gradually reducing it in subsequent years.

Eric Gregory of the Kentucky Distillers Association issued qualified support for the bill in a statement:

“Eliminating the job-killing inventory tax on aging barrels requires consideration of the distilleries that pay it and the local communities that benefit from it.  Kentucky’s signature Bourbon industry believes the phase-out schedule in House Bill 5 ultimately benefits local communities across Kentucky by more than doubling the industry’s tax before any reduction occurs. In fact, most local communities will see no reduction from current revenues for at least the next 10 years. 

While the bill will initially and significantly increase our tax liability, we appreciate the leadership of A&R Chairman Jason Petrie and Speaker David Osborne to put forth a proposal to slowly phase out the discriminatory tax. 

The success or failure of House Bill 5 will determine whether Kentucky’s distilling industry continues to call the Commonwealth home, bringing jobs and tax revenue as it grows, or whether it is forced to look at other states for future growth or even potentially relocating existing facilities.  

Thank you to the legislature for addressing this crisis. It is imperative that the Kentucky General Assembly end the tax on a $9 billion homegrown industry that employs 22,500 Kentuckians and attracts millions of tourist visits to Kentucky each year.”

Local leaders blasted the bill during a news conference Monday in Bardstown, claiming the elimination of the tax will lead to cuts in local services and public schools.

Links: House Bill 5 | Kentucky Distillers Association

Mike Rowe Interview and Live Tasting of Knobel Tennessee Whiskey with Tom Fischer

Exclusive interview with TV personality Mike Rowe about his Mike Rowe Whiskey Knobel Tennessee Whiskey. Mike talks about mikeroweWORKS foundation, Dirty Jobs TV show, and Mike’s podcast The Way I Heard It, as Bourbon expert Tom Fischer interviews Rowe during a tasting and review of Knobel Whiskey.

The post Mike Rowe Interview and Live Tasting of Knobel Tennessee Whiskey with Tom Fischer first appeared on BourbonBlog.


Join Bourbon expert Tom Fischer as he welcomes Mike Rowe of Dirty Jobs,  author, and host of the top podcast “The Way I Heard It,” to discuss and taste Mike’s latest venture – the delicious Knobel Tennessee Whiskey.

“This is not just another label-slapped whiskey from a B-list celebrity,” Mike tells BourbonBlog.com, “this whiskey has a story.” Mike Rowe will tell Tom that story in the interview live later this wee.

Tune in the link on our YouTube.com/BourbonBlog channel above or here live from 8 to 8:30 pm ET on Thursday, March 2nd they dive into whiskey, life, and everything in between.

Sales of Knobel Tennessee Whiskey support the mikeroweWORKS Foundation in providing scholarships and support for students pursuing careers in the skilled trades.

You’ll learn more about upcoming scholarships from the interview Thursday as Mike has a special announcement, and you also check out mikeroweworks.org.

Mike tells us that mikeroweWORKS and “Dirty Jobs” are tributes to his granddad, Carl Knobel.

In addition to Dirty Jobs, Mike Rowe is also known for his work on other popular TV shows, including Somebody’s Gotta Do It, Returning the Favor, How the Universe Works, How Booze Built America, and How America Works on Fox.

Here is more about the whiskeys. Subscribe to our whiskey newsletter on this link for updates on new Bourbon and whiskey releases.

Mike Rowe Knobel Whiskey

About Knobel Whiskeys

Knobel Tennessee Whiskey

Each bottle of Knobel Tennessee Whiskey is made using the finest ingredients from local farmers in Tennessee.

The whiskey is charcoal-filtered immediately after distilling, commonly known as the Lincoln County Process, and aged for approximately five years in hand-toasted, new American oak barrels.

This carefully handcrafted process results in what is described as a rich, honey-colored whiskey with sweet caramel and spicy orange aromas with hints of vanilla, almond, and oak.

Warm flavors of sugar cookies, ginger, and fall spices fill the palate, leaving a long, sweet, and spicy finish reminiscent of apple pie.

Bottled at 45% Alc./Vol. / 90 Proof. A 750ml bottle of Knobel Tennessee Whiskey is priced at $64.99.

Knobel TN Whiskey

Knobel Rickhouse Edition

Mike Rowe has also released a limited edition version of his Tennessee Whiskey, the Knobel Rickhouse Edition. This expression is made from Knobel Straight Tennessee Whiskey aged in American oak barrels and finished with French oak staves to produce a unique sip.

The Rickhouse Edition is bottled at 47.5% Alc./Vol. / 95 Proof and has a complex and smooth profile of warm spices that opens with sweet notes of meringue, marmalade, orange rind, and caramel.

Knobel Rickhouse Edition

The taste plays nicely against the spice of the French oak and the vanilla coming from the American white oak. The flavor said to be reminiscent of fall baking spices, custardy, and fall desserts with apple pie.

It finishes with a hint of lingering cloves and cinnamon on top of banana bread and panna cotta dessert.

A 750ml bottle of Knobel Rickhouse Edition is priced at $67.95

Learn more about the whiskeys, order them, and also find where to buy them near you on knobelspirits.com

Knobel Whiskey Mike Rowe SignedThe post Mike Rowe Interview and Live Tasting of Knobel Tennessee Whiskey with Tom Fischer first appeared on BourbonBlog.

GLASGOW 1770 WHISKY RELEASES LATEST SMALL BATCH EXPRESSION

The Glasgow Distillery has announced its latest ‘Small Batch Series’ bottling, amping up its commitment to flavour experimentation by marrying together two distinct Glasgow 1770 single malts that have undergone different maturation processes.

The Glasgow Distillery has announced its latest ‘Small Batch Series’ bottling, amping up its commitment to flavour experimentation by marrying together two distinct Glasgow 1770 single malts that have undergone different maturation processes.

Loch Lomond Whiskies Unveils Limited Single Grain Scotch Whiskies

Loch Lomond Whiskies has unveiled two limited Single Grain releases which exemplify the distiller’s innovative range of whisky-making techniques.

Loch Lomond Single Grain Distiller’s Choice and Loch Lomond Single Grain Cooper’s Collection Mizunara Cas…

Loch Lomond Whiskies has unveiled two limited Single Grain releases which exemplify the distiller’s innovative range of whisky-making techniques. Loch Lomond Single Grain Distiller’s Choice and Loch Lomond Single Grain Cooper’s Collection Mizunara Cask Finish are brought together by Master Blender, Michael Henry.

INVERCLYDE DISTILLERY UNVEILS FIRST UNIQUE CASK DESIGN IN A CENTURY WITH £100M DEAL

Inverclyde’s first zero-carbon distillery has signed a £100 million deal with one of Spain’s oldest sherry cask producers to secure a decades long supply of ‘infinity casks’  – marking what is believed to be the first unique cask design for the Scottis…

Inverclyde’s first zero-carbon distillery has signed a £100 million deal with one of Spain’s oldest sherry cask producers to secure a decades long supply of ‘infinity casks’  - marking what is believed to be the first unique cask design for the Scottish Whisky industry in more than 100 years. Inverkip-based Ardgowan Distillery has commissioned Bodegas Miguel Martín to construct the sustainably sourced European oak casks, at a cost of 30 to 40 times more than standard whisky casks.

February 2023 Month in Review

Welcome to the February 2023 Columbus Bourbon recap. As always, A big thank you to all my readers! As a friendly reminder, follow ColumbusBourbon on Facebook and tell a friend.Miss Fiona At Her Valentine’s ShootThis month I posted 6 articles….

Welcome to the February 2023 Columbus Bourbon recap. As always, A big thank you to all my readers! As a friendly reminder, follow ColumbusBourbon on Facebook and tell a friend.

Miss Fiona At Her Valentine's Shoot

This month I posted 6 articles. The site saw 7800+ page-views, down from the 10,507 views in February of 2022. Please please please tell a friend. This month, I earned a bit under $5 in ad revenue!!
Thank you to everyone for your continued support. 






Kentucky Statehouse Mulls Eliminating Barrel Tax

The Kentucky state legislature is currently considering House Bill 5, which would phase out Kentucky’s unique tax on inventories of distilled and aging spirits. The “Bourbon Barrel Tax” is an ad valorem tax, basically a property tax that assesses bourbon in a warehouse in much the same way as real estate is assessed. Kentucky, home …

The Kentucky state legislature is currently considering House Bill 5, which would phase out Kentucky’s unique tax on inventories of distilled and aging spirits. The “Bourbon Barrel Tax” is an ad valorem tax, basically a property tax that assesses bourbon in a warehouse in much the same way as real estate is assessed. Kentucky, home to a $9 billion bourbon industry, is the only state in the US that taxes whiskey production in this way. The bill proposes a gradual phase out of the tax, starting in 2026 and concluding in 2039.

The legislature has attempted to modify or repeal this tax several times over the years. In 2014, the bourbon industry scored a minor victory with a measure that allowed them to apply the Bourbon Barrel Tax as a credit against state income taxes. However, the state then switched to a different formula for determining those taxes, eliminating any value the Bourbon Barrel Tax credit gave them.

Attempts to repeal the Bourbon Barrel Tax always run afoul of the entrenched interests that benefit from the taxes, namely the counties in which all that aging bourbon is stored. Taxes on the bourbon industry are a major source of revenue at both the state and local level in Kentucky; more than a few old jokes in the Commonwealth underline that the leaders of all those dry counties were more than happy to have a bourbon industry to tax, just so long as it wasn’t in their county.

However, for those counties that do host bourbon-making, the tax is a major source of revenue for local coffers. At present, 1/3 of the counties in Kentucky host some part of the bourbon-making enterprise, but the Bourbon Barrel Tax is relevant only to the warehousing and aging of the product, and warehouses may be located in a county separate from the stillhouse and bottling plant. Although the bourbon industry, through their trade group the Kentucky Distillers Association, maintains that the tax is a job-killer and anti-competitive, local authorities counter that the industry is in the midst of boom times and the industry is in no need of tax relief.