Jefferson's Ocean Aged at Sea Voyage 16

Had yesterday so going from memory: N: strong, can almost smell it from a few feet away. Typically bourbon vanilla and caramel with some alcoholic burn mingling P: unexpectedly light and floral. Rosey taste with some more scotch like notes. Probably some placebo effect going on but in some ways reminds me of an ocean breeze. F: the light, breezy, floral notes evolve into more classic bourbon notes of vanilla and caramel, more in line with what the nose would suggest. Overall: I’m sure there were more complexities, but hard to recall the day after. Overall this is a good bourbon, but the rating comes in lower because it’s not what I personally would look for in a bourbon. Could probably garnish a 3-3.5 based on novelty and decent flavors/complexity. I wouldn’t seek out a bottle myself, but would buy a glass for the right price 0-1.5: Disgusting. Worth only mixing or meeting the drain. 2: Bad. Drinkable, but majorly flawed 2.5: Sub-par. OK, but bland or somewhat flawed. 3: Good. Decent stuff, but I won’t be rushing to buy it 3.5: Very good. I’d love to keep a bottle around 4: Excellent. I would like to own a case. A go to for me that is worthy of celebrating 4.5: Incredible.Truly high end, elite level, very noteworthy 5: Sublime. Nearly perfect and an all time favorite

Neat. The final pour of this Party Source Store pick. This has been on my shelf for too long with only a few ounces left. Bottle kill time! Not a big fan of Jefferson’s but this barrel pick really stood out to me. The other Ocean bottles I have had never lived up to this one. On the nose, there is this nice salted caramel. Damp wood and baking spices. Very slight hint of berries and cream. It’s a very inviting nose, I understand why my novice whiskey drinking friends like this one. Surprisingly creamy for 90 proof and most likely chilled filtered. No real flavor on the tongue, watered down caramel sweetness at best. Salted caramel and oak on the taste. Oak on the finish. That’s really it. This is just an expensive easy sipper. Didn’t even live up to my memory of it. It is smooth and inviting and the flavors that are there are nice but it’s so simple for a bottle that costs so much. This bottle is a conversation piece and that’s it.

Nose... Like warm candied apples with a hint of sea salt.. Refined and rich with definite dessert qualities... Appearance... a nice dark amber mixed with light copper... Taste... The sea salt is as real as I could have hoped for. I can sense the brine that they set out for. It's bright, peppery, and filled with sweet notes throughout... Overall.... Astounding, truly it's remarkable how the sea comes through. While this leave almost dessert set to me, the ocean is in each nip. Very enjoyable....

I definitely get cherry and leather. Unique. Very distinctive and tasty. I think the idea behind putting the barrels out to sea has less to do with subjecting it to the salty air, and more to do with the constant movement of the boats, resulting in more liquid coming into contact with the oaky barrel. Some reviews mention the salt they taste. I don’t taste a saltier bourbon at all. But definitely more leather.

If the salt is just a marketing gimmick, it is genius. I continue to get it on the nose and taste. Outside of the salt, I get sweet corn on the nose. Delicate flavors. On the taste, the vanilla gives way to spice. The spice has decent legs. Those salt sensations are this bourbons unique aspects.

Altogether pleasant, nice sweet nose, solid bourbon body but smooth, you can really get some fine ocean salt if you want, then an accentuated Jefferson’s black tea finish draws you right back for another sip. A great bourbon for me, just a bit expensive, going to have to make it last.