Review #: 443
Description: J.T.S. Brown (1988)
Spirit: Bourbon
Background: I’m a big fan of the modern JTS Brown, as the Bottled-In-Bond I think is really tasty and dirt cheap offering from Heaven Hill. However, the history of the brand isn’t that cut and dry. I’ll link to Cojirob on reddit (who provided this sample) doing a bit of diving into the brand history. The short of it, it’s not clear when the brand transferred from Brown-Forman to Heaven Hill. Really, it’s unclear whether this was produced at Heaven Hill or at the Lawrenceburg Distillery (what is now Four Roses). Regardless, it’s history and exciting to taste.
Distillery – Unknown
Bottler – Unknown
Brand – J.T.S. Brown
Selection – N/A
ABV – 43%
Age – 6 Years
Nose – Torched marshmallow, damp earthy, dark cherry, sour pineapple, rich dark chocolate
Taste – Butterscotch, chocolate, ashy oak, caramel. It’s rich but not a ton of depth behind it
Finish – Strong but tasty oak really dominates. Not overly bitter or dry though. Slight burnt toffee
Score: 6
Would I buy a bottle? Probably don’t want to know what these go for at auction
Thoughts: I love the history and intrigue that it carries with it. The whiskey itself isn’t insane or life altering, but it’s oaky and rich and easy and enjoyable to drink. Really shows you the age of the stock that used to be available even on the budget options back in the day.