Jefferson's Pritchard Hill Bourbon

Jun 29

I have a feeling I will never be getting Jefferson’s on the Podcast.

As with other brands that just don’t fit my palate, I don’t have anything against them. I know they’re putting out solid bourbon and there are plenty of people who enjoy it. I’m just not one of them. The 18-year-old Jefferson’s Private I had once was the closest to the good/great barrier for me, and that’s a bottle that supposedly had Stitzel-Weller juice in it.

Anyway…on to this review. For the Pritchard Hill Bourbon, Jefferson’s takes their straight bourbon whiskey (NAS) and ages it for another 12 months in Pritchard Hill Cabernet Sauvignon french oak casks. The finish definitely comes through - I tried this blind, and I thought there might be either a sherry or red wine finish - lots of red fruits and dark chocolate. The finish isn’t quite the issue.

If anything, the real issue is just that this feels and tastes unbalanced. The finish is potentially great, but watered down. The bourbon struggles to punch through, and the proof ebbs and flows. There is promise here, but there are flaws that really stop it from reaching its full potential. I honestly can’t tell if it’s the proof, the finish, the age, the mix of American and French oak, I just don’t know. Something is off, which is a shame - there really is good flavor when it comes out.

Jefferson's Pritchard Hill Bourbon: Specs

Classification: Bourbon

Origin: Kentucky Artisan Distillery

Mashbill: 60% Corn, 30% Rye, 10% Malted Barley

Proof: 90.2 (45.1% ABV)

Age: NAS

Location: Kentucky

Jefferson's Pritchard Hill Bourbon Price: $75

Official Website

Jefferson's Pritchard Hill Bourbon Review: Tasting Notes

Eye: Honey with a reddish tint. Unstable, thin rims and tons of droplets.

Nose: (Tried blind) Sherry finish? Oloroso if so. Red fruits and chocolate, with fruit punch opening up.

Palate: Light proof heat all over. Heat builds quickly, then ebbs. A bit fruity - watermelon candies, vanilla. Mouthfeel is light to medium. Tons of Nerds candies, too. Heat keeps building and ebbing.

Finish: Hot on the tip of my tonuge, reaching the whole palate.

Overall: Eh? Seems unbalanced. Has promise, but the flavors are all out of whack. Maybe more proof would help, maybe less age (or more, who knows?). Something needs tweaking, though.

Final Rating: 4.7

10 | Insurpassable | Nothing Else Comes Close (Blanton’s Straight from the Barrel)

9 | Incredible | Extraordinary (GTS, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof B518 and B520)

8 | Excellent | Exceptional (12+YO MGP Bourbon, Highland Park Single Barrels)

7 | Great | Well above average (Blanton’s Original, Old Weller Antique, Booker’s)

6 | Very Good | Better than average (Four Roses Small Batch Select, Knob Creek 14+ YO Picks)

5 | Good | Good, solid, ordinary (Elijah Craig Small Batch, Buffalo Trace, Old Grand-Dad Bottled-in-Bond)

4 | Sub-par | Many things I’d rather have (A.D. Laws Four Grain, Compass Box “Oak Cross”)

3 | Bad | Flawed (Iron Smoke Bourbon, Balcones)

2 | Poor | Forced myself to drink it (Buckshee Bourbon and Rye)

1 | Disgusting | Drain pour (Virginia Distilling Co. Cider Cask)