Heritage
Widow Jane Oak & Applewood Aged Rye Whiskey (750 ml, 93 proof) is a distinctive rye that showcases the brand’s creative approach to finishing. After initial aging in traditional American oak, the whiskey is further matured with staves of applewood, which impart a unique layer of flavor and aroma not found in conventional rye. Bottled at 46.5% ABV, it strikes a balance between spice, sweetness, and fruit-driven nuance, making it one of Widow Jane’s most original expressions.
Tasting Profile & Food Pairings
Tasting Notes
The nose opens with aromas of honey, dried apple, and toasted oak accented by cinnamon and nutmeg. On the palate, classic rye spice of clove and black pepper is softened by flavors of baked apple, caramel, and light smoke from the applewood influence. The texture is smooth yet lively, delivering both brightness and depth. The finish is medium to long, with lingering notes of fruit, spice, and subtle wood sweetness.
Food Pairings
Starter Apple and brie crostini, highlighting the whiskey’s fruit and oak.
Main Course Roast pork loin with apple compote, matched by the whiskey’s sweet and spicy balance.
Cheese Sharp cheddar or smoked gouda, complementing the whiskey’s caramel and applewood character.
Dessert Cinnamon apple tart or bread pudding, echoing the whiskey’s fruit and spice-driven finish.
Craftsmanship
Widow Jane is a Brooklyn-based whiskey brand founded in 2012, born out of the creative, artisanal culture of Red Hook. What started as a small chocolate-making venture evolved into a whiskey project built on the same values of craftsmanship and authenticity. From the beginning, the brand aimed to stand apart by combining traditional whiskey-making techniques with a distinctly New York identity.
Its defining feature is the use of limestone water from the historic Widow Jane mine in Rosendale, New York. This mineral-rich water, filtered through ancient limestone, gives their whiskey a smooth texture and unique mouthfeel, becoming the brand’s hallmark. While Widow Jane sources aged bourbons and ryes from Kentucky, Indiana, and Tennessee, the blending, proofing, and bottling are done in Brooklyn, using that special water. Alongside this, they are steadily developing their own distillates with heirloom corn varieties and custom stills, moving toward a future of grain-to-glass production.
Today, Widow Jane is recognized for marrying heritage and innovation, producing whiskeys that are bold, complex, and unmistakably tied to a sense of place. Each bottle reflects both New York grit and the elegance of carefully aged American whiskey.
