How the Latest Jefferson’s Bourbon Was Crafted to Honor a Bootleggin’ Grandma

Trey Zoeller photo courtesy of Jefferson's

While most families keep their secrets buried and shrouded for generations with the hope they’ll eventually be forgotten, others unearth, dust off, and celebrate them with their own bourbon brand. By “others” we mean father and son, Chet and Trey Zoeller, founders of Jefferson’s Bourbon. And although Trey’s 8th generation grandmother Marian McLain was never thought of as shameful or someone to keep secret, she does have the honor of being one of the first women on record to have been convicted of bootlegging.

It’s those bootlegging beginnings that inspired Trey and Chet to first start Jefferson’s in 1997, and it’s Marian’s fiery, bold, and courageous personality traits that continue on today in both the family and the award-winning bourbon brand known for aging its bourbon on the ocean.

After unearthing that documented moment in time, Trey says he and his father “felt it was kind of like the universe telling us that we had to get involved in the industry.”

Who was Marian McLain?

Trey knew he wanted to honor his infamous maternal great-great-great-you-know-the-deal-grandmother with her own bourbon, so he set out to learn more about her story and what made her tick. He also yanked his dad Chet, a bourbon historian, out of retirement to help create Jefferson’s Marian McLain Bourbon, which will officially be released in late April/early May.

But first, let’s get to know Marian. We know she was married to Angus McLain and had five children. Angus died in the Revolutionary War, and that’s when Marian took up moonshining and bootlegging to support her family. With her arrest in 1799, she became one of the first women to get convicted of bootlegging.

Trey doesn’t care so much about the arrest, but rather it’s the arrest record that truly solidifies her place in distilling history.

“The Marian McLain expression is a tribute to our family history and a celebration of the pioneering persona that defines our brand. This is not just a bottle of bourbon; it is a legacy,” he says. “We are honored to share Marian’s spirit through this exceptionally bold and balanced blend.”

Creating a Blend

Now let’s dive into that bourbon. Since Marian had five kids, Trey and Chet blended five premium whiskeys for her bottle. Those consist of:

Jefferson's Marian McLain photo courtesy of Jefferson's

• 21% 14-Year-Old Tennessee Straight Bourbon

• 40% 11-Year-Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon

• 14% Wheated Double-Barrel

• 17% Rum Cask Finish

• 8% 8-Year-Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon

Trey says the biggest challenge to blending this release was finding five bourbons that worked well together. Many times, a blend can cover up nuances and distinct flavors, so he and his father tweaked the ratios for months looking for the perfect mix. “I think by taking the percentages and proofs that we did, we were able to get all five bourbons to make an appearance while still making the whole better than the parts,” explains Trey. “It took months to get the perfect blend together.”

The bourbon will be bottled at 102 proof and will be available nationwide starting in late April for a suggested retail price of $300. Trey says there will be other iterations of the Marian McLain expression in the future, but they will feature different blends.

I was fortunate to catch up with Trey over a few pours of the Marian McLain, and I can attest that I have never seen him prouder to debut a new release. You can tell he spent a lot of time tweaking the recipe so that it honors his family legacy and is a damn fine bourbon for Jefferson’s fans and whiskey fans alike.

Bottle of Jefferson's Marian McLain photo courtesy of Jefferson's

Tasting Notes

The bourbon is rich and bold with several layers of flavor from the blend of five styles of whiskey. On the nose you get incredible wafts of butterscotch and cinnamon, and on the palate there’s a dazzling array of spice, brown sugar, baked apple, apricot, oak and, of course, a thick layer of caramel to top it off. And the finish is a lingering, delightful drizzle of brown sugar, black pepper, tobacco and toasted marshmallow.

New Jefferson’s Distillery coming soon

In other Jefferson’s news, it was announced late last year that Pernod Ricard, the parent company of Jefferson’s, plans to build a new $250 million distillery in Marion County, Ky. The facility will be carbon neutral, environmentally friendly and will have the capacity to make 7.5 million proof gallons a year.

Trey added that the distillery site will also utilize all-electric vehicles for zero emission and include a Visitor Center, conference halls, tasting rooms, rick houses, solar lighting and even a music stage. They’re hoping to be ready to distill by 2025.