The Family Jones: Bourbon, Rye, Smoked Old Fashioned, and Barrel-Aged Gin Reviews

 

Usually, I start my reviews with historical or categorical context as it pertains to the whiskey I explore. Today, we’ll do things differently because I’m all about transparency, and I believe there are important points to ponder.

 

On Friday, September 13, 2024, I had an enlightening conversation with Jamie Burns, the Lead Distiller of The Family Jones Denver operation. We talked about various things, including terroir, the importance of sourcing suitable grains from the right places, conservation and sustainability, and, of course, the whiskeys.

 

I want to tell you a bit about Jamie. He’s a graduate of Michigan State University where he earned his degree in Biosystems Engineering with a concentration on Fermented Beverage Science and Technology. He earned his Master’s in Brewing and Distilling from Scotland’s Herriot Watt University. He was a production supervisor at Anheuser-Busch and the Head Distiller at Cleveland Whiskey.

 

Beyond that, this man earned my respect before I tasted his whiskey. And, to be clear, as I’m writing this introduction, I’ve still not tasted it.

 

The Family Jones sent me four samples of its products to review: a Bourbon, a Rye, a Smoked Old Fashioned, and a Gin. If you’ve followed my whiskey adventures for over a few months, you know I strongly dislike gin. I didn’t ask for the gin. In my conversation with Jamie, I made it abundantly clear that I was not a gin drinker, a gin liker, or a gin tolerator. I told him that of anything gin-like, I only enjoyed Genever from de Borgen.

 

I did something that I’d never done before. I offered Jamie an opportunity to “opt-out” of the gin review. He refused. He told me he’s very interested in learning what a whiskey-centric review thinks about his gin – good, bad, or otherwise.

 

That takes considerable intestinal fortitude, and thus, he has my respect.

 

But let’s not overlook the essential things you should know about The Family Jones.

 

The Family Jones operates two campuses. The Denver facility is where research and development occurs. It runs a hybrid pot-column still and houses all of the botanicals used from a 10-mile radius. The major operations occur at its Loveland facility. It handles grain intake, mashing, fermenting, distilling, aging, and bottling. Its Lead Distiller is Gabe Toth, who himself has impressive credentials.

 

Rob Masters is the Master Distiller. He’s well-known and respected, involved with several Colorado distilleries, and is a two-term Colorado Distiller’s Guild president. He is also active with the American Craft Spirits Association.  

 

The folks at The Family Jones have long-standing relationships with suppliers that go deeper than just a customer-client one. Their grains are sourced from a handful of Colorado-based families: The Whiskey Sisters, who supply 99.99% clean grain (versus others that may arrive with dirt, roots, old corncobs, etc.). Their farm is 112 years old. Next, there is Root Shoot Malting (the same folks who make a fantastic American Single Malt Whiskey), and they have been growing grains for five generations. GBT Farms, from Johnstown, provides corn and rye, and Jones Farms, another fifth-generation operation, provides The Family Jones with rye used as a cover crop for its potato crop.

 

Founded in 2017, The Family Jones is considered Denver’s first distillery and restaurant under one roof. It buys barrels from the Independent Stave Company (ISC), and the staves are air-dried for 18 months.

 

The Family Jones distributes its products to Colorado, Oklahoma, and Nebraska but can ship to most states via its online store.

 

Now that I’ve written this introduction, I’m ready to crack open these bottles and #DrinkCurious. I’m serious – I’ve not yet opened anything. Thank you, The Family Jones, for this opportunity.

 

Ella Jones Colorado Straight Bourbon

 

• Mashbill: 75% corn, 15% rye, 10% malted barley
• Cooperage: 53-gallon, #3 charred oak
• Age: NAS
• Proof: 47% ABV (94°)
• Price: $59.99 for 750ml

 

Appearance: I sipped this neat from a Glencairn glass. It possessed a bright, almost rust color. The liquid formed a massive rim and thick, crazed tears.

 

Nose: The aroma started with wheat and roses. Next came vanilla, oak, and malt. As I inhaled through my mouth, there was cinnamon and cherries.

 

Palate: Ella Jones’ texture was thin. The front of my palate found grilled corn and a whisp of smoke, making me think I was at a campfire. The middle tasted of vanilla sugar cookies. Oak spice, cherries, and powdered cinnamon were on the back.

 

Finish: I found a bit of butterscotch, along with cinnamon, oak, and cherries. At first, it seemed like the finish was relatively flat and wouldn’t last. However, it managed to hang around for 2:04, qualifying it as long-lasting.

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: Ella Jones was an easy sipper. It starts mild, much like being introduced to someone new, and by the time the finish rolled around, you were laughing loudly with good friends. It was an unusual experience, something that I have always found intriguing. Is it worth $60.00? I think so, and it takes my Bottle rating.

 

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Atticus Jones Colorado Straight Rye

  

• Mashbill: 75% rye, 15% corn, 10% malted barley
• Cooperage: 53-gallon, #3 charred oak
• Age: NAS
• Proof: 47% ABV (94°)
• Price: $59.99 for 750ml

 

Appearance: A neat pour in my Glencairn glass revealed an almost fluorescent (not neon) orange color. A medium-thin rim produced thick, slow tears.

 

Nose: Floral rye and mint notes were accompanied by vanilla, brown sugar, and malt. Drawing the vapor through my lips provided a taste of cinnamon and vanilla.

 

Palate: Atticus Jones had a medium-weight, creamy mouthfeel. I encountered malt, corn, and leather on the front of my palate while raisins, dried cherries, and spearmint formed the middle. Flavors of tobacco, rye spice, and oak made up the back.

 

Finish: The long, warming finish included tobacco, mint, rye spice, oak, and old leather. It clocked in at 1:43; the leather was the last note to fall off.

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: It has admittedly been a while since I’ve had a minty American rye, and I wasn’t prepared for it. The old leather, especially during the finish, stood out. It left my mouth with a “pucker power” sensation. It drank somewhat warmer than the Bourbon, yet still at what you’d expect from a 94° whiskey. I could have done with less spearmint. It takes my Bar rating.

 

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Automatic Jones Smoked Old Fashioned

 

 

Mashbill: This bottled cocktail has orange peel, cinnamon, cloves, gentian, ginger, lavender, cacao, Guajillo chili, and Lapsang tea. Aside from my general idea, I am unfamiliar with those last two ingredients. The label suggests Lapsang is a smoky black tea and comes from TEAKOE in Denver.

• Cooperage: Undisclosed
• Age: NAS
• Proof: 35% ABV (70°)
• Price: $44.99 for 750ml

 

There’s a disclaimer here. I live in Wisconsin, and the Old Fashioned was born here. Most folks in Wisconsin use brandy, but I do not. The back label suggests serving this over ice and adding a cherry or orange slice. I prefer olives when I order an Old Fashioned, so that’s my direction.  

 

Appearance: I poured this into a rocks glass over ice. The liquid was caramel-colored, darker than I’d expect if I ordered an Old Fashioned at a bar or supper club.

 

Nose: I smelled the botanicals. Ginger was the most prominent, along with lavender. Its aroma was unusual for the Old Fashioned I’m used to.

 

Palate: Wow. What hit my mouth was unexpected. Perhaps that was due to a lack of fizz that many Old Fashioneds have. Its consistency was thin. The smoke was unmistakable. So were the botanicals. I immediately picked out the cinnamon, orange peel, tea, and clove right away. It is different from the typical cocktail.

 

Finish: I didn’t time the finish, but it was medium-short.

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: I gave a sip to Mrs. Whiskeyfellow. She yelled, “I hate peat,” scrunched her nose, and made faces. I wouldn’t classify the sensation as peat, but it had an ashy component. I loved it. So, if you like ash or smoke, this will be your jam. If you don’t, you should probably pass. Regardless, it deserves my Bottle rating.

 

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Juniper Jones Earl Grey Gin

 

 

• Mashbill: Undisclosed
• Cooperage: 53-gallon barrels that once held Ella Jones, then Earl Grey tea from TEAKOE.
• Age: NAS
• Proof: 48.5% ABV (97°)
• Price: $48.99 for 750ml

 

Time for another disclaimer. You already know I don’t like gin. I also don’t drink tea, and I’m 100% positive that, despite my fondness for Star Trek, I’ve never tasted tea, Earl Grey, hot. 

 

Appearance: This gin looked like a whiskey in my Glencairn glass. It had a dull, orange-amber color. It produced a thick rim that held onto its tears until it could bear no more. Then, they were slow, thick droplets.

 

Nose: I smelled caramel and various botanicals. What I didn’t smell was juniper. As I drew the air into my mouth, I tasted a bit of smoky tea.

 

Palate: Juniper Jones offered a creamy mouthfeel. I expected juniper. It wasn’t there. Instead, I found citrus, berries, caramel, smoke, and ginger.

 

Finish: Long and velvety, the finish maintained that citrusy quality, along with smoke and caramelized ginger. It lasted 1:07, making it a medium duration.

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: I’m standing up. I’m applauding. My gosh – someone finally did it. Juniper Jones Earl Grey was utterly un-gin-like. Wow! Bravo! I don’t care what this costs – and I have no other words beyond those. A gin with a Bottle rating? Are you kidding me?

 

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Final Thoughts: I’m still floored by this gin. Would my dad, whose go-to drink was a Gibson Martini with just a drop of vermouth, approve of it? I have no idea. It is the shocker of the bunch.

 

As for the two whiskeys, I preferred the Bourbon over the American Rye. The Smoked Old Fashioned was unique and provided a different outlook on what can be done with RTD cocktails.

 

I’m impressed with The Family Jones. I think you will be, too.

 

Oh, and I’m still clapping over this gin. Geez. Cheers!

 

My Simple, Easy-to-Understand Rating System

• Bottle = Buy It
• Bar = Try It
• Bust = Leave It

 

Whiskeyfellow encourages you to enjoy your whiskey as you see fit but begs you to do so responsibly.