Review #129: Widow Jane “Baby Jane” Bourbon

COST: $50 for 750mL bottle

AGE: 4 yrs

MASH BILL: unknown, uses Widow Jane proprietary corn variety “Baby Jane”

PROOF: 91

This is a bourbon that uses a unique corn variety called “Baby Jane” that Widow Jane describes as giving the bourbon a creamy-spiciness. From the Widow Jane expressions I’ve tried in the past, I expect this to have plenty of sweetness. Let’s see how this proprietary corn variety performs!

Reviewed neat in a Glencairn.

APPEARANCE: Honey in color (1.2), fast, medium thickness legs.

NOSE: Honeyed pears, unripe white grapes, lightly burnt caramel, and an expressed orange peel. This is bright and gives me thoughts of an early summer orchard.

PALATE: This has a creamy mouthfeel as well as flavor profile. A creamy, salt-water taffy and allspice have the most prominence. Caramel and orange peel make and entrance amongst an earthy note of charred oak. There is a light red fruit note that shows up towards the end of the palate and going into the finish.

FINISH: A light raspberry note, maybe even close to strawberry leadoff the finish along with allspice for a brief moment before giving way to salt, a faint brown sugar simple syrup, and a touch of mint and orange peel. Allspice and lightly toasted oak outlast all other flavors though to bring this to a close. The finish is medium length and is accompanied by a light hug deep in the chest.

RATING: 6.1/10

VALUE: 6.0/10 (This takes into account price, overall rating, age, and proof. See my spreadsheet for more details.)

OVERALL: Widow Jane claims the Baby Jane corn varietal creates a creamy spiciness. I find this to be a good description as I did find creamy notes and texture throughout the experience and a good bit of allspice, mint, and other spices at times. This is a very easy sipper and does have a uniqueness to it. However, while I was able to find distinct notes, it did take some work. I think at a slightly higher proof, the flavor profile would be more defined and richer. There’s zero proof heat with this at 91 proof, so I think there’s plenty room to bump up the proof without risk of it coming across too hot.

1 | Disgusting | ...I've not subjected myself to this level

2 | Poor | Balcones Lineage

3 | Bad | High West Double Rye, Jefferson's Ocean 28

4 | Sub-par | Weller's SR, Woodford Reserve Distiller's Select

5 | Good | Buffalo Trace, Sazerac Rye, Green River Wheated

6 | Very Good | Blanton's, Holladay Bourbons, Eagle Rare

7 | Great | Baker's 7yr SiB, WhistlePig PiggyBack SiB, 1792 BiB

8 | Excellent | Most ECBP batches, JD SiB BiB, High West MWND Act 11

9 | Incredible | Barrel Bourbon Batch T8ke, BBC DS #7, Four Roses OESQ

10 | Perfect | Found North Batch 08