Cherry cordial | Aged oak | Vanilla custard | Leather | Raspberry

Aged oak | Leather | Seasoned oak | Almond butter | Raspberry jam | Brown sugar | Rich & well balanced

Allspice | Stewed apple | Raspberry jam | Raisin | Aged leather | Brown sugar | Long

Wise Caldwell Distillers is a joint venture between two California friends and vintners, Brion Wise and John Caldwell. The company produces the Constable brand (Brion Wise) and the JFC brand (John Caldwell). The brands are jointly marketed and currently include straight and finished bourbons, ryes, and Tequilas.

The JFC name pays homage to John F. Caldwell, which the company states is short for. John “Fucking” Caldwell. His life’s work, Caldwell Vineyard, is a 123-acre property located in Napa, California, that produces 28 different clone-specific Bordeaux varietals, 25 Caldwell estate wines, and other “various acts of maverick winemaking,” according to the company. Caldwell has an interesting history and earned the nickname “The Smuggler” after illegally bringing thousands of French grapevine clones across the Canadian border into the United States in the 1980s. He was caught by U.S. Customs during one of those trips and later faced a search of his Napa vineyard by California agricultural authorities. Years later, he eventually became the first U.S. importer licensed to bring certified French ENTAV clones into the U.S. Jonathan Swinchatt authored his story in a book titled Clones, Cops & Cabernet.

JFC “OG Blend” 16 Year Bourbon was sourced from Kentucky. The bottle label only states “straight bourbon,” but according to the company, the blend was finished for an additional 18 months in French oak barrels. The French oak barrels include new barrels as well as used French oak barrels that previously held wine, port, and Cognac. The barrels used are from the company’s cooperage and were assembled by their late Master Cooper, Ramiro Herrera.

The whiskey is quite complex with ample nuanced flavors. Layers of fruit and oak combine with savory leather and allspice, while sweeter notes of vanilla custard, brown sugar, and raisin add complementary depth. The midpoint is especially rich and well balanced, and the finish is long and enjoyable. The proof, a little north of 100 at 105.94, fits the whiskey well, as 16 years in oak can sometimes become tannic and overpowering at too high a proof. Instead, the whiskey trades heat for richness of flavor and balance to an immensely satisfying degree. I don’t often champion a $195 bottle, but JFC 16 Year Bourbon: The “OG Blend” delivers a unique, memorable pour with the wow factor you expect at nearly two bills.  

The bourbon in review is from batch number 005 and is bottle number 187 of 516.