Jefferson’s Presidential Select, 18 year old, 47%, $110
Unlike the standard “small batch” releases, this is from a single barrel: a really good single barrel. I rated the 18 year old small batch a 93 in the last issue, and I like this one even better. There’s less wood getting in the way. It’s softer, more elegant. Lovely fruit, gently sweet (black raspberry jam, blueberry pie), with nougat, creamy vanilla, a sprinkling of cinnamon, and polished leather on the finish. And so drinkable. Classic stuff! (A Park Avenue Liquor exclusive.)
Advanced Malt Advocate magazine rating: 96
Haven’t had this but I have a bottle of Julio’s Liquors Jefferson’s 18yo Single Barrel and it is delicious.
I have some of the 17yo and love it – special stuff. Great review. Sam – thanks for reminding me of the Julio’s one. Need to see if they have their new one yet….
I haven’t tasted this one but bought a bottle of the Jefferson’s 18 “K&L Exclusive” – seems those guys did a lot of exclusive bottlings around the country btw…- and it is killer stuff
Is there something on the bottle that tells you that this is a single barrel ? I don’t see anything on the photo to show it.
I was sent a review sample but was told it was a single cask selected by Park Ave. Liquor. It’s superior to the small batch 18 yr. I tasted and reviewed.
@ Dutch: my bottle only says “batch 27 – btl # 0111″. no mention of how big a batch is. no explicit mention of it being from a single cask either.
The bottle shown simply states that it is bottle number 13, no batch number. Of course, this may simply be a stock photo and not one of the actual bottle sampled.
Is yours from Park Ave Liquor?
Perhaps it was the flowing review – Park Avenue now has it $120. That is a $30 premium for something they likely got a discount on for buying the whole barrel.
but…it does sound tasty…
$120 was the stated price when Park Avenue Liquor tweeted their JSP 18 exclusive on Nov. 19, 2010.
my bottle is from the K&L store in SF
didn’t K&L have their own single barrel?
Dutch: i believe so but it is not explicitly stated on the label as it only mentions a Batch #. The stuff is very good though.
K&L’s barrel is long gone. When John rated the small batch #27, there was an issue with telling the difference from that and the single barrel bottlings. Apparently the bottlers messed up and added batch #27 tag to the single barrel bottlings incorrectly. The only way to tell the difference from the standard batch #27 and the single barrels is the sticker with the stores name on it. Not all of these single barrels are created equal, but it looks like Park Ave’s is just as good as the delicious one we had.
Thanks Dave. I still rue the fact that I live in MI and can’t get these great bottlings shipped to me, would love to try some but can’t afford to go to the source to get them.
Can K&L ship to AZ? The website that shipping is available there, but when I inquired earlier I was told that it wasn’t.
I live in AZ and have no problem receiving spirit shipments. Check around.
Are those in state or out-of-state shipments?
Out of state. I’ve received from New Jersey, California, and New York.
Arizona is okay for wine, but not for spirits! Talk to your representatives (state and national). The only people with a vested interest in keeping these laws in place have plenty of money to spend on lobbyist, campaign contributions, lawyers, etc. They also have plenty of money to lose if we open up the markets. Only way we’ll ever change this is if the people demand it!
might be quicker to talk to a distributor in AZ than to the representatives (there is so much cash involved here, i doubt they ll move fast – if ever move at all); if there are enough interest in bringing some into the state, the distributor might be interested in getting some product. i know of one good wine company there but not totally sure they do spirits. i can ask.
I’m only there in the winter, so not able to do much now, but when I get back I’ll check with distributors in the Yuma area
John: I was wondering if you tasted from an off-the-shelf bottle or did you get a sample? I ask because there seems to be a range of quality in these types of bottlings. If you got a sample – I would bet $$ they made sure it was a good one!
Mary, I have seen a wide variation in quality in the 17 and 18 year old bottlings. This one is from the single cask selected by Park Ave. Liquor, and it is wonderful!
I just picked up a bottle. I’m interested to know how you sampled this bourbon: neat, splash, ice? Thanks!
Neat, and also with a splash. But when I am drinking it for fun, I drink it neat.
John,
I’ve enjoyed reading your informal comments on (4-11-11), and your formal review of, this retail exclusive single barrel. I’ve always found retail exclusive whiskies to be appealing–in a throw-back sense–as products that reestablish the store proprietor(s) into a more hands-on role of selecting and vouching for the quality of their goods. While others may flatly disagree with me, or take a more cynical view of exclusives as sales gimmick, I believe that the depth to which a shopkeeper is personally involved in selecting and vouching for their wares (affixing their store’s name and reputation to the bottle) is a much more satisfying customer experience than purchases instigated or assisted via product info/branding/buzz/marketing alone. I hope you continue to formally and informally review and update us on more exclusives like this (as I know you have in the past) so that even more stores view these not just as novelty bottlings, but as an opportunity to enhance their customer’s experience by participating in their own retail selection(s).
I agree. I recently found store-exclusive single-cask bottlings of Buffalo Trace and Wild Turkey at Table & Vine in West Springfield, Massachusetts, at very reasonable prices. I imagine there are lots of these around the country, and I think that’s a good thing. I hope people don’t get too hung up on the review of one particular bottle or another, succumbing to “gotta-have-it” syndrome, and instead take advantage of the opportunity to enjoy their local shop’s offering, just as folks would have done in the old days.
Ohhhhh… Me wantee… A trip to NYC is long overdue methinks…
It’s available in Dublin too… at the Celtic Whiskey Shop.
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