You have a unique opportunity to experience something truly special: a bourbon that has been aged in the hot and humid jungles of Southeast Asia.
The award-winning bourbon brand Jefferson’s, known for their sea-aged liquids, is introducing a remarkable release called Jefferson’s Tropics Aged in Humidity. Here’s everything you need to know about this new release.
In July 2019, founder Trey Zoeller sent a whopping 720 barrels of fully mature Kentucky straight bourbon to Singapore. During the journey across the open ocean, the liquid sloshed around inside the barrels, gaining additional wood-sugar notes.
The barrels were also exposed to the sea air, which infused a subtle brininess into the bourbon. Upon their arrival in Southeast Asia, the barrels were then aged for an additional 18 months in a warehouse without temperature control.
This unique aging process, referred to as jungle-aged bourbon, is truly unprecedented. Finally, in March 2023, the bourbon made its way back to Kentucky, where Zoeller carefully blended the remaining liquid that had not evaporated during the aging process (known as the “thirsty angels” or sailors). To achieve the final product, the bourbon was proofed down using the famous limestone-filtered water of Kentucky.
“Tropics is really the culmination of everything that we’ve been working towards at Jefferson’s, because we’re pushing the maturation process,” the whiskey maker said. “I found the barrels that matured in the hot, humid environment really extracted all the great elements from the oak. I also looked at the success of the Taiwanese single malt, Kavalan.”
The result is a whiskey with a robust 52% ABV, set to hit shelves in September. When you experience Jefferson’s Tropics Aged in Humidity, you’ll notice its distinctive aromas. It boasts a nose reminiscent of a funky Jamaican rum, with captivating hints of over-ripened fruit. As you take your first sip, you’ll be greeted by waves of molasses that delicately caress your palate.
“The result is a remarkable bourbon,” says Zoeller, “one that further reinforces my belief that terroir for whiskey comes from the environment that the bourbon matures in rather than the ground from which the grains are grown.”
The experience concludes with a subtle nod to saltwater taffy, leaving a satisfying and unique finish. This bourbon is an extraordinary creation that showcases the influence of Southeast Asian jungles and the sea on the aging process.
“Everything we’ve do is more than just distilling, aging, cutting and proofing—it’s the blending, finishing, changing the environment and agitation,” Zoeller tells us over cocktails at Singapore’s famous Jigger & Pony bar, which recently claimed recognition as Asia’s second-best bar for the third year in a row (deferring only to Hong Kong’s Coa).
Bottled at 52% ABV, Jefferson’s latest limited-edition experiment sells for an SRP of $99.
