Jefferson’s Marian McLain

My Price: $288.99 (plus tax and shipping)

Country/Area: Kentucky, Indiana, Tennessee, USA

Distillery: Undisclosed

Proof/ABV: 102 Proof/ 51% ABV

Mash Bill: Undisclosed blend of 21% 14 Year Tennessee Whiskey, 40% 11 Year Kentucky Bourbon, 14% Indiana Double Barreled Wheated Bourbon, 17% Kentucky Rum Finished Bourbon, 8%  8 Year Kentucky Bourbon

Barrel: New Oak, Used Oak and Rum Barrels

Age: 8-14 years

Nose: Grass, Tobacco, Earth

Taste: Leather, Oak, Vanilla

Review:

As a self-proclaimed Jefferson’s Fanboy, I was a bit disappointed to see the price tag on the Marian McLain release. The blenders at Jeffersons combined 5 different whiskies (representing the 5 children of Marian) with the majority of the blend being 14 year old Tennessee Bourbon and 11 year old Kentucky Bourbon. I think it is because of this that the oak comes off a bit too strong for my liking. The nose has dark and rich notes of tobacco and earth but also a bit of ethanol. The taste is also deep and rich but borders on too tannic for me. The story behind Marian McLain being arrested for illegally producing whiskey to help feed her family after becoming a widow when her husband died at war is a good one but I’m afraid the whiskey does not jive with my preferences. Add in the very high price tag and you have a whiskey I recommend you leave on the liquor stores shelf. Cheers!

My Rating: Shoot. Not worth the money.

May the miles you hike be filled with wonder and the glasses you raise be filled with whiskey.

Cheers!

Rating scale:

-Spit: Don’t bother with this one. If a friend gives you a dram of it, are they even your friend?

-Shoot: Good enough to get you drunk.

-Sip: Tasty enough to enjoy neat or on the rocks.

-Stock: I’d recommend keeping a bottle on hand.