2022
218 Conover Street Brooklyn, NY 11231
Dear Friends,
For our fourth Vaults project, I have the luxury of blending barrels from our stocks of up to 20 year old casks. The first version of The Vaults was released with a 14 year age statement, representing the youngest whiskey in the blend. The following expression was 15 years, and this Vaults release features whiskeys 14 years to two decades old. Younger bourbon? Not in the least. The blend is balanced between different ages to proudly pour a deep and complex flavor profile.
Going back to my winemaking start, I selected barrels from Canton Cooperage of Lebanon, Kentucky to finish this exquisite bourbon. Canton is a barrel maker that I have worked with for decades. The people there, the very best white oak availble, and the craftsmanship remain unparalleled. The Vaults is a unique series: exceptional & mature whiskey, rebarrelled in new cooperage. When distillate is barreled, it is young and wild. After a decade and half, it is mellow and mature. Placing The Vaults blend in new oak polishes older whiskey in a surprising way. It enhances the intensity, richness, and depth of flavor, giving it that Widow Jane signature taste.
An act of congress in 1964 established bourbon as our only true American Spirit. Combining Tennessee & Indiana bourbon, blended & finished in New York, rebarreled in wood from the Missouri Ozarks, this truly is an American Spirit
The Vaults 2022 represents the craftsmanship of the distillers before me, the warehouse men & women, the farmers & the truck drivers, and the Widow Jane team. Along with them, I have had the privilege of finishing and blending some truly exquisite whiskey.
In the Vaults tradition, you’ll find sweet tobacco & leather, vanilla, sarsaparilla, unsweetened cinnamon & cocoa powder, along with a hint of a seasoned oak campfire. It is cut to proof using the water of the legendary Rosendale mines of New York State. This complimentary ingredient lends beautiful minerality and a finish that can only be Widow Jane.
Cheers and best,
YORK IT ENDS AND BEGINS IN
New York City. A place where millions live & work, moving about at a speed unparalleled. A place that defines itself.
A town known the world over. It is here in the borough of Brooklyn where Widow Jane Distillery has set down its roots.
Widow Jane is the signature spirit of the world’s most magnificent & maddening metropolis.
The City inspires, motivates, and moves us to bring the world the most intense whiskeys possible.
The exterior of one of our rickhouses on the corner of Coffey & Conover Street in Red Hook, Brooklyn.
Decorated with a mural depicting the fine art of crafting whiskey.
Inside the wrought iron wall of windows in our whiskey library & bar, Botanica at Widow Jane.
Widow Jane’s The Vaults was developed by President & Master Distiller, Lisa Wicker. Lisa began her career working in a vineyard in Southern Indiana before moving to Kentucky to start a winery, utilizing traditional vinification techniques.
Wine and craft distilling experience garnered Lisa’s respect of the nuances found in raw materials & varietals, and the impact of “assemblage” on wine and spirits alike. She began distilling with brandy, eventually branching into other spirits and found her home in crafting whiskey.
Lisa distilled at multiple craft distilleries in Kentucky & Indiana before taking on the role of Head Distiller & General Manager. She oversaw design and construction of the first craft distillery in Bardstown, Kentucky.
In addition to her role as Master Distiller & Blender at Widow Jane, Lisa is a spirits judge and volunteer Senior Consultant for the George Washington Distillery at Mount Vernon. Her passion for the history & culture of whiskey distilling is boundless.
Lisa currently resides in Brooklyn, New York & Bardstown, Kentucky.
Every barrel has unique nuances that must be considered when approaching each batch.
Blends begin with samples drilled straight from the oak. Each one evaluated carefully & balanced with complementary barrels until the Widow Jane profile & desired flavors are achieved.
