If you’re curious about how its blending team landed on 92 proof, Rift said she and her colleagues weren’t happy with higher-proof iterations. When samples dipped below 100, it came alive, so they kept proofing it downward.
On the nose you find all of that and more. It comes in waves of dried flowers, baked pastry, allspice and that classic Juicy Fruit gum bomb.
Jefferson’s finally gives Cask Strength its own spotlight. This 130-proof bourbon hits hard but drinks smooth—with a fruit-forward profile and a price that’s hard to argue with.
One immediately reached for an ECBP, pulled the cork, closed his eyes and took a long, patient sniff. He said that aroma was exactly the smell of the conflagration that awful day, and then poured himself a glass.
I’ve had the good fortune to sample several years of Michter’s 10-year bourbon releases, and this is one of the best I’ve tasted yet.
Tasting this and knowing you’ve spent just $49.99 will make you wonder why you part with any more on any bottle. From sniff to sip, this is precisely what bourbon whiskey should taste like and cost in 2025.
I’m like any reviewer who immediately wants to dislike celebrity whiskies because most are never good. So, since this one’s actually good, is it because the celebrity wasn’t involved in it at all?
On the palate, things are once again unsurprisingly approachable, dangerously approachable even. In fact, this is one of the easiest drinking whiskeys I’ve encountered.
I have to admit that when I learned of this new release, I thought, “How long can this Wood Finishing Series go on?” Well, it took only one taste of The Keepers Release to convince me that this extension of the series is a great idea.
After sampling a handful of these different 8- and 10-year-old barrels, Pops and I decided that instead of a “Bottle” rating, we should buy a barrel.
