Jefferson's Bourbon facts for kids

Jefferson's Bourbon is a special kind of bourbon whiskey. It comes from Louisville, Kentucky, in the United States. A company called Pernod-Ricard makes, mixes, and bottles it. This brand first came out in 1997.

Jefferson's is known for trying new ways to mix and age its bourbon. For example, they have aged bourbon on ships at sea. The movement of the waves can change how the bourbon develops. They also make a type of whiskey called rye whiskey.

The company follows a four-step process to make bourbon. These steps are: distill, age, cut to proof, and bottle. They spend a lot of time focusing on the aging part.

At first, Jefferson's only used bourbon made by other companies. Later, Jefferson's bought a place called Kentucky Artisan Distillery in Crestwood, Kentucky. By 2017, about 25% of their aged bourbon came from this distillery. The rest still came from other independent distilleries.

How Jefferson's Bourbon Started

Jefferson's Bourbon began in 1997. A man named Trey Zoeller from Kentucky started it with his father, Chet Zoeller. Chet was a historian who studied bourbon.

Trey Zoeller named his company McClain & Kyne. This name honored his family's past. One of his relatives, from way back in 1799, was known for making spirits.

Around 2005, a company called Castle Brands bought McClain & Kyne. Trey Zoeller said he chose the name "Jefferson's" because he wanted a name that people would know. He also wanted it to connect to history and tradition.

In June 2015, Castle Brands bought a part of Copperhead Distillery Company. This company owns and runs Kentucky Artisan Distillery.

The brand started with a product called Jefferson's Reserve. Then, they added Jefferson's Presidential Select and Jefferson's Small Batch. Today, Jefferson's makes many different kinds of bourbon and rye. Some of these are special limited editions.

Making Jefferson's Bourbon

Besides their regular bourbons, ryes, and whiskeys, Jefferson's also makes some unique products.

Special Kinds of Jefferson's Bourbon

• Jefferson's Ocean (45% alcohol): This started as an experiment. Now, it's a regular product. Barrels of bourbon are aged for 6 to 7 years. Then, they are put on ships that sail around the world for six months. Jefferson's says the ocean's movement helps the bourbon age faster.

• Jefferson's Collaboration (41% alcohol): This bourbon was mixed with help from Edward Lee. He is a chef from a restaurant in Louisville. They made this bourbon to taste good with food.

• Jefferson's Rye Cognac Finish Whiskey (47% alcohol): In 2021, Jefferson's released this special rye whiskey. It's an aged rye whiskey that spends 9 to 19 months in old French Cognac barrels. Cognac is a type of brandy from France.

• Ocean Aged at Sea Rye Whiskey (Voyage #26): This was Jefferson's first rye whiskey aged on the ocean. It's part of their "Ocean" series.

What People Think of Jefferson's Bourbon

Many people have reviewed Jefferson's products.

In 2012, the Beverage Tasting Institute gave high scores to some of their bourbons. Jefferson's Small Batch Bourbon got a score of 92. Jefferson's Reserve received an even higher score of 94.

Also in 2012, Wine Enthusiast magazine gave Jefferson's Rye a score of 92.

A food critic named Morgan Murphy also shared his thoughts. He said that this bourbon looks like "woodpile water" because of its dark color. But he added that it has a sweet caramel taste with a gentle oak flavor.