Bourbon Review: Jefferson's Ocean: Aged at Sea Bourbon

Further supporting my suspicion that this particular batch of Jefferson’s Ocean includes mostly rye grain mash bill bourbon, the front of the palate leads off with floral notes, citrus notes, and a light black pepper spice. In the mid palate, those flavors taper off and the bourbon sweetens with caramel driving most of the flavor. Similar to the nose, soft salt and smoke combine with the caramel, and the finish tapers off with a light dry note of oak combining with the predominant caramel. To me, the nose seemed to give off more of the possible characteristics derived from aging the barrels at sea than the palate. In addition, the smoke and salt notes were more pronounced upon opening a fresh bottle. After sitting in the glass for 15 minutes, those notes seemed to diminish. Final Thoughts & Score: Overall, the process behind Jefferson’s Ocean certainly makes this a unique product. However, whether the process creates a different flavor profile is up for debate. At best, I think the sea aging process adds a touch of salt and smoke complexity that usually doesn’t appear in bourbon, but those notes are very subdued. With all that in mind, certainly give Jefferson’s Ocean a try if you see it at a bar. However, if you’re interested in the flavor profile noted above, look for a cask strength release, as that will likely have more pronounced characteristics derived from the sea aging process.