Jefferson 18 vs the current Jefferson Reserve

[BourbonGuy]

I tasted Jefferson Reserve at NY WhiskeyFest. My tastebuds were a little fried, but remember thinking it was very good.

The Jefferson 18 was something I enjoyed. I know the mashbills are different from a previous post. But, for someone more

educated that me in these matters, how do they compair? What are do your tasting notes say?

[dmarkle]

The only thing that's the same is the company who puts the stuff in the bottle. They were distilled of fundamentally different mashbills by different people, put in completely different barrels a decade or so apart in time, and aged in different places for different amounts of time.

If you like the expression of Jefferson's Reseve you tried and want to spend more and try a fancier expresion of similar stuff, seek out a private bottling of Jefferson's Reserve, which may be available at finer liquor stores around you.

[nd2005]

If you like the expression of Jefferson's Reseve you tried and want to spend more and try a fancier expresion of similar stuff, seek out a private bottling of Jefferson's Reserve, which may be available at finer liquor stores around you.

Are they still doing these? I hadn't seen one in a very long time. Thought they were a thing of the past.

[squire]

If you like the flavor of Jefferson Reserve just find a standard brand (Forester, Barton, Beam 8, Knob Creek, Eagle Rare, Evan Williams BIB or SB) that has a similar taste to you. That way you'll have a regular supply and save quite a bit of money as well.

Edited November 24, 2013 by squire

[jeffrey r]

Are they still doing these? I hadn't seen one in a very long time. Thought they were a thing of the past.

Astor in NYC has a private bottling of Reserve at $65. I'm sure it's good, but I've passed it up for the time being.

[tanstaafl2]

If you like the flavor of Jefferson Reserve just find a standard brand (Forester, Barton, Beam 8, Knob Creek, Eagle Rare, Evan Williams BIB or SB) that has a similar taste to you. That way you'll have a regular supply and save quite a bit of money as well.

Originally Jefferson's Reserve was probably from a single source and I believe started as an age stated 15yo bourbon. But today, as noted on the Jefferson's website and confirmed in person last Thursday by Trey Zoeller, it is a "vatting" of several different straight bourbons potentially coming from several different distilleries of several different ages, some of which may be more than 15yo (probably not a lot...) and some that is younger. He would not say what the sources were but did specifically say it could be from different distilleries.

This may make it difficult to match the profile with an off the shelf brand and does make it somewhat distinctive for what ever that is worth. But probably not twice what some good quality basic mid shelf options cost!

Edited November 24, 2013 by tanstaafl2

[dmarkle]

Are they still doing these? I hadn't seen one in a very long time. Thought they were a thing of the past.

[tanstaafl2]

My understanding is that store selected single barrel offerings of Jefferson's Reserve and standard Jefferson's bourbon are just that, single barrels, and not the blend that is in the off the shelf bottle (unlike Angels Envy for example where you can blend your own profile). So it would likely be somewhat different. There is at least one I know of in town but I don't recall the age.