Cola | Toasted oak | Cinnamon | Butterscotch | Amaretto

Cinnamon | Raisin | Waffle cone | Cola | Mineral note

Tobacco leaf | Caramelized carrot | Rosemary | Peanut | Aged charred oak

Widow Jane’s 2024 release of The Vaults is a continuation of the company’s exploration of wood finishes. This year’s releases feature the ever-divisive yet ever-popular Amburana finish. Many producers have utilized this type of barrel finish for the distinct characteristics of cinnamon and toasted traits it imparts on the whiskey. For some, this will be new to them. But many enthusiasts at this point feel like they know what to expect from an Amburana finished bourbon, yet Widow Jane The Vaults seems to deliberately buck those assumptions.

Widow Jane The Vaults opens with a rich aroma but not in the typical Amburana sense. Cola dominates, pushing down usual scents of toasted oak and cinnamon. From there, butterscotch and amaretto whisk in, making for an effective and unexpected aroma. The palate features cinnamon as you’d expect, but it's far less punchy and leaves room for raisin, waffle cone, and cola to do much of its heavy lifting, along with a familiar mineral note. The finish, where Amburana flavors typically come out in force, is decidedly pulled back, with tobacco leaf being the most familiar flavor. That’s because, uniquely, the whiskey offers up caramelized carrots, rosemary, and peanuts before ending on a pronounced aged charred oak note.

Despite being finished in Amburana barrels, this is one of the least Amburana finished tasting bourbons released in recent years. That’s probably a smart move, as many enthusiasts have grown tired of this finishing type. Despite its price, the whiskey doesn’t sip like it's trying to be a showstopper either. It’s notably pulled back, both in proof and taste. Its age is present throughout, and its Tennessee component is hard to ignore. Despite this, I would expect many will still enjoy what it offers and its lower proof point as long as expectations are kept in check.