We finally got my hands on a bottle, so let's dive into this particular widow jane black opal review and find out if this 20-year-old bourbon in fact lives up to the insane price tag as well as the hype surrounding this. If you've already been following the rum scene for a while, you understand Widow Jane is a bit of a polarizing name. Some individuals love their Brooklyn-based blending approach, while others are skeptics. Nevertheless they will announced a 20-year-old expression called Black Opal, your worst critics sat upward and took notice.
What is the Black Opal?
Before we get into the cup, let's talk regarding what we're really looking at here. Black Opal isn't just another batch of their standard 10-year-old stuff. This is definitely part of their "Vault" series—basically, the oldest, rarest barrels they will have tucked away in Red Hook.
This specific discharge is a blend of whiskeys aged for with least 20 years. For those who aren't bourbon nerds, 20 years is a life time in a charred oak barrel. Many bourbons hit their "sweet spot" in between 6 and twelve years. Once you cross in to the two-decade territory, you're enjoying a dangerous video game with the wooden. It may easily switch into a drinkable toothpick if you aren't careful. Widow Jane claims to have finished this in toasted mizunara oak casks, which usually is an extravagant (and expensive) Western oak known with regard to adding very particular spice and sandalwood notes.
The First Impression: The particular Nose
After i first poured this for my widow jane black opal review , I allow it to sit for about ten minutes. With something this aged, you actually shouldn't hurry it. You need to let those two decades associated with trapped air finally escape.
The first thing that strikes you isn't in fact the oak, which surprised me. Instead, it's this heavy, dark sweetness. Think of molasses, black cherries, and perhaps also a bit of burnt sugar. Once you get past that will initial sweetness, the particular mizunara influence starts to peek through. There's a distinctive scent of incense or sandalwood—it's really "old library" within the easiest way probable.
I also caught several notes of leather and tobacco. It smells like a sophisticated study where someone continues to be smoking cigarettes high-end cigars intended for thirty years. It's heavy, it's rich, and it definitely doesn't smell like a cheap bottle associated with booze.
Taking a Sip: The Taste buds
This is definitely where the rubber meets the street. A bourbon can smell like heaven, yet if it likes like a piece of charcoal, it's a fail.
The mouthfeel is surprisingly oily. It coats your tongue immediately. The particular first flavor We picked up was dark chocolate—the high-percentage kind that's somewhat bitter but very rich. That has been followed quickly simply by a wave associated with spice. It's not really the "burn" of inexpensive alcohol; it's a lot more like cinnamon, nutmeg, plus a little bit of black pepper.
The oak is definitely definitely there, yet it's surprisingly well-integrated. It doesn't taste like you're nibbling on a tree branch. Instead, this provides a durable backbone of vanilla and toasted nuts. The mizunara surface finish really does a few heavy lifting here. It adds the layer of difficulty that keeps this from being yet another "old, woody bourbon. " There's the floral, almost coconut-like sweetness that flits in and out there, which is a hallmark of that Japanese oak.
The Finish: How Long Does It Final?
If I'm paying this much for a bottle, I want the particular flavor to suspend around for some time. I actually don't need it in order to vanish the 2nd I actually swallow.
In this widow jane black opal review , I possess to provide the end high marks. It lingers for a solid couple of minutes. The sweetness fades first, leaving behind that spicy, dried out oak plus a touch of dried fruit—like raisins or figs. It leaves your mouth feeling hot and slightly tingly. It's a "slow sipper" in every sense of the particular word. You don't want to rush through a cup of this; you want to sit by a fire and think about your life options for an hour whilst you finish 2 ounces.
Is It Worth the Cost?
Let's end up being real for the second. The MSRP on this container is high, as well as the secondary market cost is even increased. We're talking various hundred dollars, occasionally pushing toward a grand based on where you find it.
Will be any liquid worthy of very much? That's the personal question. Nevertheless, if we're comparing it to other 20-year-old bourbons on the market, it holds its very own. Most 20-year-old Pappy Vehicle Winkle or Eagle Rare bottles are going to cost you way more compared to this on the secondary market.
What you're paying out for here will be the rarity plus the blending knowledge. Widow Jane doesn't distill this by themselves (they are transparent about sourcing their own older stocks), but their ability to blend different barrels directly into a cohesive, well balanced profile is amazing. The use of mizunara oak is definitely also a large "value add" because that will wood is notoriously difficult and expensive to work with.
How Will It Compare in order to the 10-Year?
If you're utilized to the standard Widow Jane 10-year-old, this particular is a completely different animal. The 10-year is usually a great "everyday" premium bourbon—it's punchy, sweet, and quite approachable. The Black Opal is more glumness and complex.
As the 10-year uses that famous limestone standard water from the Widow Jane mine to cut the proof, the Black Opal seems like it has the more "concentrated" soul. It's darker, weightier, and lacks the particular bright corn sweet taste you find in their younger movement. If the 10-year is a different pop song, the Black Opal is definitely a complex cello concerto. Both are usually good, but a person have to be in the right mood regarding the latter.
Final Thoughts: That Is This Intended for?
Wrapping up this particular widow jane black opal review , I think this container is specifically regarding the collectors plus the "experience sportsman. "
If you're simply looking for the good bourbon to mix with Cola or to consume on a Tuesday night while viewing Netflix, this isn't it. That might be a waste of money. Yet if you're somebody who loves discovering the outer limits of what maple and time can perform to a spirit, it is a fascinating study.
It manages to be extremely old with out being "over-oaked, " which is a legitimate technical achievement. The mizunara cask finish isn't simply a gimmick; it actually adds a good unique flavor profile that you won't find in a standard Kentucky bourbon.
Benefits: * Incredible complexity with notes of sandalwood, dark chocolate, and spice. * Attractively balanced for a 20-year-old whiskey. * The mizunara surface finish adds an special, exotic flair. * Lengthy, satisfying finish off.
Negatives: * Extremely expensive and difficult to find. * The particular heavy oak profile may be too much for fans associated with "brighter" wheated bourbons. * It's a "special occasion" bottle, not an everyday drinker.
Honestly, if you see this particular at a bar with regard to a reasonable pour price, grab it . Buying the entire bottle is a big commitment intended for your wallet, but tasting it really is an experience any bourbon lover should have got at least once. It's a display of what careful mixing and adventurous finish can do to old stock. Widow Jane might have started like a little Brooklyn operation, yet with releases like Black Opal, they're proving they may play in the big leagues along with the legendary traditions distilleries.