Did This Distillery Fall Off Hard in 2024?

Widow Jane used to be a name I heard on a weekly basis, people recommending their bottles as top shelf options for bourbon lovers. But today, I hear almost no mention of the New York distillery. Why? Let's talk about it...
Join our Discord and get in on the whiskey talk: / discord
If you want to get involved on Patreon just head on over here: patreon.com/use...
Feel free to check out Country Wine & Spirits and use code TRUEVANGUARD when you check out for a discount: cwspirits.com/

[@xchirs_]

Fun fact: Dolomite from the Widow Jane Mine in Rosendale was used to make Rosendale cement, which was used to make the base for the Statue of Liberty. Thought that was pretty cool.

[@TownandCountryPC]

I’ve never tried any of the Widow Jane juice. I’ll have to try a pour of it before I buy any. That 15yr doesn’t sound too bad though.

[@robtibbetts890]

All I’ve really tried from WJ is the 10-year, which has been very gettable at BevMo here in CA.
It’s _fine_ but it’s $60 and you can do just as well with Four Roses yellow label for half as much.
Haven’t seen the other expressions out here.

[@colt3905]

Honestly, my main issue with Widow Jane is the cost. Everything I have had from them with the exception of Decadence has been extremely thin. Decadence was interesting for a while but that type of sweetness just isn’t something I’m looking for very often. I feel every bottle they have ever released would have been improved with even just a little more proof. Everything has just been very proofed down and thinned out. None of it is bad whiskey by any means but I feel I can get things that are much better at that price point. That said, if they ever do a cask strength release I would gladly buy a bottle.

[@Bryarx81]

Price is pretty steep for some OK craft…. And lots of their offerings are proofed down, seems to cater to the EC18 / 1924 crowd.

[@umami0247]

Have never tried any thing from this brand. Cost is a factor on the older stated product like the 13-15 but as far as the ten year isn’t really in my area we get the finished bottles which I’m less likely to buy without trying them. I’d be more likely to get the Kings county brand before I’d buy WJ. NY brands don’t get to much attention but that is changing I know that Pursuit United is using some juice from a finger lakes region whiskey for their blending. And I really like Pursuit United juice haven’t had a bad bottle yet. Probably won’t be getting WJ anytime soon. And Russell’s 15 isn’t a bottle I’ll be getting either just too expensive for my tastes. It could be sitting on a shelf and it’s a pass for me.

[@Brian-ch6hg]

FWIW, every time you mention lake water notes, my first reaction is “yaaasssss”. Right up my grew-up-swimming-in-rivers-and-lakes alley.

[@MikeyP7672]

I bought the vaulted 15 year, and wasn't really for me. I was surprised cuz it got a bunch of great reviews but it missed the mark for me.
Def one I wish I would have tried before buying like TV said.

[@jamesstamp8567]

First!