Nice easy heft of corn on the nose with medium-light oak and even lighter notes I associate with wheat but am unsure how to describe. It only starts to burn as I sink my nose really deep into the glass. The flavor out-speaks the proof and the wheat clearly helps lighten the load providing an easy drinking 90 proof. Lingering over smell - I start to detect some light citrus varnish vibes. There is not a lot of depth of flavor as I roll it around but it sits squarely in bourbon (sweet, corn, oak) without pushing strongly in any direction and lighter on the char than most. The mouthfeel is more robust than the flavor and has a nice oily weight that coats the mouth and the glass - it's got some legs! There is very little burn at the backend and I think most regular consumers would call it both easy drinking and smooth. Overall I think it's good without wandering into greatness. I'm not sad I paid nearly $70 for it but it's not a flavor profile that would motivate me to do so again. I have no idea what the whole aged at sea business really adds outside of marketing but to read some of the reviews you'd think the sea soaked into the barrels - I don't really get any of that and feel immediately suspect of the reviews I've seen using the word 'brine'. I think it drinks better straight than on the rocks or as a mixed drink because the lighter flavors get pulverized.
Jefferson's Ocean Aged at Sea Voyage 15 Special Wheated Mash Bill
About this bottle
This is the fifteenth release from Jefferson's Ocean Voyage, one using wheat rather than rye as its secondary or flavoring grain. For the collection, barrels that have been aging bourbon for about 6 to 8 years are transferred to a ship that sails for several months at sea. This well-traveled bourbon has crossed the equator 4 times and hit 30 ports of call on 5 different continents before being bottled.
How it tastes
Measured across 14 flavor axes. Tap a note to find other bottles that lead with it.
Reviews
Showing the most detailed of 39 parsed reviews.
Smells like a familiar wheated bourbon. Some grass notes as well. The intensity on the palate is surprising. A bouquet of floral and wood notes. But the classic vanilla and caramel bourbon notes are missing. Lingering note is herbal and mildly bitter. Pleasantly sweet throughout. Smooth mouthfeel. 6/29/18
Very fruity and salty on the nose. Because of the wheated mash bill, the taste is somewhat spicy/peppery, but smoother than a traditional wheated bourbon and certainly more briny, with some nice subtler notes of banana and tropical fruits. Not the longest finish but not super short either.
Nose produces a bit to much ethanol. Oak and a bit of caramel. Decent legs as it runs around the glass. A bit harsh on the palate. Hot with black pepper. Finish is short with a bit of a sour wood taste. Overall it’s rough around the edges and I wouldn’t pick up a bottle of this.
On the nose one of the best smelling bourbons. Very inviting. Palate is simple and you can tell right away the wheat shines through. Finish is medium with just a hint of spice to remind you this is bourbon! Very solid sipper.
An appreciated drink. Agree with the overview of the expert review though I don’t battle the brine overall. For me it’s a nice accent but still with a bit of spiciness sand wood that lingers. I rather enjoy the drink.
33 more reviews were collected for this bottle. The longest ones are shown first.
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