Jefferson's Ocean Cask Strength Aged at Sea Bourbon Whiskey

Jefferson’s Ocean Cask Strength is a wave-crashed whiskey with sea legs and swagger—bold, briny, and as adventurous as a bourbon can be without needing a life vest.

Jefferson’s Ocean Cask Strength Aged at Sea Bourbon is a daring expression—brutally bold, briny, and globe-trotting. At 56% ABV, it delivers salty-sweet intensity with notes of caramel, sea spray, dark fruit, smoke, and pepper. While the "ocean aging" impact is subtle and occasionally criticized as marketing, this barrel-proof bourbon offers a robust, savory-sweet experience that rewards adventurous sipping. 

Note:  Actual "Voyage #" may be different than pictured.

🧪 Origins & Maturation

• Jefferson’s sends fully matured Kentucky bourbon barrels on transoceanic voyages—crossing the equator multiple times and visiting over 30 ports. These voyages expose the whiskey to constant motion, temperature swings, and sea-air exposure, which the brand claims accelerate and enhance maturation. Bottled uncut and non-chill filtered at cask strength. 

• No fixed age statement; typically bourbon spends ~6–9 years in barrels before sea aging. 

👃 Nose (Aroma)

• Intense aromas of salted caramel, vanilla, and burnt sugar, with softer sea-spray and brine notes.

• Subtle floral and citrus tinges emerge—cinnamon buns, orange zest, toasted nuts—blended into a foundation of rich caramel sweetness. 

👅 Palate & Texture

• A thick, oily mouthfeel greets you. The palate brings sweet caramel, toffee, and dried figs, layered with oak spice, sea salt trace, and light peppery rye heat.

• Some batches exhibit a light smokiness or dry wood edge akin to softened Islay-like character. Fruit notes like raisin or cherry appear mid-palate. 

🔁 Finish

• Long and warming finish featuring cracked black pepper, oak tannin, dark chocolate, and lingering dried fruit.

• Some consumers mention a slightly bitter edge or diminishing sweetness after the initial sip. 

🌟 Highlights at a Glance

"This bourbon started out as an experiment with just three bourbon barrels on Trey’s friend, Chris Fischer of OCEARCH’s ship, in a curious effort to discover what would happen if bourbon was left to weather the extreme elements: temperature fluctuations, salt air and the gentle rocking of the ship. The result was a thick, dark bourbon that showcases complex flavors reminiscent of other spirits; the almost black color and caramel flavors resemble a dark rum as the sugars within the barrels caramelized; the briny, savory taste from the barrels breathing the sea air is reminiscent of Islay Scotch; and at its core, it’s a true bourbon. Due to a massive demand from consumers, Trey has now commercialized this experiment and sent hundreds of barrels around the world. Each voyage of Jefferson’s Ocean typically crosses the equator four times, visits five continents and over 30 ports on an average sailing."