Widow Jane The Vaults 2022 at 49.5% ABV, 14 years old — at $300, the question is whether it delivers on its promise. I sat down with a pour to find out.
Nose
The whiskey is a dark, tea-colored brown with golden hues. Tart cherry, vanilla, and baking spice make up the first impressions. The nose then deepens in complexity to show off root beer and light leather.
Palate
Vanilla and root beer carry through to the palate which are joined by brown sugar and lemon. The mouthfeel is smooth, velvety, and luxurious. Lingering vanilla, cinnamon, and cocoa powder play on the tongue in the finish, accompanied by grippy tannins. This is a truly exceptional whiskey. Its age brings out complexity and depth, while also mellowing out the punchier notes and abrasiveness of the alcohol that you sometimes see in younger whiskeys. It’s so luscious I would not want to put it in a cocktail for fear of losing any of those flavors against bitters or juices. This will be a neat or on-the-rocks sipper for sure. rnrnMy partner, a self-proclaimed bourbon hater, raved about this whiskey. Widow Jane The Vaults 2022 is not cheap, but if it’s within your reach, it’s absolutely worth the extra chunk of change.
Finish
Editor’s Note: This whiskey was either bought as a sample by Whiskeyful or provided to us as a review sample by the party behind it. Per our editorial policies, this in no way influenced the outcome of this review.
The Bottom Line
Widow Jane The Vaults 2022 is outstanding — one of those bottles that reminds you why you fell in love with whiskey in the first place. If you see it at $300, do not hesitate. This one earns a permanent spot on the shelf.
