Distillery: Sourced (a blend of many bourbons)
Proof: 90.2
Age: Thought to be mostly ~8-year-old bourbons
Mashbill: Undisclosed
Price: ~$55
Company
Started by father and son duo in 1997, Trey and Chet Zoeller, Jefferson’s was purchased by Pernod Ricard in 2019. They were previously owned by parent company, Castle Brands, Inc.
Production
Jefferson’s blends their bourbon—meaning they source their product from other distilleries and blend them together to make their own unique product. Most bourbons in Jefferson’s Reserve are on the older side (7-8+ years).
I actually had the chance to talk to Founder and Chief Strategist, Trey Zoeller, and he said they use multiple (4-5) bourbons in their blend and employ unique aging and other processes to enhance the product.
Nose – 92/100
Easy and approachable with notes of vanilla, caramel, sweet bread, and slight ethanol.
Palate – 93/100
The palate is lighter than expected but rich in flavor. After multiple tastes, I noticed notes of pepper, oak, caramel, slight right, and some citrus. You can tell older bourbons were used in the blend, and they did a good job of keeping the flavors and heat under control.
Finish – 92/100
Medium-to-short finish with slight rye, oak, and caramel. Bigger sips reveal some sweet bread. Very consistent in flavors all the way through.
Value – 90/100
Jefferson’s Reserve is a very good mid-shelf bourbon. It has character but is also approachable so beginners and enthusiasts alike can enjoy a pour. The main downside is the price.
You’re looking at about $55 to grab a bottle. That pushes it into conversations with bottles like Maker’s 46, Russel’s Reserve, and more exceptional pours. I can’t say I would pick Jefferson’s Reserve over those, but it’s a solid bottle nonetheless.
Verdict – 91.75/100
We score each bourbon based on nose, palate, finish, and value.
Scoring System:
- Platinum – 95+
- Gold – 90 – 94
- Silver – 80 – 89
- Bronze – <80
Hunter Branch is the Founder and Director of Editorial for Bourbon Inspector. He has been writing about and professionally reviewing bourbon since 2020 (and has been drinking it for much longer). He’s been able to interview big names in the bourbon industry like Trey Zoeller from Jefferson’s Bourbon and his work has been featured in publications like TastingTable, Mashed, and more.