Widow Jane’s “The Vaults” 2023 Whiskey Finished In Chinquapin Oak Casks

Brooklyn, New York’s Widow Jane recently unveiled the 2203 edition of The Vaults, its annual, highly-allocated release. It is a collection of the distillery’s oldest whiskeys, from Tennessee and Indiana, aged a minimum of 15 years and blended, in small batches, before being finished for 3 months in air-seasoned casks at the distillery’s rickhouse.

The Vaults 2023’s finishing barrels were made from Chinquapin Oak staves harvested from trees grown on a “limestone-rich” shelf in Northern Kentucky and air-seasoned for at least 48 months. It is notably Widow Jane’s first national bourbon released under the direction and strict supervision of Sienna Jevremov, who was named head distiller and blender in October 2022.

“The Vaults allows us to explore the fascinating dimensions of both extended time resting and unique oak choices on the character of bourbon,” said Jevremov in a prepared statement. “Blending these exceptional bourbons from our Tennessee and Indiana stocks was a meticulous process, finding gems in the bunch, then layering in flavor through matchmaking of 15-year-old with 20- year-old whiskey.

“Finally marrying them with the distinct flavors of this slow-growing KY white oak species (Quercus muehlenbergii), the result of which is a spirit that whiskey collectors are sure to treasure.”

As is the case with all Widow Jane whiskeys, The Vaults 2023 is non-chill filtered and proofed with limestone mineral water from the Rosendale Mines of New York, just 100 miles north of the distillery, which is said to contribute “to the round mouthfeel and exceptionally long finish.”

The Vaults 2023 by the numbers:
●      49.5% ABV (99 proof)
●      SRP is $249/750 ml
●      2600 total cases
●      Available in: AK, AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DE, FL, GA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, MN, MO, NC, NJ, NY, NV, OH, OK, PA, RI, TN, TX, VA, WA, WI, WASHINGTON, D.C.

Official Tasting notes:
●      Nose: Toasted marshmallow, pear turnover, honeydew, cinnamon
●      Palate: Honeycomb, butterscotch, raisin, molasses, dried apricots, root beer
●      Finish: Pralines and cream, roasted oolong, black walnut, licorice