Jefferson's

[BourbonGuy]

One of my all time favorites we Jefferson's Presidential 17 and 18. I have tasted Jefferson's Very Small Batch and, or course there is no comparison. I tasted Chefs Collaboration a few years ago at WhiskeyFest. I was not impressed for th price But WhiskeyFest is hardly the best environment for tasting.

My question is, for the more experienced Jefferson's lovers, how would comment on the on the current line-up?

You could comment on your preferences and bank for the buck. I think currently there is:

Jefferson's Very Small Batch for around $35

Jefferson's Reserve Very Old Very Small Batch for around $55

Jefferson's Ocean for around $80

Jefferson's Groth Reserve for around $85

[h=1][/h]

[nd2005]

None are worth buying. The Reserve used to be decent but has tasted dramatically different since probsbly 2013 or so. The brand has resorted to marketing gimmicks as they have no good sourced stuff left.

[flahute]

None are worth it to me. (Have not tried the Groth, but I'm not a fan of finishes like that and I think the price is absurd.)

I tried Ocean at a bar and thought it was good, but again the price is absurd.

[Sluggo]

None are worth it to me. (Have not tried the Groth, but I'm not a fan of finishes like that and I think the price is absurd.)

I tried Ocean at a bar and thought it was good, but again the price is absurd.

I agree I bought 2 bottles of last years Ocean and was not terribly impressed. My brother did not care for it either especially for the price. So, the second bottle is just a display piece for my liquor cabinet.

[b1gcountry]

I have a bottle of Jefferson's reserve store bottling. I really enjoy it, and it is quality stuff. The bottle was around $50 though, and I like the four roses stuff better for half or 2/3 the price.

If I find a nice, well-balanced but caramellly selection for $35 or less I might not buy it again.

I've never tried plain Jefferson's. I'm not familiar with most Bourbons out there

[Golzee]

I've only had the entry level Jefferson's, but, I thought it tasted like plywood. So, I have yet to spend more money on any of their other offerings.

[dcbt]

I have never bought a Jefferson product - just on principle alone.

[Robertsccr5]

Looks like I'm in the minority but I enjoy the Reserve. Tastes like salty butterscotch to me.

[PaulO]

I tried a free sample of store selected Jefferson's. I thought it was really average, not better than OGD or VOB. I wouldn't pay $40. On the other hand, I thought the non chill filtered rye from Canada was good @ $30. I think that is discontinued. I tried their rye without the NCF sticker and it was bland, not a repeat purchase. Such is the way of sourced whiskey.

[BourbonGer]

They look gimmicky to me and overpriced but Im far from an expert. I saw the aged at sea one reduced in a store which doesnt really happen around here so the owner must be tired looking at it and trying to get rid of it

[BourbonGuy]

I was really disappointed with Jefferson's Chefs Collaboration at WhiskeyFest. I guess I'm just was just hoping for another Jefferson Presidential. But from what I am reading, it isn't to be. While it is one the light side (my opinion) I did like Angels Envy. I was sort of hoping the Groth Reserve might I been consideration. But at $84, I can buy 3 bottles Buffalo Trace or Elijah Craig 12-Year-Old or some Wild Turkey 101 and leave with change in my pocket.

[squire]

Gimmickry is a fair assessment yet we should be mindful that NDPs are by nature marketing companies rather than producers. They are going to put the best spin on the product at hand then move on to the next one. The question is do we pay to go along for the ride or take our trade elsewhere.

[ken_mays]

I've only ever tasted the Presidential Select 25 year. It tasted like a very oaky Old Forester to me. I enjoyed it but wouldn't buy it except as a novelty.

[El Vino]

I like the batches of the very old, very small batch that I have had. It is my father's favorite and I have it whenever I visit him. It is on the high side price wise, but for me the quality is there.

[gburger]

I have the 17, 18 yr, plus the Chef's and very old and one of the Ocean. I just had some of the Very Old last night. Did not hate it, yet did not love it.

By the way, how old is "very old"?

[smokinjoe]

One of my all time favorites we Jefferson's Presidential 17 and 18. I have tasted Jefferson's Very Small Batch and, or course there is no comparison. I tasted Chefs Collaboration a few years ago at WhiskeyFest. I was not impressed for th price But WhiskeyFest is hardly the best environment for tasting.

My question is, for the more experienced Jefferson's lovers, how would comment on the on the current line-up?

You could comment on your preferences and bank for the buck. I think currently there is:

Jefferson's Very Small Batch for around $35

Jefferson's Reserve Very Old Very Small Batch for around $55

Jefferson's Ocean for around $80

Jefferson's Groth Reserve for around $85

[h=1][/h]

I've tried all of those, and they range from average to slightly above average. I would say those prices look on the high side, though. Certainly, not buys for me, but it's not bad whiskey.

My general feeling on Jefferson's is that I give the Zoellers the benefit of the doubt on most of the whiskies that they bring to market, because they've earned some credibility as a first rate NDP based on a pretty nice list of quality whiskies they have released over the past nearly 20 years. The Old 15 year was very solid. The Presidentials were very well received. The Canadian produced rye was top notch. And even though I would never buy one, one of the Ocean selections I have tried was very interesting and good. These folks know how to pick whiskey. And, I can appreciate their interesting and innovative approaches they develop for their offerings like the Ocean, Groth Reserve, Chef's, etc. Doesn't mean I'm seeking out their labels at my local, but my opinion of what they do is generally very positive. In a long list of (and getting longer daily, it seems) of NDP's released by every Tom, Dick and Harry that couldn't spell bourbon 3 years ago, that are taking up shelf space, I would rate the Jefferson's brand as at or near the top in terms of quality and substance.

[silverc]

I wish I had seen this thread before I dropped about $80 on a bottle of the Jefferson's Small Batch and Reserve. The small batch was okay...nothing special, but the reserve was just awful, especially for $50. I was really disappointed in it and won't be buying any more Jefferson's products in the future. The reserve was just an oak bomb and I've taken to mixing it with coke when my wife wants a whiskey and coke. Not something that makes me happy, but at least somebody will drink it, because I'm not touching it again.

[B.B. Babington]

...My general feeling on Jefferson's is that I give the Zoellers the benefit of the doubt on most of the whiskies that they bring to market, because they've earned some credibility as a first rate NDP ...I would rate the Jefferson's brand as at or near the top in terms of quality and substance.

No one can dis the ryes. Every bottle of "Very Old" I've tried has delivered on giving a degree of barrel and depth one looks for with something called "Very Old." Though Jefferson's might seem gimmicky and overpriced, many of their products have in the end proven to be downright good values! Or even great values. I've enjoyed some of the gimmicky ones like Chef's and thoroughly enjoyed their fantastic aged material.

[squire]

. . . . My general feeling on Jefferson's is that I give the Zoellers the benefit of the doubt on most of the whiskies that they bring to market, because they've earned some credibility as a first rate NDP based on a pretty nice list of quality whiskies they have released over the past nearly 20 years. The Old 15 year was very solid. The Presidentials were very well received. The Canadian produced rye was top notch. . . . . These folks know how to pick whiskey. . . . .

[smokinjoe]

It is clear to me that despite who may, or may not be, more involved in selecting barrels for the Jefferson's labels at this time, the Zoellers have shown a knack for selecting high quality whiskies and often with an innovative touch over many years.

[DonutsNBourbon]

I've always wanted to try the Jefferson's Ocean, but at $80 a bottle, that's a tough one to swallow. I bought a bottle of the reg Jefferson's for $32, and I didn't regret that purchase at all. It's fine whiskey, but probably not something I'd buy again. and because of this thread, I decided to pull out the bottle and try and finish if off last night, still a pretty decent pour.

[tanstaafl2]

I've always wanted to try the Jefferson's Ocean, but at $80 a bottle, that's a tough one to swallow. I bought a bottle of the reg Jefferson's for $32, and I didn't regret that purchase at all. It's fine whiskey, but probably not something I'd buy again. and because of this thread, I decided to pull out the bottle and try and finish if off last night, still a pretty decent pour.

I have one of the original Ocean's and while it did not come close to the very high price (nearly twice what the current version goes for) I thought it was quite good (certainly tasted much more mature than a typical 4yo) and I really just wanted to taste the experiment for myself. I have posted in the past how I would have done the experiment differently! The bottles were very limited in number in the original Ocean. Later editions have been average at best with little about them to merit the cost for me and I am unlikely to buy another at this point.

I liked the Groth wine cask finish but again the price makes a second bottle highly unlikely. I think they just don't have many options to pick from anymore and I would not be likely to try the standard bottlings for the foreseeable future.

Finishing the bourbon might just be a way to cover up otherwise average bourbon. They are supposed to be releasing a rum finished bourbon and a set of 200 ml bottles that have each been finished in a different manner and that has my interest but I haven't seen it yet. I might give that a try.

http://www.mensjournal.com/food-drink/drinks/the-most-experimental-bourbon-in-the-world-20141215

As part of the Jefferson's Experimental Series ($99.99) that will be available in January, customers can buy a gift pack of five 200 ml bottles containing some of Zoeller's most experimental batches. For the past two years, Zoeller has been carrying out 13 different treatments on aged bourbon--aging it in wine barrels, charring some barrels, toasting the staves of others-- all of which affects the flavors.

[B.B. Babington]

the experimental sets are released. I picked up two different sets. Haven't tried them yet, maybe sample some tonight. Sure, as tantaafl2 said, they're using their average whiskey for the experiments, but isn't that what BT, woodford, Bowman's and most all the rest do, also? Plus Jefferson's did us the favor of putting it in 200ml sizes to make it more affordable to try different flavors. Seems like a good value for those looking for experimentals compared to 375's for $50-60 and 750's for $100+ from other folks.

[tanstaafl2]

the experimental sets are released. I picked up two different sets. Haven't tried them yet, maybe sample some tonight. Sure, as tantaafl2 said, they're using their average whiskey for the experiments, but isn't that what BT, woodford, Bowman's and most all the rest do, also? Plus Jefferson's did us the favor of putting it in 200ml sizes to make it more affordable to try different flavors. Seems like a good value for those looking for experimentals compared to 375's for $50-60 and 750's for $100+ from other folks.

Good to know. Doesn't seem like they are getting to Atlanta even though we get lots of the other Jefferson bottles. Or I somehow just missed them!

[BTshorty]

Unlike popular opinion, I've liked the Jefferson's line - I feel the Zoellers have done a fine job. My favorite has been the Presidential 18 so far, (I haven't opened my 21 & 25 yr old ryes).

The Ocean is interesting ($65), but pricey. The 10yr old Rye is very good, but hard to find around here..