Jefferson's Wood Experiment Collection

About Jefferson's Wood Experiment Collection

Founded in 1997, Jefferson’s is the brainchild of Trey Zoeller and his father Chet, a famed bourbon historian. Continuing a family tradition that dates as far back as the 18th century -when Trey’s 8th generation grandmother was arrested in 1799 for the “production and sales of spirituous liquors.”

Jeffersons is constantly expanding their horizons with new and innovative ways of looking at whiskey, and how it interacts with wood. At this intersection of art and experimentation, lies inspiration. The Wood Experimental Collection was inspired by an enlightening trip to a wine cooperage in Missouri.

Wine barrels are almost exclusively toasted oak, as opposed to bourbon’s charred, brand-new barrels, which yield a high-oak flavor profile. This is what inspired Trey Zoeller to embark on an experimental journey with a 4-year-old bourbon, aging it in new charred white oak barrels, and finishing it in 13 different environments/vessels.

This selection features five of the 13 small batch experimental bourbon whiskeys: #3, #4, #6, #10, and #12, each vessel imparting a distinct and intriguing character onto the spirit. Wood exp. no.3 was finished in new 60-gallon American oak barrels with a low, deep impact toast profile. Wood exp. no.4 was finished in a new standard whiskey barrel with medium char, infused with heavily charred American oak cubes. Wood exp. no.6 was finished in a new standard whiskey barrel with a light-medium char, infused with lightly toasted American oak staves. Wood exp. no.10 is finished in a hybrid 60 gallon French and American barrel with a low, deep impact toast profile. Wood exp. no.12 is finished in an original bourbon barrel, with toasted oak inserts.

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