Widow Jane Gives Its 10-Year Whiskey a Tequila Ocho Barrel Finish

The updated release adds a distinctive cask influence to the brand’s core expression, offering a new dimension to the established spirit.

Widow Jane

The voyage of whisky from barrel to bar cart involves numerous elements, and Widow Jane, a producer from Red Hook, Brooklyn, has introduced a new cask-finished bourbon that is aged in Tequila Ocho barrels, sourced from south of the border. The groundbreaking collaboration signifies the inaugural occasion on which the esteemed and accoladed Tequila Ocho permits its barrels, namely those utilised for its distinguished matured expressions, to be employed in whisky production. According to Widow Jane Head Distiller Sienna Jemerov, the introduction of vibrant agave notes elevates Widow Jane’s 10-year bourbon. She stated, “With our Ocho Cask Finish, we regarded the agave character as a prism; our intention was not to obscure our 10-year whisky, but to refract it.” The outcome is a striking vibrancy and luminosity that remains distinctly Widow Jane.

The distillery is accustomed to innovation, exemplified by the 20-year blend of Widow Jane Black Opal (released in 2024) and some of the finest double-barrel whisky of 2025. Additionally, the Heaven Hill-owned distillery has innovated with ageing techniques utilising Mythological Greek oak.

Widow Jane Distillery, Red Hook, Brooklyn/ Courtesy of Widow Jane

The recent releases, bottled at a commendable 45.5 percent ABV, revive the relationship between the two manufacturers, as noted by Widow Jane, referencing the 2022 introduction of Tequila Ocho Reposado Barrel Select Widow Jane. This exceptional tequila aged for eight weeks and eight days in old bourbon barrels from Widow Jane’s Conover Street rickhouse, a location both picturesque and robust within the whisky industry. In the process of “returning the favor,” the “well-seasoned barrels” provide “elegant agave notes to the bourbon while enabling Widow Jane’s distinctive intensity to be fully appreciated in a novel, yet recognisable manner,” observes Widow Jane.

Widow Jane

This intricate whisky features an appealing agave brightness and unusual flavours that transition from ripe citrus sweetness to rich tobacco, with a hint of mesquite, catering to both bourbon aficionados and tequila connoisseurs, particularly admirers of Tequila Ocho. Jemerov, the distiller of Widow Jane, stated that “The Ocho casks embody the terroir of Arandas, featuring notes of roasted agave and mineral-rich earth that enhance the 10-year caramel into a rich, sticky dulce de leche.” He further remarked that “almond notes evolve into buttery pecan, while hints of nutmeg ascend into herbaceous florals of tea and marigold,” and emphasised that the new cask-finished release signifies “a new realm of flavour, where certain notes are entirely unexpected while others are instantly recognizable.” To incorporate this luxurious variation of a Brooklyn whisky classic into your bar cart, acquire the Widow Jane Tequila Ocho Cask Finish Bourbon for a manufacturer's suggested retail price of $74.99.