American

Bourbon Review: Casey Jones Total Eclipse Bourbon

$48

OVERALL
RATING

7

Bourbon Review: Casey Jones Total Eclipse Bourbon

If you're a fan of newer distilleries and enjoy experiencing distillates as they evolve over time, Casey Jones Total Eclipse Bourbon is a great choice for you.
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Tasting Notes:

About:
Created to celebrate the 2nd solar eclipse in the past 7 years that crossed over the Casey Jones Distillery in Hopkinsville, Kentucky, this fully-aged bourbon (vs moonshine, which was the 2017 eclipse series offering) was released February 21st and celebrated with over 20,000 attendees to their eclipse watch party on April 8th, 2024.
Appearance:
A lighter auburn
Nose:
A good dose of graham cracker with a slight hint of honey. The aroma isn’t very strong at first, requiring to get much closer to the liquid than usual. It’s almost as if the 100-proof takes a bit longer to reach you. Toward the back of the nose, the scent sweetens quite a bit, leaving a pleasant, nearly floral aroma just before you dive in.
Palate:
It doesn’t seem to have a strong taste right at the beginning, taking a few seconds for the experience to develop. When it does, the sensation rolls quickly toward the middle of the tongue, and as it moves closer to the back of the throat, the flavor becomes even more pronounced. The first distinct note is bitter orange—perhaps even orange peel—still carrying a hint of honey from the nose, but transitioning into a more tannic finish.
Finish:
Picking up where the mouthfeel leaves off, the powerful sensation of the finish is dominated by tannins, which feels surprising given its young age, but is defiantly present. This quickly switches back to that sweet, honey-scented effervescence that, while remaining quite dry, provides a lasting impression and a desire for another sip. The tannins linger, almost reminiscent of pruned apricot rubbed against the barrel. Finally, the dryness gives way to the slightest bit of oiliness, offering a smoother mouthfeel than expected from what is ultimately quite a young whiskey in today’s world of aged products.
Comments:
I’m impressed with how well this bourbon packs quite a bit of flavor into something that has not yet earned its history or age. I wouldn’t be surprised if there are some older flavors milling about to give it more pizzazz beyond its years.

Should You Buy Casey Jones Total Eclipse Bourbon?

If you’re a fan of newer distilleries and enjoy experiencing distillates as they evolve over time, Casey Jones Total Eclipse Bourbon is a great choice for you. Across the pond in the UK, it’s hard to keep track of the growing number of distilleries in Kentucky, let alone the rest of the United States. While we can maintain a good handle on Scottish, Irish, and other international whiskies, the emergence of smaller, independent bourbon distilleries in the U.S. is genuinely exciting—they seem to pop up everywhere.

Releasing a bottle to commemorate a second eclipse in seven years is a fantastic idea from Casey Jones, especially when it’s both fun and affordable. The review highlights just how well-crafted this liquid is, despite its younger age compared to most traditional bourbon releases.

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How Does This Compare To the First Release?

The tasting notes for Casey Jones Total Eclipse Bourbon reveal a well-balanced profile with oak flavors complemented by the youthful character of the spirit. Tannic notes, likely from deeply charred virgin oak, lend the bourbon a solid structure and pleasing texture. This bourbon delivers apricot and bitter orange flavors—while bitter orange is common in bourbon, apricot is a less frequent yet delightful addition. If you prefer spirit-driven bourbons with a bold yet nuanced profile, this bottle is an excellent choice.

The Best Ways To Enjoy Casey Jones Total Eclipse Bourbon?

A delicious pour, no matter what you’re doing with it. Notes of orange, apricot, honey, graham crackers, and a little linger of gentle tannic qualities make this bourbon sound like something that is much older than what it states on the label.

Scott Manning

Scott Manning is a whiskey pricing expert, co-creator of BoozApp, and runs Product at BAXUS.

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