SHORT REVIEW: Widow Jane – Baby Jane Bourbon

Baby Jane, a blend of straight bourbon whiskies, is made using a new hybrid corn, “Baby Jane,” genetically created by cross-pollinating Bloody Butcher & Wapsie Valley Yellow heirloom corns from upstate New York. This was done through close work between the distillery and local farmers beginning in 2013 & lasting over a decade. The corn is slow cooked before fermentation & it’s then distilled in 1,000 liter pot & column hybrid single pass stills. The 4-6-year-old Baby Jane bourbon is then blended with sourced Kentucky bourbon a few barrels at a time (small batch). It is non-chill filtered & bottled at 91 proof (45.5% ABV) using limestone-filtered mineral water from the Widow Jane Mine in Rosendale, New York, north of the distillery in Brooklyn.

This review is based on multiple spaced-out sessions using Glencairn and Denver & Liely Bourbon glasses.

COLOR: Dark Copper-Gold/Mahogany

NOSE: Salted caramel, creamy vanilla, honey/honeycomb, honeyed roasted nuts, baking spices (cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg), allspice, black pepper, light & sweet orchard fruits (apricots & peaches), sweetened coffee or dark tea with creamer, & a grape note more akin to skins & not the mesocarp.

PALATE: Interplay between prominent oak char & honeyed fruit notes (a mix of red berries including strawberries, apricots, & peaches) – the sip starts off with these savory & sweet notes that marry quite well. There is a mix of the baking spices, allspice, & black pepper from the nose, a creamy salted caramel, vanilla, honey, roasted nuts, light oak char, a blend of melted milk & dark chocolate, & a sweetened black or red tea note – Sweet without being cloying.

FINISH: Medium-long (7-10 seconds)

MOUTHFEEL: Creamy/oily & coats the palace fully

VALUE: Delicious blend of aromas & flavors for $50

ALWAYS ON SHELF/BUY AGAIN? Yes.