Jefferson's Presidential Select 17yr.

[smknjoe]

I posted this in the 18yr. thread, but I think it's more appropriate that I start a separate thread since it's technically a different version (if only because of the age.)

There has been lot's of speculation about the true source of this whiskey for a few years now and even though respected people such as Chuck have said from the beginning that it was S-W many have remained skeptical. Others have also suggested that the whiskey was blended with other whiskeys. Well here it is "straight from the horse's mouth."

Here's my original post:

"I got a response to an email that I sent to info at Castle Brands asking if 100% of the juice in JPS17 was from a single source or if it was blended from different sources. They responded by saying that not only is it from a single source, but it's definitely 100% S-W wheated bourbon. Thanks Trey!"

Anyway, I like it quite a bit. Lot's of toffee and it's not overly woody. Although, I have only tasted batch 3 myself. Too bad it's so pricey.

What do you guys think of the 17yr.?

Edited July 24, 2013 by smknjoe

[hn4bourbon]

I was lucky to have found a bottle of this (batch 6) yesterday. I have been enjoying my JPS18 batch 16. I'm really excited to try how this compares to the 18 year. I will post my thoughts when I open this bottle.

[Diesel]

I absolutely love the JP 17! I have a bottle of Batch #2, Bottle #705. I'm sure I read that the 18 is blended with a rye bourbon. Thanks for the info, was never sure if it was 100% S-W juice!

[rjboatwright]

I have a Batch 2 myself. I opened it a few days ago and think its an outstanding whiskey. It definitely has the S-W flavor profile going on. If I can only find more someday.

[clingman71]

I have received email from Trey stating that both 17&18 are S-W. I heard some speculating that the last batches of 18 were blended, I can't say one way or the other. But, the statements from Jefferson's have been consistent that the 17&18 are wheated S-W and the 21 is a blend of NOT wheated, NOT S-W.

[smknjoe]

He said the 17 was ALL S-W, but I did ask specifically if it was. I don't know why everyone associates Jefferson's with S-W. The 17 and 18 were basically one-offs and everything before that was always ryed bourbon. They built their business on the 15yr. that was a good ryed bourbon. I guess most people, even here, had never heard of Jefferson's before the 17 and 18.

Edit: basically they have been known for ryed bourbon for about 20 years.

Edited July 30, 2013 by smknjoe

[daemoth]

Love the 17. Have an open bottle and 1 unopened still. I definitely like the fruitier nose on the 17 and the first batches of the 18. I know as someone who first got into premium bourbons 4-5 years ago, the 17 and 18 were my first introductions to the Jefferson's label.

[Diesel]

does anyone know the last batch # of the 18yr?

[smknjoe]

I've never had the 18yr, but here's the thread: http://www.straightbourbon.com/forums/showthread.php?14552-Jefferson-s-Reserve-Presidential-18

[WsmataU]

Joe, do you know of any way to ID the origin of older JR 15 year old bottles (specifically glass tops)?

[smknjoe]

I have no idea what distillery the 15yr. came from. All I know is that it's a ryed recipe (Trey has told me that in emails too.) The first bottles I started buying had spherical wood top (1998-99.) Then, they changed to a glass top in the mid-2000s or close to that time. You could always shoot Trey an email and ask, but I doubt he would tell us where it came from.

The 15yr. was good stuff. With all of the dusty hunting I do I never see it, but I don't think it was very widely distributed around here in the first place.

[WsmataU]

Are you sure about the tops? I have one of each and thought the glass top was the earlier version that was cancelled due to price and issues with proper sealing/leakage of the bottle. I bought them solely due to sentiment about drinking JR with my buddies around 99-00.

[smknjoe]

I'm sure. I remeber the glass tops coming out and thinking it was a different bourbon (and uglier.) It's been almost 15 years. So, it's possible I'm wrong. I've read all of that in other threads about the glass being first but I think that's due to most people not knowing about JR until after the glass top. I don't currently have any bottles to check nor do I have pictures. If you really must know, I can find out for sure.

Edit: but I bought almost all of it exclusively from a small liquor store. I guess they could have been bad about rotating stock.

Edited August 3, 2013 by smknjoe

[smknjoe]

...but anyway. It really doesn't matter. The point was that it's unreasonable to automatically associate Jefferson's bourbon with wheated recipes or S-W since they are known for their ryed bourbon.

Back on topic, I may open my second bottle of this stuff soon to compare batch 5 with the small amount of batch 3 that I saved from my first bottle.

[Renegator]

I am really trying to get my hands on a bottle of the JPS 17. It's number one on my wish list. I've heard it is excellent. I just found a bottle of JPS 18 and I'd really like to taste it and the 17 side by side. Any help in finding one would be greatly appreciated.

[WAINWRIGHT]

I acquired a JPS 17yr B#1 a while back with the help of another gracious member,I find these early batches to be a very complex and rich whiskey that I truly love the profile of.I find that in the later batches of the 18yr. there is an abrupt transition to a damp/earthy woodiness found beyond the higher teens.My best advice is if you see any 17yr. or low batched 18yr. pick it up and don't give it a second thought as I have seen these quickly disappear from store shelves over the last year.

[Old Dusty]

Just to add a point of reference to the prior post. I have sampled a JPS 18 Batch 15 multiple times and own a couple. It is still stellar and not over oaked. Beyond that no reference.

[Renegator]

I acquired a JPS 17yr B#1 a while back with the help of another gracious member,I find these early batches to be a very complex and rich whiskey that I truly love the profile of.I find that in the later batches of the 18yr. there is an abrupt transition to a damp/earthy woodiness found beyond the higher teens.My best advice is if you see any 17yr. or low batched 18yr. pick it up and don't give it a second thought as I have seen these quickly disappear from store shelves over the last year.

Do you remember which batches of JPS 18 you had? Mine is batch 12

[Sasquatch]

My only experience with JPS line (at home, not tastings or on-premise sales) has been JPS 18 unfiltered Single Barrel, JPS 17 Batch #1, and soon enough I will try Batch #2. The 18 might be one of the best whiskies I've ever had in my life. The 17 Batch #1 tasted like a somewhat thinner version of it. Some of the later batches of 18 that I tasted with Trey were downright fantastic, but I never picked any of those up.

I'm still wondering what is going on with the Edward Lee bottling and the other limited release that was supposed to roll out this year.

[Renegator]

Just to add a point of reference to the prior post. I have sampled a JPS 18 Batch 15 multiple times and own a couple. It is still stellar and not over oaked. Beyond that no reference.

I tend to like the oakier bourbons so I'm fired up about the JPS 18 that I have. I have just noticed that a lot of people prefer the JPS 17 over the 18.

[WAINWRIGHT]

Do you remember which batches of JPS 18 you had? Mine is batch 12

I have never had any of the batch #12 personally but #14 was a real winner as was #1,2,4,5,9 and any of the ones in the 20's were rather disappointing of which I've had exactly two.I believe my unsavory bottles were of 24 and 28 batch #'s but that is going from memory all of the earlier batches I bought duplicates of once I had opened them and found them to be delectable.Once I had two misses in the later batches I quite buying them entirely.