Brooklyn is associated with so many iconic things: pizza, hipsters, bridges—and world class whiskey. You might be somewhat surprised by that last item on the list. But the hardworking folks at Widow Jane distillery have been holding it down since 2012. In fact, the cozy operation along the cobblestoned streets of Red Hook is today a stalwart of the craft scene. And its annual release from The Vaults is a big reason why. We’ve got your first taste of the 2024 iteration right here.
Originally launched in 2019, The Vaults exist as a way for Widow Jane to demonstrate its prowess in the arena of wood finishing. The inaugural run consisted of a smattering of sourced, 14-year-old bourbons assembled into casks that had been subjected to an exceptionally long eight years of air seasoning. It was a massive success, ripped from shelves almost immediately despite its sizable $150 asking price.
This year it’s all about that Amburana: a Brazilian breed of hardwood that’s become all the rage in whiskey making as of late. A single dram of The Vaults 2024 release will help you understand why.
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The intricate blend of 15- and 20-year-old bourbons is awash in enticing confectionary aromas and flavors not normally apparent in American whiskey. It noses more like an amaro, with hints of anise, tree sap, and wintergreen. The burnt-amber body of the liquid, oily in texture, holds a savory surprise evocative of nutmeg-dusted sweet potato pie. Accompanying this Thanksgiving-feast-in-a-glass are more caramelized root vegetables—carrots and rutabagas—along with a pinch of licorice in the finish.
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It’s all delivered slightly warm but entirely inviting at 99 proof. It also represents an impressive sophomore output by relative newcomer Sienna Jevremov. Widow Jane’s head distiller and blender took the reins from her legendary predecessor Lisa Wicker in late 2022.
“The 2023 Vaults release was my first big project leading the blending team,” says Jevremov. “With that one, I wanted to explore the terroir of American oak while also gently pushing us to new flavor explorations. Now after a year as head blender I felt it was time to challenge myself. Ambruana is a bombastic wood, full of heady, rich aromatics. So my imperative was to slowly introduce [the cooperage] to work with the whiskey’s notes in delicate harmony.”
The $250 bottle is on shelves in major markets across the US. But as with all releases in The Vaults series, supplies are limited. This time around, a precious allotment of 24,000 units is all we’ll ever see on shelves. Do you think a whiskey this good and this scarce will stick around for long? As the locals famously say: Fuhgeddaboudit!
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