A little background

Widow Jane The Vaults Aged 15 Years is a small batch blend of 15 to 17-year-old bourbon that’s been finished in Appalachian oak casks that were air-seasoned for five years. The Vaults is a hand-selected limited release of Widow Jane’s rarest and oldest bourbons, with the barrels from this 2020 release coming from Indiana and Tennessee. This bourbon is bottled at 99 Proof and has a retail price of around $200 USD.

(Tasted neat from a Glencairn Glass)

Color

Dark Gold

Nose

Nutmeg, egg custard, buttered Popcorn, orange citrus, hazelnut, caramel, and oaky char.

Palate

Thick, delicious, and well balanced. Dry cherry, walnuts, vanilla, egg custard, nutmeg, and cinnamon.

Finish

Bitter dark chocolate, coffee, oranges, molasses, raisins, and lingering walnut notes. The finish is quite long and pleasant.

In closing

Widow Jane The Vaults Aged 15 Years bourbon both smells and drinks hotter than 99 Proof. The mouthfeel and finish were exceptionally enjoyable with deep dark flavors that weren’t overly sweet. Chocolate comes through on the finish in waves, creating a great dessert-like quality. This bourbon is complex, balanced, and has just the right amount of oak influence. Although $200 seems expensive for a bottle of bourbon, I feel it’s a fair price given the age of this whiskey and the 5-year air seasoned casks that were used for aging. Widow Jane The Vaults Aged 15 Year bourbon is without question a bottle I’d recommend purchasing.

NOTE: The sample used for this review was provided at no cost courtesy of Widow Jane Distillery. We thank them for the sample and for allowing us to review it with no strings attached.