Widow Jane 10 Year Tequila Ocho Cask Finish Bourbon is a limited-edition straight bourbon made from the brand’s flagship 10-year-old whiskey and finished for eight months in Tequila Ocho casks. The collaboration marks the first time Tequila Ocho has permitted casks from its aged expressions to be used for whiskey maturation. Bottled at 45.5% ABV, or 91 proof, the bourbon carries a suggested retail price of $74.99.
Widow Jane Aged 10 Years Tequila Ocho Cask Finish showcases a successful integration of subtle agave, herbal, and mineral notes into its rich 10 year old bourbon base, resulting in an approachable and surprisingly cohesive tequila-finished bourbon.
On the palate, the entry is lightly sweet, somewhat dry and bursting with flavor. The bourbon itself is excellent, but with the tequila cask finish, things shoot into the stratosphere. It brings out the subtleties of the spirit while adding a mouthwatering dessert-like quality.
It’s oakier than I expected for the 10-year age statement, which I don’t mind, but I struggle to think of a context in which I’d reach for this over a standard bourbon or tequila.
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House Review
Nose:
Pleasant, delicate nose. White chocolate, frosting, gingerbread and blueberry dance around prominent agave character, which reads as candied and sweet (big Smarties candy note) and a little peppery.
Taste:
Thin to moderate mouthfeel. The palate is musky and dark. Oak strikes first with coffee grounds, leather and vanilla, followed by clove, black pepper. The back palate sweetens up with butterscotch and a cotton candy grape note.
Finish:
The finish leads with agave, which comes through spicy and vegetal — poblano, cinnamon, white pepper. From there it simmers into a sugary agave syrup profile.
Overall:
This is decent but not great. I often struggle with tequila-finished whiskeys. this one is pretty good but certainly doesn’t change my mind on the category. It’s oakier than I expected for the 10-year age statement, which I don’t mind, but I struggle to think of a context in which I’d reach for this over a standard bourbon or tequila.
Score:
86
By David Morrow
Our in house critic rates spirits on a scale of 0-10 (10 best) and is aggregated the same as external sources