Widow Jane Distillery, based in the heart of Red Hook, Brooklyn, has announced the release of Baby Jane Bourbon, a unique blend that signifies a new era in bourbon making. This distinctive bourbon, a blend of spirits distilled both in Brooklyn and Kentucky, takes its name from Widow Jane's proprietary heirloom corn strain, “Baby Jane.”
Image credit: Widow Jane
The journey to Baby Jane Bourbon began in 2013 when Widow Jane's Head Distiller Sienna Jevremov and operations lead Michele Clark embarked on a quest to explore heirloom corn varieties. Their exploration led them to farmer John Gill, whose farm is located just north of the Widow Jane Mines, known for their limestone-rich water. Together, they planted several strains of heirloom corn, including Bloody Butcher Red and Wapsie Valley Yellow. These strains cross-pollinated naturally, resulting in a unique, albeit inconsistent, hybrid. Over the next four years, Jevremov and Clark meticulously harvested and replanted the best kernels, eventually developing a stable and unique heirloom corn strain they named "Baby Jane."
Image credit: Widow Jane
Baby Jane Bourbon is a testament to the dedication and innovation of the Widow Jane team. Distilled in small batches using the 1,000-liter pot and column hybrid single pass still in Brooklyn, and following the same process in Kentucky, this bourbon is aged for 4-6 years in new, charred American oak barrels. It is non-chill filtered and proofed with pure limestone mineral water sourced from the Rosendale Mines in New York.
The result of this careful process is a bourbon with a rich and complex flavor profile. On the nose, Baby Jane Bourbon presents aromas of honeycomb, cream soda, salty air, and green grape. The palate is equally intriguing, offering flavors of café au lait, strawberries and cream taffy, salted caramel, fresh fig, allspice, and raspberry leaf. It finishes with notes of peach compote, star anise, cut hay, horchata, soft pretzel, and milk chocolate.
Image credit: Widow Jane
The release of Baby Jane Bourbon marks a significant milestone for Widow Jane. Jevremov explains, “Our mantra in developing Baby Jane, both the corn and the whiskey, has been ‘obsessed from start to finish.’ With this whiskey, we wanted to break the perception that truly distinctive bottles with special stories have to be cost prohibitive to the point that you’re afraid to open them. Baby Jane pushes the boundaries of what raw ingredients can deliver and sets a new standard for go-to sipping bourbons.”
Available nationwide starting this month, Baby Jane Bourbon is limited to 90,000 bottles, with a suggested retail price of $50 for a 750 mL bottle. Widow Jane, now part of Heaven Hill since its acquisition in 2022, continues to innovate in the bourbon industry, combining traditional methods with new, proprietary ingredients to create exceptional spirits.
For those looking to enjoy Baby Jane Bourbon in a cocktail, Widow Jane's distillery bar team recommends the "Sweet Jane," a delightful twist on a whiskey sour. Here's the recipe:
Sweet Jane Cocktail
Ingredients:
- 1.5 oz Baby Jane Bourbon
- 0.75 oz Fresh Lemon Juice
- 0.5 oz Apricot Liqueur
- 0.25 oz Honey Simple Syrup (dissolve one part honey in one part warm water)
Garnish:
- Dried Apricot
- Lemon Flag
Preparation:
- Combine all ingredients in a shaker and shake well with fresh ice.
- Strain into a rocks glass over one large square ice cube.
- Garnish with dried apricot and lemon flag.
With the launch of Baby Jane Bourbon, Widow Jane Distillery not only celebrates a decade of dedication and innovation but also invites bourbon enthusiasts to experience a unique and flavorful spirit crafted with passion and precision.
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About Widow Jane Distillery
Widow Jane Distillery, located in Brooklyn, New York, is a unique and craft-focused distillery known for its distinctive approach to whiskey production. The name "Widow Jane" is inspired by a legendary, pristine limestone mine in Rosendale, New York, known for its pure and soft water source, a key ingredient in whiskey making.
The distillery's commitment to using this pure limestone water in their whiskey production is one of the brand's defining features. They source water from the Widow Jane Mine, renowned for its exceptional quality, to create their signature spirits. This water, rich in minerals, plays a significant role in shaping the flavor and character of Widow Jane whiskey.
Widow Jane is primarily known for its bourbon whiskey, which is made using a high corn mash bill, typically around 70% or more. Their bourbon is aged in American oak barrels and is known for its rich, smooth, and complex flavor profile. The combination of the high-quality limestone water and aging process gives Widow Jane whiskey a unique and sought-after taste.
In addition to their bourbon, Widow Jane offers various expressions and limited releases, showcasing their dedication to experimentation and craftsmanship. The distillery's commitment to producing small-batch, handcrafted whiskey reflects the broader trend in the craft spirits industry, where consumers increasingly appreciate unique and locally sourced products.
Widow Jane Distillery's creative approach to whiskey-making, their use of pristine limestone water, and their dedication to producing high-quality bourbon have earned them a reputation as a notable player in the American craft whiskey scene. Their unique flavor profile and commitment to quality make them a standout choice for whiskey enthusiasts.