JTS Brown Kentucky Bourbon may be most famous for being name checked in the movie “The Hustler,” as it was Fast Eddie’s favorite drink in the book and the film. It was, in fact, named for John Thompson Street Brown, Sr., who had a wholesale liquor business on Whiskey Row in Louisville in the 1870s. The brand changed hands a few times before becoming a Heaven Hill property.
Heaven Hill is the largest independent and family-owned and operated distiller and marketer of distilled spirits in the country, producing such great bourbons as Elijah Craig, Evan Williams, Heaven Hill, Henry McKenna…and the subject of today’s review. In fact, all of the whiskies I mentioned share the exact same mash bill and are the same juice when they go into a barrel. Heaven Hill doesn’t rotate their barrels, so the magic of barrel selection and age mean everything to what bourbons get what labels.
JTS Brown is a Bottled In Bond Bourbon, so it is a minimum of 4 years old and bottled at 100 proof. It does appear a little lighter in the glass than some of its siblings, though…a light-medium amber. The aroma from it was light, too…a little oak, a bit of vanilla, a touch of molasses. The flavor of this one is much different from Evan and Elijah…more corn-forward and ethanol, with a little sweetness. I don’t find it as appealing as Evan Williams Bottled In Bond, although it retails (in those states where you can find it) for $2-3 more than the EW. I found it a fun one to try since I’m a big fan of Heaven Hill, but I can’t see buying it again when I enjoy the company of Evan or Elijah more.
