Jacob's Pardon Cask Collective 16-Year American Whiskey Review

 

Prohibition was a costly lesson for America and the world; its consequences extended far beyond our borders. It nearly killed Irish whiskey production. It severely impacted Scotch whisky distillation. It put a large, tax-paying American industry out of business. It was an example of what happens when a bunch of do-gooders with a desire to legislate morality are given power.

 

Yeah, I said that.

 

“Brothers Jacob and Abner Taub made their own whiskey during Prohibition ... but one fateful, wintry night in 1929, the pair were arrested and jailed for violating the Volstead Act. Six years later, with the ink on the 21st Amendment still drying and Prohibition finally in the rearview mirror, President Franklin D. Roosevelt pardoned the brothers. This absolution would set into motion a proud family tradition spanning generations — which has culminated in the Taub family’s modern-day homage to their intrepid relatives.” – Palm Bay International

 

The Taubs are crucial to this conversation because their third- and fourth-generation descendants, Marc and Jake, along with F. Paul Pacult, are responsible for making Jacob’s Pardon a reality in 2019. Jacob’s Pardon is located in Bardstown, Kentucky.

 

Pacult is the founder of the Spirit Journal, which boasts over 30,000 paid subscribers. He’s the author of books such as Kindred Spirits, helped create the Beverage Alcohol Resource (BAR), and later, the Ultimate Beverage Challenge.

 

You saw the quote from Palm Bay International… what does that mean? The short story is that it is the producer of wines and spirits from around the world, and one of its brands is Jacob’s Pardon. Palm Bay’s CEO is none other than Marc Taub.

 

Now that I’ve provided the background, let’s discuss Cask Collective specifically. It is a 16-year-old American whiskey finished in eight 50-year-old Oloroso Sherry casks sourced from Bodegas Williams & Humbert. Its soleras are one of the largest in all of Spain. Pacult selected 48 barrels, and only 200 cases have been released so far, before its general rollout in May 2026.

 

With a mashbill of 99% corn and 1% malted barley, aged for 16 years, it seems pretty obvious whose distillate it is. I’ll say it is Indiana’s MGP. The fact that it doesn’t carry a Bourbon label suggests it was distilled and barreled as Light Whiskey. MGP makes excellent Light Whiskey.

 

Before I can #DrinkCurious and discover what Jacob’s Pardon Cask Collective is all about, I must take a moment and thank the brand for providing me with a sample in exchange for my no-strings-attached, honest review. 

 

• Whiskey Type: American Whiskey
• Distiller: Assumed MGP
• Age: 16 years
• Mashbill: 99% corn, 1% malted barley
• Cooperage: 53-gallon oak barrels, followed by a finishing cycle in 50-year-old former Oloroso Sherry casks
• Alcohol Content: 48.25% ABV (96.5°)
• Price per 750mL: $124.99

 

Appearance: I used a Glencairn glass to sip this whiskey neat. The liquid possessed a bright, golden color. A thicker rim released tightly spaced, husky, heavy tears.

 

Nose: After allowing for time to breathe, I brought my glass beneath my nostrils and inhaled. It smelled buttery. Beyond that were notes of pineapples, star fruit, chocolate, roasted almonds, and hazelnuts. Drawing the aroma into my mouth revealed orange peel.

 

Palate: Cask Collective’s silky texture effortlessly rolled across my tongue and down my throat before I realized what happened. I took a second sip, and the front of my palate found pineapple, orange peel, and white grapefruit. Midway through, I discovered butterscotch, roasted almonds, and hazelnuts. I tasted clove, baker’s chocolate, and leather on the back.

 

Finish: There was a slight bitterness from the baker’s chocolate, and sweetness from the butterscotch. It was an attention-garnering combination. The white grapefruit and nuts were also prevalent. As quickly as the clove showed up on the back, it vanished almost instantly on the finish. I timed the duration at 2:19, making it very long.

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: I’ve had many Light Whiskeys over the years, many of which came from MGP. I can’t say that I’ve had one that showed this much tropical fruit as Jacob’s Pardon Cask Collective. It's a well-balanced whiskey that drinks several points above its stated proof, making you think it's more potent. The white grapefruit, something I’m not usually a fan of, meshed well, especially on the finish.

 

Cask Collective is an expensive pour, but 16 years is a long time to hold onto a whiskey and hope for the best. Using 50-year-old finishing casks is done by only one other American brand that I’m aware of, and that whiskey was priced right in this venue. As such, I’d judge it fair.

 

I enjoyed Cask Collective. It is worth my Bottle rating. 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.