Jefferson's Ocean Aged at Sea

[Jono]

Had some of this on Thanksgiving courtesy of my brother in law. I thought it might be a

gimmick but investigating the story some more revealed an interesting history.

http://thewhiskeyjug.com/bourbon-whiskey/jeffersons-ocean-aged-sea-review/

I agree with the reviewer that it was a very tasty bourbon. It reminded be of Angel's Envy

with a similar sweet profile and excellent with pumpkin pie.

[KyleCBreese]

That review is for Ocean 2, I believe. Ocean 3 is on the shelves now.

[Jono]

I am not sure which version I tried. I believe it was purchased earlier this year.

[The Black Tot]

I've got the 2. It is sweet, and also very coppery - reminds me of Woodford Reserve.

I bought it mostly for the gimmick involved, because I work offshore. I can drink it comfortably, and I like having it for the joke factor (there's going to be a sign on it that says "Sailors only"). But if I didn't work offshore I wouldn't have bought another.

[Jono]

We don't know the source of the whiskey per the review and I would have do a side by side comparison with Woodford to see if I detect the copper.

From my small pour I did not note it but then again I was not paying close attention due to typical dinner conversation etc.

As I noted, for some reason Angels Envy seems a close comparison. Maybe Henry McKenna too.

[Scotch Neat]

First how do I know batch 2 from batch 3?

Second I believe I have batch 2 and from what I remember it was good, was it $75 good I do not think so.

Funny how Bourbon NDP's do not reveal the source of the whiskey and Scotch NDP's always reveal the source.

[daemoth]

Funny how Bourbon NDP's do not reveal the source of the whiskey and Scotch NDP's always reveal the source.

Some Scotch NDPs don't reveal source either. Think Compass Box, Big Peat line, Wemyss, etc.

I just picked up a bottle of Batch 3 and opened it the other night. I really like it, definitely MGP sourced whiskey but pretty good bourbon to me. So a little pricey but a great conversation piece.

Edited December 2, 2014 by daemoth

[tanstaafl2]

Some Scotch NDPs don't reveal source either. Think Compass Box, Big Peat line, Wemyss, etc.

I just picked up a bottle of Batch 3 and opened it the other night. I really like it, definitely MGP sourced whiskey but pretty good bourbon to me. So a little pricey but a great conversation piece.

Compass Box generally reveals their sources on their website although you have to dig for it a bit as they sometimes write in "code". Peat monster 10th Anniversary uses descriptions like the village of Brora (Clynelish), Port Askaig (which is Caol Ila) and south shore of Islay which is likely Laphroaig, Lagavulin or Ardbeg (I doubt they are using old Port Ellen whiskey!). My guess is Lagavulin since, like Caol Ila an Clynelish, it belongs to Diageo.

The Lost Blend sources are quite specific as it is a limited release. Bottles in the regular lineup, like Oak Cross, tend to be described a bit more non specifically and probably can change over time depending on the batch.

The Batch 3 Ocean I have seen has a sticker on the front that says Batch 3. But those have all been store picks. Not sure if the regular off the shelf bottle says that. Biggest obvious difference between Batch 1 and Batch 2 bottles (and Batch 3 bottles look a lot like Batch 2 bottles I think) is that Batch 1 had a black ship on it and Batch 2 had a grey ship (and didn't say Kentucky on the label!).

[balassit]

I also believe the boat image used on each bottling is different. I purchased one last week and it had a different boat image than the 2013 batch 2 I purchased. The one I purchased was not a store pick.

[squire]

At that price I'll let the ships pass me by.

[tanstaafl2]

I also believe the boat image used on each bottling is different. I purchased one last week and it had a different boat image than the 2013 batch 2 I purchased. The one I purchased was not a store pick.

Could be. The ship on batch 1 and 2 look to be the same shape to me but the original was black and has some fish on it (as well as Kentucky in the description) whilst batch 2 has a grey ship and no fish (and no mention of Kentucky in the description). The store pick batch 3 I have seen has a grey ship but the shape is different, it looks more like a cargo ship (and Kentucky returns in the description). The neck ring on the original batch is also different as it says "Special Bottling" while batch 2 and 3 just say "Ocean" as best I can recall.

So at most it seems batch 2 and 3 have a different source. Batch 2 was reported to be MGP. No idea about Batch 3.

[bigmzungu]

I saw a bottle of batch 3 today and it said "Batch 3" on the neck label.

[tanstaafl2]

I saw a bottle of batch 3 today and it said "Batch 3" on the neck label.

Yes, I think the Batch II gave some batch info on the back of the neck ring and have heard the Batch 3 just says "Batch 3" on the bottle. Not sure about the neck ring. Hard to find good pictures of the batch 3. This one looks similar to the store pick at the store I shop most often but you can't see the back of the neck ring. It has the new image of the ship which looks more like a cargo ship.

Store picks of this seem to be all over but I haven't see a non store pick on the shelf here yet.

Edited December 11, 2014 by tanstaafl2

[flahute]

The environmental introduction of briny flavor to this whiskey leaves me intrigued. Does its uniqueness really justify the outrageous expense?

No. And in case that wasn't clear, no.

It's interesting and different, but very much not worth the price.

[typoerror]

i bought a bottle of batch 4 and returned it after reading more about it. glad i did.

[jsrudd]

Yeah, I this bottling falls into the "try it at a bar" category. Its interesting enough for a single (or half pour), but I wouldn't want to have, or pay for, a whole bottle.

[tanstaafl2]

No. And in case that wasn't clear, no.

It's interesting and different, but very much not worth the price.

I liked the uniqueness of the original Batch 1 that started as new make and spent 4 years on a small research vessel rather than a few months in a container deep in the hold of a massive cargo ship. But the taste/quality of the bourbon itself wasn't worth the huge price (at least twice what current batches are going for), especially after the proof got cut way down. Whether you can justify the cost for the sake of the experiment is a personal thing. There was a lot of potential to make batch 1 even better but that is water under the bridge, down the river and well out as sea by now.

But I still think that Batch 1 was a success and don't regret buying it (I was told I got the only one that came to Atlanta. It was certainly the only one at the store I shopped regularly back then) in that I think it was better than most four year olds I have had which I attribute to its unique aging process. I never got a ton of briny character from it but then I don't pick that up very well in Scotch that supposedly has a briny character. So that may just be me!

The subsequent Batch 2 (which I bought out of curiosity following Batch 1) and beyond are little more than gimmick and fluff as far as I can tell and certainly not worth the price tag for me.

[tanstaafl2]

I also long ago accepted I am very likely in a minority of people who liked Batch 1 for what it was! :cool:

[The Black Tot]

Bruce is right not to pick up on any briny notes.

I think even the original voyage barrels, while on a smaller ship (and therefore subject to more agitation in similar seas than a large cargo vessel), were still stored in an inside hold. The air on ships (I'm on one right now) is not "briny" after it has gone through our climate control and air filtration system.

Probably more chance of that in a container ship, but even those containers have decent enough seals. I do get a chuckle out of people using the "briny" descriptor.

I bought a bunch of Ocean 2 for the novelty because I work at sea and it's a good laugh for us. But the bourbon isn't fantastic. I'd never recommend it. To me Voyage 2 has a very copper-heavy taste to it.

[tanstaafl2]

Bruce is right not to pick up on any briny notes.

I think even the original voyage barrels, while on a smaller ship (and therefore subject to more agitation in similar seas than a large cargo vessel), were still stored in an inside hold. The air on ships (I'm on one right now) is not "briny" after it has gone through our climate control and air filtration system.

Probably more chance of that in a container ship, but even those containers have decent enough seals. I do get a chuckle out of people using the "briny" descriptor.

I bought a bunch of Ocean 2 for the novelty because I work at sea and it's a good laugh for us. But the bourbon isn't fantastic. I'd never recommend it. To me Voyage 2 has a very copper-heavy taste to it.

It would be another interesting thing to know more about the Batch 1 as it was never clear to me how it was stored on board. Although I agree it likely wasn't hanging out on the deck! But it doesn't appear to be all that big a ship.

Batch 2 was good old MGP whiskey of about 6-7 years of age before it did its world tour in a container ship for a few months. Batch 3 went back to an unknown Kentucky source if memory serves.

Don't recall MGP ever being particularly copper-heavy but it could be I suppose. Not even sure what that would taste like unless it is a more general somewhat metallic taste.

I don't completely dismiss the notion of "ocean aging" (seems to work for Linie aquavit or so they claim) but it likely relies on variable temperatures and an adequate amount of sloshing about I should think.

[dcbt]

It would be another interesting thing to know more about the Batch 1 as it was never clear to me how it was stored on board.

Very little of what Jefferson does is made clear to anyone. Which is why I don't buy any of it.

[TunnelTiger]

Very little of what Jefferson does is made clear to anyone. Which is why I don't buy any of it.

I'm in total agreement with this statement. Now before I joined SB and learned the truth this is something I would have been all over but there is no excuse for ignorance.

[JDSmith619]

I got suckered into the story... I now pour it for guests that know nothing and want to try PVW "...Ahh yes, but have you tried the bourbon aged on a ship" works every time.

Its almost gone and I wont be buying another.

[kjbeggs]

I've got a bottle of Jefferson 18 that I'm saving for a special occasion, but as far as any of their current stuff, I agree with DCBT.

One exception being their bottled Manhattan they recently released in conjunction with Esquire. Being a Manhattan lover, I'd like to find a bottle of that.