Jefferson’s Ocean is made at the Kentucky Artisan Distillery in Crestwood, Kentucky. They make excellent whiskey there and we always look forward to tasting their whiskey. This is no exception. Jefferson’s Ocean was created by Chet and Trey Zoeller when Trey decided to take some barrels of Bourbon on an ocean voyage. They found that it gives the whiskey a slightly briny flavor that mimics what the Bourbon would have had in the 19th century when they barrels were shipped around South America to ports on the west coast of the United States. Matt and I sat down and tasted a bottle of this latest voyage and here are our tasting notes.

Jefferson’s Ocean Voyage 28

Proof: 90

Age: No Age Statement

Nose:

  • Mike: Caramel, berries – maybe strawberries, oak wood and a slight aroma of the ocean.
  • Matt: Caramel, oak wood, honey, graham crackers, berries.

Taste: 

  • Mike: Caramel, strawberries, raspberries, cinnamon and oak wood. Tasted with a dried cranberry and the fruit recedes into the background, leaving the caramel and oak wood. Tasted with a pecan and the fruit comes back with strong caramel, a hint of chocolate, cinnamon spice and oak wood.
  • Matt: Smores, strawberries, black pepper and oak wood. The dried cranberry brought out notes of tobacco and leather with caramel. The pecan brought out notes of cocoa powder, black pepper and oak wood.

Finish:

  • Mike: Medium long with oak, cinnamon and a hint of brine from the ocean voyage. The dried cranberry had oak and cinnamon with lingering caramel. The pecan had oak, cinnamon, and lingering strawberry and raspberry.
  • Matt: Medium long with oak, leather and mint. The dried cranberry had oak, tobacco and lingering caramel. The pecan had oak, black pepper, and mint.

I would pair this Bourbon with a cigar that has lots of vanilla and chocolate in the smoke. I would reach for a My Father The Judge cigar.

Photos Courtesy of Rosemary Miller