Brooklyn Distillery’s latest exploration in unique wood finishes on well-aged whiskey

RED HOOK, BROOKLYN, NY (SEPTEMBER 16, 2024) - Widow Jane, the Red Hook, Brooklyn craft distillery led by head distiller and blender Sienna Jevremov, announces the release of The Vaults 2024, the latest in the brand’s annual exploration of wood finishes on select barrels from its old and rare whiskey collection. The 15-year-old blend, which is finished in Amburana wood casks, will hit shelves in October.

Since the original edition of The Vaults in 2019, Widow Jane has worked to source unique wood casks in which each year’s edition is finished. The Vaults 2024 began in the Widow Jane rick house, where Jevremov and the Widow Jane distilling and blending team painstakingly tasted through the brand’s old and rare casks, whittling their selections down to include only those whose flavor profile would match the complexity and striking flavors of the Amburana finishing casks. They then meticulously blended the liquid from these select casks in hyper small batches.

Once married, this luxurious whiskey was finished in the Amburana casks, which are renowned for yielding liquid with an unexpected combination of warm spices, floral, and tropical notes. Also known as ‘Brazilian oak’, Amburana grows in the dry jungles of southeastern Brazil and northern Argentina - challenging environments with soil scarce in nutrients and irregular rainfall which leads to slow growth and limited availability.

“The 2023 Vaults release was my first big project leading the blending team,” said 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. My first task was to create a gorgeous blend highlighting the earthy and textually robust qualities of 15- and 20-year-old whiskeys. My next imperative was to slowly introduce the Amburana to work with the whiskey’s notes in delicate harmony. I hope everyone can enjoy the dance of deeply aged whiskey and tropical spiced aromatics.”

Tasting notes:
Nose: Amaretto Cookie, Fig Leaf, Cherry Blossom, Honey Graham Cracker, Cinnamon Bark
Palate: Rosemary, Cinnamon Raisin, Olive Oil, Sencha Green Tea, Roasted Yam
Finish: Black Licorice, Honeysuckle, Coconut Macaroon, Caramelized Carrots, Satsuma
The Vaults 2024 by the numbers:
Age statement: 15 years
49.5% ABV (99 proof)
SRP is $250/750 ml
4000 total physical cases (6 packs)
Available in: October
As is the case with all Widow Jane whiskeys, The Vaults 2024 is non-chill filtered and proofed with the pure limestone mineral water from the legendary Rosendale Mines of New York, just 100 miles north of the distillery, which contributes to the round mouthfeel and exceptionally long finish.

The season also sees the return of Widow Jane Decadence, the brand’s signature 10-year bourbon blended in small batches and then finished in American Oak Barrels that held Upstate New York’s Crown Maple artisan maple syrup. Widow Jane Decadence is bottled at 45.5% ABV (91 proof); SRP $100.

About Widow Jane Distillery
Widow Jane is an award-winning artisanal distillery located in the New York City neighborhood of Red Hook, Brooklyn. The company is named in homage to one of the legendary mines of Rosendale in Upstate New York, from which the brand sources its proofing water. Before becoming a natural reserve of extraordinary mineral water, the mines produced the natural cement used to construct some of the most iconic American landmarks, such as the Brooklyn Bridge and the Empire State Building, among others. The pure, limestone-filtered water from the mine, plus one of the country’s largest holdings of long-aged Bourbons, and a refusal to compromise the product with chill-filtration, are just three elements that make Widow Jane a stand-out whiskey company.

The facility in Red Hook includes mashing, fermentation, distillation, barreling, aging, blending, warehousing and bottling. For more information, visit www.widowjane.com or find Widow Jane on Instagram @widowjane.