“Decadence is a tough phrase to make use of because it has turn out to be little greater than a time period of abuse utilized by critics to something they don’t but perceive or which appears to vary from their ethical ideas.” – Ernest Hemingway
I’ve written beforehand about Widow Jane, protecting their flagship expression which inspired me with its nuanced complexity and infusion of New York spirit (the incorporeal essence, not the distilled liquid) courtesy of the filtered water they draw from the native Rosendale mine. Immediately I’ll be reviewing their most extremely allotted expression, Widow Jane Decadence, which options that very same baseline bourbon completed in maple syrup barrels supplied by Hudson Valley’s Crown Maple.
Completed bourbon, as I mentioned in my 2021 end-of-year contribution for Malt, is “having a second.” The marketplace for them has exploded and, previously, I’ve expounded on how these outcomes have indubitably been a combined bag. Whereas some manufacturers seemingly throw any and each end on the wall hoping one thing sticks, there are others like Widow Jane who take a much more restrained strategy and solely produce a single dalliance with the class.
Whereas a model like Starlight excels at casting a large web and pushing the envelope of innovation, I do consider there’s additionally advantage in taking the extra considered strategy. For Widow Jane’s half, specializing in a single completed expression has paid dividends because it’s one in all their hottest expressions regardless of being so extremely allotted that they didn’t have a single bottle out there for buy at their tasting room once I visited lately.
They do, nonetheless, have a choose few bottles left on the distillery, which they provide as a part of a tasting flight along with a ready record for folks to be notified in regards to the subsequent launch. Whereas I used to be there, a minimum of three folks remarked that it was their favourite of the flight and inquired about tips on how to get on the record, so I counsel you retain your ear to the bottom in September when the most recent launch will probably be despatched to native markets (these markets being: NY, NJ, MA, MD, FL, TX, IL, CA, and CO).
It ought to be famous that in the present day I’ll be making an attempt 2020’s batch 3 (which was launched in October of that 12 months and produced a bit of over 3,000 bottles) whereas 2021’s fall and winter batch releases produced about 12,000 bottles, indicating that Widow Jane is working exhausting to make sure provide catches as much as the demand. As for additional salient particulars, that is bottled at 91 proof (45.5% ABV) and like I discussed above it’s aged for no less than 10 years earlier than being completed in maple syrup barrels. The advised retail worth is $89.99.
As a closing apart earlier than I get into the tasting notes, I must also come clean with the truth that although I do get pleasure from an rising variety of completed bourbon expressions, I’ve but to discover a maple syrup completed bourbon that agrees with me. They have a tendency to veer too closely into the maple taste, which may be overbearing in its sweetness and detract-from somewhat than meld-with the bottom spirit, which defeats the aim. There are infused bourbons that accomplish an analogous impact (one I usually don’t get pleasure from, however which function welcome choices in cocktail recipes) and I’m curious to see how Widow Jane’s Grasp Blender, Lisa Wicker, manages (or fails) to corral such a powerful be aware.
Widow Jane Decadence – Overview
Colour: Mild mahogany
On the nostril: Instantly, and predictable, notes of maple sweet leap out of the glass coupled with an apple strudel fruit pastry. After swirling, a touch of thyme and cinnamon that was initially alluded to however not apparent within the cooked apple be aware emerges. Lastly there are aromas of undamaged vanilla pods, hazelnut, and oak all of which give an earthy steadiness to the sweeter medley of flavors of the primary whiff.
Within the mouth: I famous at first that the feel was barely effervescent and full, however fleeting. In a curious show, the mouthfeel presents itself as very energetic at first earlier than dissipating and leaving the flavour to do the heavy lifting on the ultimate half of the sip. As for these flavors, there’s the predictable maple sweetness but in addition the mineral-inflected New York water be aware that Widow Jane is legendary for together with the pastry-like breadiness from the nostril. What begins as a mouth-coating marvel transforms as soon as it reaches midpalate, as maple syrup tends to, from the preliminary sugary rush to the considerably drying and spice-laden affair that ripples all through the end. These closing flavors come within the type of cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and cardamom, and as soon as these notes emerge the refined dryness takes maintain in a manner that captures your consideration to the top. For me it was harking back to getting a small unblended patch of flour throughout your palate whereas consuming uncooked pie dough.
Conclusions:
Whereas sure points of this expertise have been predictable (it tastes like maple syrup!) I discovered that it reins within the sugariness and does extra to seize what I’ll name the “essence” of maple syrup. That’s to say: it begins with a refined sweetness and concludes with a drying, earthiness that clearly divides the back and front ends of every sip. Total it’s a enjoyable tasting expertise that shows unbelievable steadiness which is unquestionably as a result of size of Decadence’s ending (which is undisclosed) in addition to its proof level. Credit score belongs to Lisa Wicker for threading the needle and pulling this batch from the barrel earlier than the underlying bourbon taste vanished fully.
Lastly I’ll comment that whereas $89.99 is initially a bit off-putting, when one considers its 10 12 months age assertion, the place this expression is positioned amongst Widow Jane’s different choices, and the price of the ending course of, I consider it’s correctly priced. Certainly purists will scoff at a 91 proof completed bourbon commanding such a excessive greenback quantity, however there’s no denying it’s a tasty pour that aficionados and newcomers alike will get pleasure from.
