‘Take Your Time With Each Drop’: Widow Jane’s Oldest Bourbon to Date Is Finished in Rare Mizunara Casks
(Photo: Widow Jane)
On Monday, Brooklyn-based Widow Jane Distillery placed a new jewel in its crown by way of Black Opal, a blend of 20-year-old bourbons that clocks in as the brand’s oldest release to date.
The expression began with 100 barrels selected by head distiller and blender Sienna Jevremov. After marrying the spirits “test after test,” the liquid was placed in old-growth Mizunara oak casks for an extended finish.
That final touch brings Black Opal in line with many a collector’s edition whiskey. Mizunara oak, synonymous with some of the most expensive spirits on the market, is native to the mountainous regions of Hokkaido, Japan. The wood type is more porous and lower in tannins than other oaks used to make casks, imbuing its distinctly spicy, incensed flavor. Widow Jane claims that a single Mizunara barrel can fetch as much as $6,000 on the open market.
Expectedly, rare flavor comes at a rare price. Bottled at 49.5% ABV, Black Opal is slated to roll out in select markets this month at a suggested retail price of $500. Though the brand hasn’t disclosed a mashbill, flavors are said to include walnut, black strap molasses, crème brulée and poached plum.
“The 20-year-old whiskey found in this project is like a hefty tome of an epic tale, at first it is daunting in its immensity but the rich characters and surprising unseen twists pull you in. I chose one thread I found alluring and followed it to a whiskey that toys with bourbon’s sweetness, baking spice, and stone fruit,” Jevremov said. “I advise you to take your time with each drop.”
Widow Jane’s previous bottling, The Vaults 2024, was reportedly Jevremov’s “first big project” leading the team. Similar to Black Opal, the expression was a blend of straight bourbon whiskeys, though the cask choice that time around was Brazilian Amburana.
If you’d like to pick up the distiller’s latest bottling, it’s now or never. The release has been limited to just 5,000 bottles, many of which appear to have already sold out through online retailers.
Widow Jane Black Opal Tasting Notes, Per the Brand
Nose: Tahitian Vanilla, Frankincense Smoke, Dried Apricot, Rose Hip
Taste: Walnut, Black Strap Molasses, Crème Brulé, Poached Plum, Burnt Sage, Brown Butter
Finish: Beeswax, Ginger Snap, Chocolate Ganache, Nutmeg, Caramelized Sugar
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