Distillery: The Family Jones, LLC—Denver, CO
Proof: 94.0 (47.0% ABV)
Age: Four+ Years
Mashbill: 75% Corn, 15% Rye, 10% Malted Barley
MSRP: $55
A Mile-High Sipper: Colorado Craft at its Best
If The Family Jones is any indication of the overall Colorado craft whiskey scene, then it deserves some national attention.
Based in Denver, with distilling operations in Loveland, The Family Jones distillery takes a Colorado grain-to-glass approach with all Colorado sourcing and double pot distillation. Another in their lineup of their polished and complete offerings is the Ella Jones Colorado Straight Bourbon Whiskey—a bottle that showcases not only where it’s from, but also a superior craft offering.
Ella Jones Colorado Straight Bourbon Whiskey Review: Tasting Notes
Nose – 4.5/5
The Nose is layered and rich, starting with toasted vanilla, warm corn pudding, and a hint of dark cherry. There’s notes of burnt brown sugar that lifts into brighter notes of caramel apple along with a little orange zest. A sweet oak is present and well-integrated. There’s no hint of sharp ethanol.
Palate – 4.75/5
On the Palate, caramelized sugar leads the way, followed by cherry, pear and green apple notes. A faint note of charred wood lies underneath and serves to enhance the fruity notes. Light rye spice adds balance to the fruit notes without detracting or dominating. Texture is silky, mid-weight, and well-developed especially considering this is a four-year bourbon.
Finish – 4.5/5
The Finish is long and clean, with vanilla oak, dry spice, and just a slight note of leather. It leaves a warm, well-earned impression without any tannin tang or residual heat.
Value – 4.75/5
Ella Jones sits at a $55—an extremely high value for a well crafted, packed full of flavor offering. This isn’t an entry-level sipper or a novelty craft bottle—it’s a carefully made, mature and flavorful whiskey that easily competes and beats many better-known brands.
This bourbon shows that age and proof aren’t the only paths to exceptional whiskey. The Family Jones has crafted a whiskey that doesn’t lean on gimmicks or heavy-handed finishes. Ella Jones isn’t just a good Colorado bourbon—it’s a damn fine whiskey. Period.
Ella Jones Colorado Straight Bourbon Whiskey Review: The Verdict
This bourbon shows that age and proof aren’t the only paths to exceptional whiskey. The Family Jones has crafted a whiskey that doesn’t lean on gimmicks or heavy-handed finishes. Ella Jones isn’t just a good Colorado bourbon—it’s a damn fine whiskey. Period.
Verdict – 4.6/5
We score each bourbon based on nose, palate, finish, and value.
Scoring System:
- Platinum – 4.5 – 5
- Gold – 4 – 4.5
- Silver – 3 – 4
- Bronze – <3
Mike Long is a staff writer at Bourbon Inspector and has an Executive Bourbon Steward designation from the Stave and Thief Society. He’s a former “wine guy” who discovered his love for bourbon years back at a spur-of-the-moment bourbon tasting he attended. He also loves traveling throughout America with his wife of over 37 years, Debby.
