Widow Jane 10yr Borough Blend – Bourbon with the Soul of NYC

Updated → September 2025

Widow Jane 10yr Borough Blend is a special 10-year bourbon that pays tribute to New York City’s five boroughs. This limited-edition whiskey blends five select barrels (one per borough) aged at least a decade. The result is a complex, rich bourbon with warm spice, hints of fruit and nuttiness, and a distinctly NYC character.

Table of Contents

• Bourbon Boom: Premium Aged Whiskeys Take Center Stage
• New York’s Craft Distillers Rise
• Product Comparison
  • How Widow Jane 10yr Borough Blend Sets Itself Apart
  • Widow Jane 10 Year: The Flagship vs. Borough Blend
  • Basil Hayden 10 Year: Kentucky Tradition vs. NYC Innovation
  • Eagle Rare 10 Year: Classic Bourbon vs. Bold Blend
  • Bulleit 10 Year: Frontier Heritage Meets Urban Craft
  • Henry McKenna 10 Year: Single Barrel vs. Masterful Blend
• Crafting Widow Jane Borough Blend: From Barrel to Bottle
• Tasting Notes: New York in a Glass
• Buying & Enjoying Widow Jane 10yr Borough Blend
  • Neat, Rocks, or Cocktails: How Best to Enjoy
  • Storage and Collectibility Tips
• A Final Toast: Experience the Borough Blend

Bourbon Boom: Premium Aged Whiskeys Take Center Stage

Bourbon has been experiencing an incredible boom in recent years. Premium aged whiskeys, especially those boasting age statements like 10 years or more, have surged in popularity worldwide. Enthusiasts and collectors alike are chasing limited releases and small-batch offerings, driving demand (and prices) to new heights. This trend isn’t just a fad – it reflects a broader shift toward premiumization and appreciation for the craftsmanship behind a fine bourbon. Industry reports project steady growth for bourbon sales through the coming decade, fueled by consumers’ willingness to spend more for quality and uniqueness. In short, the bourbon renaissance is here, and well-aged expressions are leading the charge.

Key trends in the bourbon market include:

• Strong annual growth in global bourbon sales (around 5–7% CAGR), with market value expected to double over the next decade.
• Rising consumer appetite for premium and ultra-premium bourbons, especially those with age statements like 10, 12, or 15 years.
• Limited-edition releases creating buzz – many sell out quickly as collectors scramble to acquire rare bottles.
• Craft distilleries and heritage brands alike ramping up special releases to cater to aficionados seeking unique flavor profiles.
• Younger generations discovering bourbon, showing surprising loyalty to high-end labels and an interest in bourbon’s history and production.

New York’s Craft Distillers Rise

Traditionally, Kentucky and Tennessee might be the first places people think of for bourbon, but New York has firmly planted its flag on the whiskey map. In recent years, the Empire State’s craft distilling scene has risen dramatically. Dozens of artisan distilleries have popped up across New York, from upstate to the heart of NYC, producing high-quality bourbons and ryes that compete on the national stage. This local boom is driven by a mix of innovation and pride – New Yorkers love supporting homegrown brands that bring a unique twist to classic spirits.

Widow Jane 10yr Borough Blend is a perfect example of this New York craft whiskey movement. Born in Brooklyn’s Red Hook neighborhood, Widow Jane Distillery has made a name by sourcing excellent bourbons and blending them with a touch of NYC terroir – notably using pure limestone mineral water from upstate New York. The Borough Blend release takes that local spirit to another level by directly involving the city’s bartenders in its creation. It’s not just made in New York; it’s made by New York, in the sense that experts from each borough had a hand in shaping it. This kind of community collaboration highlights how New York distillers are innovating and differentiating themselves from their Kentucky cousins.

Product Comparison

How Widow Jane 10yr Borough Blend Sets Itself Apart

Widow Jane 10yr Borough Blend distinguishes itself through its New York City DNA. Unlike many bourbons which are blended by in-house teams or master distillers alone, Borough Blend was curated with the help of seven top NYC bartenders, each representing a different borough. This collaborative selection process means the whiskey was tailored to capture the diverse character of the city itself. Additionally, Borough Blend is a “hyper-small-batch” bourbon – just five barrels make up each batch, one barrel symbolically representing each borough. At 91 proof (45.5% ABV), it’s robust but not overpowering, allowing its complex flavors to shine. Finally, the use of the distillery’s signature Rosendale limestone water for proofing gives it a silky mouthfeel and a mineral nuance that sets it apart from bourbons made elsewhere. In summary, Borough Blend stands out as a bourbon with a story and profile that only New York could create.

Widow Jane 10 Year: The Flagship vs. Borough Blend

Widow Jane’s regular 10 Year Bourbon is the distillery’s flagship offering and already a respected pour among bourbon fans. It’s also a blend of straight bourbons from various sources, aged a minimum of 10 years, and proofed with that same special New York water. So how is the Borough Blend different? In essence, Borough Blend reimagines the flagship 10 Year through a NYC lens. Both are 10-year-old bourbons, but Borough Blend is a single-batch limited release selected by local bartenders for a flavor profile that “mirrors the city’s soul.” Drinkers often find the Borough Blend to have a bolder mix of flavors – slightly more fruit, florals, and a subtle briny note – compared to the classic Widow Jane 10 Year which leans into rich caramel, vanilla, and oak. The difference isn’t night-and-day (after all, they share a family resemblance), but Borough Blend offers a unique spin on the classic, with a bit more of that vibrant, unpredictable New York attitude in each sip.

Basil Hayden 10 Year: Kentucky Tradition vs. NYC Innovation

Basil Hayden 10 Year is a well-known Kentucky bourbon that provides an interesting contrast to Widow Jane 10yr Borough Blend. Basil Hayden’s 10 Year is beloved for its smooth and mild character – bottled at a lower 80 proof, it delivers gentle notes of oak, vanilla, and dried fruit with very little burn. It’s a refined take on bourbon that appeals to those who prefer a lighter touch. In contrast, Widow Jane Borough Blend, at 91 proof and non-chill filtered, carries more weight and richness on the palate. The Borough Blend’s flavor profile is more complex and robust, layering spice, nuttiness, and a hint of minerality alongside classic toffee and cherry notes. Essentially, Basil Hayden represents the soft-spoken elegance of a traditional Kentucky bourbon, whereas Borough Blend brings a bolder, urban edge. Both are excellent in their own ways – Basil Hayden might be the choice for a smooth sipping easy-going evening, while Borough Blend is for when you want to ponder a whiskey’s depths or celebrate something uniquely New York.

Eagle Rare 10 Year: Classic Bourbon vs. Bold Blend

Eagle Rare 10 Year is another acclaimed bourbon (from Buffalo Trace in Kentucky) that often comes up in “10-year bourbon” conversations. Eagle Rare is known for delivering a classic bourbon experience: it’s a single straight bourbon (not a blend of different sources), 90 proof, with a rich balance of oak, cocoa, and candied orange peel flavors, all wrapped in a smooth finish. How does Widow Jane 10yr Borough Blend compare? The Borough Blend, being a curated mix of five barrels, isn’t tied to one distillery’s profile – it’s more of a mosaic. This gives it an edge in complexity; many tasters note that Borough Blend has layers of flavor that unfold over time, with the fruity and spicy notes playing off its deep sweetness. Eagle Rare, on the other hand, is straightforward and consistent (in a very good way). In terms of exclusivity, Eagle Rare is somewhat limited by allocation but generally easier to find than Borough Blend, which is a one-time New York-only release. In summary, if Eagle Rare is like listening to a beautifully composed classic symphony, Widow Jane Borough Blend is like experiencing a jazz fusion jam in the city – familiar base notes with some surprising riffs along the way.

Bulleit 10 Year: Frontier Heritage Meets Urban Craft

Bulleit 10 Year, with its frontier-inspired branding, brings a spicy high-rye mashbill twist to the 10-year bourbon category. Bulleit 10 spends a decade in oak to develop deeper maple and spice notes compared to the original Bulleit Frontier Bourbon. It’s bottled at 91.2 proof, very close to the Borough Blend’s proof. When you sip Bulleit 10 Year, you get a lot of cinnamon, clove, and a toasty oak character on a backdrop of caramel. Now, tasting it next to Widow Jane Borough Blend is fascinating. The Borough Blend’s flavor feels a bit more layered in a different direction – it has those nutty, fruity, and slightly salty notes that Bulleit doesn’t feature. This likely comes from differences in the blend composition and the mineral-rich water finishing of Widow Jane. Essentially, Bulleit 10 is a portrait of a classic frontier bourbon refined with extra age, whereas Borough Blend is a snapshot of New York’s craft blending artistry. Both share a similar proof and a solid oak backbone, but Borough Blend will give you more quirky hints (like that whisper of chocolate or coffee) versus Bulleit’s straight-ahead spice. It’s like comparing a cowboy in a well-tailored suit to an artisanal Brooklyn bartender – each stylish in their own right!

Henry McKenna 10 Year: Single Barrel vs. Masterful Blend

Henry McKenna Single Barrel 10 Year is a famed Kentucky bourbon that actually won big awards in recent years, putting 10-year bourbons on many peoples’ radar. It’s Bottled-in-Bond at 100 proof and comes from one single barrel per bottle, so each bottle can have slight variations. Henry McKenna is celebrated for its robust flavors of vanilla, oak, dark fruit, and black pepper spice. In comparison, Widow Jane 10yr Borough Blend offers a different approach: instead of one barrel, it’s the harmony of five barrels blended together. This means Borough Blend aims for a balanced profile where layers complement each other, as opposed to Henry McKenna’s “single voice” that may be bold and idiosyncratic. At 91 proof, Borough Blend is slightly gentler than the 100-proof McKenna, making it a touch more accessible neat. Flavor-wise, McKenna might hit you with a wave of oak and spice up front, while Borough Blend unfolds more gradually, revealing floral sweetness, nuts, and a dash of salinity amid its caramel and spice. Both are absolutely top-notch in quality. Choosing between them might come down to mood: do you want the singular, punchy experience of a single barrel bottled-in-bond, or the curated, story-rich journey of a blend that encapsulates a city’s spirit? There’s no wrong answer, of course!

Crafting Widow Jane Borough Blend: From Barrel to Bottle

The creation of Widow Jane 10yr Borough Blend is as meticulously done as you’d expect for a whiskey honoring New York City. It starts with selecting premium barrels of bourbon, each aged at least 10 years in new American oak. Widow Jane is known for sourcing excellent barrels from various states (often Kentucky, Tennessee, and Indiana) and then blending them in Brooklyn, and the Borough Blend was no exception. What makes this release different is that instead of the master blender alone choosing the mix, a panel of seven seasoned NYC bartenders was invited to the distillery to help taste and select the blend that best captured the “flavor” of New York’s five boroughs. In essence, they were curating the city in a glass.

Once the five-barrel blend was decided upon, the whiskey was proofed down to 91 proof using Widow Jane’s signature ingredient: pure limestone mineral water trucked in from the legendary Rosendale Mines in upstate New York. This mineral-rich water, which once helped make the cement for iconic structures like the Brooklyn Bridge, lends a soft, round mouthfeel to the bourbon. Notably, Borough Blend is non-chill filtered, meaning no chill filtration step was applied, preserving maximum flavor oils and complexity in the bottle (this can make it appear a bit hazy when cold, a hallmark of richly textured whiskey). The end result was bottled in a limited run of about 2,400 bottles, exclusive to the New York market. Even the packaging pays homage to NYC: the label depicts the city skyline at night, including the Empire State Building and Brooklyn Bridge, and the bottle’s cork is topped with a metal token reminiscent of an old NYC subway token. From start to finish, crafting Borough Blend was about blending heritage and innovation – taking well-aged bourbon tradition and infusing it with New York’s unique character and creativity.

Tasting Notes: New York in a Glass

With Widow Jane Borough Blend, every sip is like a mini tour of New York City’s flavors and aromas. On the nose, you’re immediately met with a warm sweetness that calls to mind a cinnamon raisin bagel fresh from a Brooklyn bakery. There’s also a playful hint of caramel popcorn, as if you’ve strolled past a vendor at a summer baseball game. Deeper inhales reveal more: a wisp of toasty pretzel cart smoke mingling with delicate floral notes (some liken it to cherry blossoms in spring). There’s even a subtle fruity zest, reminiscent of the sweet-tart mandarins you might find on Mott Street during Lunar New Year celebrations. It’s an aromatic profile that’s both comforting and intriguing.

Take a sip, and the palate unfolds in layers. First comes a rich caramel apple note – think of a candy apple from a street fair, complete with a coating of peanuts for a nutty crunch. That sweetness is balanced by fruity pops of maraschino cherry and a smooth vanilla, almost like the vanilla-cherry soft serve you’d treat yourself to on a Coney Island boardwalk. As the bourbon settles on your tongue, darker tones emerge: a hint of roasted coffee, evoking that perfect cup from a favorite corner bodega, adds depth and cuts the sweetness. The mouthfeel is round and velvety (thanks to that mineral water and lack of chill filtration), carrying all those flavors gracefully.

The finish is long, warming, and memorably New York. As it slowly fades, you might catch a cooling touch of mint – calling to mind a peppermint stick enjoyed in front of the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree – alongside a lasting sweetness of chocolate and pastry. Some tasters note a chocolate egg cream vibe (a classic NYC soda fountain treat) or the soft, cakey sweetness of a black-and-white cookie lingering. There’s also a trace of spiced fruit that might remind you of plum sauce from your go-to takeout spot. In all, the finish leaves a gentle reminder of the Borough Blend’s complexity: sweet, spiced, slightly savory, and utterly satisfying. It’s the kind of whiskey that invites you to reflect on it for minutes after each sip, much like one reflects on a great evening in the city.

Buying & Enjoying Widow Jane 10yr Borough Blend

As a New York exclusive release, Widow Jane 10yr Borough Blend can be a bit tricky to find – but that’s part of its allure. If you’re in New York State, you’re in luck: bottles have been distributed to select liquor shops (typically high-end or specialty stores) throughout the region. Here in New Hartford, you can find it at our very own Seneca Wine & Liquor. Given the limited supply (only 2,400 bottles out there), it’s wise to call ahead or reserve a bottle if possible. Many enthusiasts snapped them up quickly upon release, but occasional restocks or a few bottles might still be on shelves. The price for this piece of NYC whiskey history sits around $70, which is a solid value considering the craftsmanship and 10-year age – especially when compared to other limited bourbons that often fetch higher prices on the secondary market.

Once you do have a bottle in hand, the question becomes how to enjoy it. The beauty of Borough Blend is that it’s versatile yet nuanced. You’ll certainly want to try it neat first to appreciate its full range of flavors straight from the bottle. Pour about 2 ounces into a glass, give it a swirl and a moment to breathe, then take in those New York-inspired aromas and savor a sip unadulterated. Many will find it perfectly sippable at 91 proof without water. If you’re sensitive to strong spirits, adding a few drops of water or a large ice cube can open up new aromas (expect a bit more oak and spice to emerge) and mellow the warmth without diluting the experience too much. Because it’s non-chill filtered, a bit of ice may cause a slight “fog” in the whiskey – that’s totally normal and just a sign of all the flavorful oils present.

Neat, Rocks, or Cocktails: How Best to Enjoy

Given its complexity, Widow Jane Borough Blend truly shines when sipped neat or with minimal dilution. The layers of flavor – from sweet to spicy to nutty – are most pronounced when you drink it straight or with just a splash of water. That said, if you prefer it chilled, one large ice cube is a good choice (it will cool your bourbon slowly and dilute it less quickly than many small cubes). The whiskey’s 91 proof is a sweet spot: robust enough to stand up in cocktails but not so hot that you can’t sip it neat.

Speaking of cocktails, it may feel almost sacrilegious to mix such a limited bourbon into drinks, but rest assured, Borough Blend can make a stellar Manhattan or Old Fashioned. Its depth and character bring a unique twist to classic bourbon cocktails. In fact, the distillery’s bar (and other NYC cocktail lounges) have featured specialty cocktails with Borough Blend – showcasing that a great whiskey can both be savored neat and used creatively. If you’re feeling adventurous, try it in a spirit-forward cocktail where it can take center stage (for example, a Manhattan with two ounces of Borough Blend, a good Italian sweet vermouth, and a dash of bitters, garnished with a cherry). The rich fruit and spice notes of the whiskey play exceptionally well with vermouth. Still, many purists will argue that the best way to appreciate a whiskey this special is to pour it straight and sip slowly, letting its story unfold with each taste.

Storage and Collectibility Tips

If you were lucky enough to snag more than one bottle of Widow Jane 10yr Borough Blend, you might be considering saving one for the future. Unopened, a bottle of bourbon can last indefinitely if stored properly. Keep your spare bottle upright (to prevent the high-proof liquid from degrading the cork) and in a cool, dark place away from direct sunlight or extreme temperature changes. This ensures the whiskey maintains its quality over time. However, it’s worth noting that unlike wine, whiskey doesn’t evolve or improve once bottled – so you’re not “aging” it further by holding onto it. The main reason to cellar a bottle is for the sheer value or the occasion: Borough Blend could become a sought-after collector’s item given its one-time release nature. In a few years, an untouched bottle might be a fun slice of NYC whiskey history to either open for a special toast or even trade with a fellow enthusiast.

For an opened bottle, you’ll have plenty of time to enjoy it as well. Once open, bourbon can last for months or even a couple of years without huge changes in flavor, especially if kept tightly sealed in a mostly full bottle. Just try to avoid long-term half-empty storage; as the air in the bottle increases, some subtle flavor change can occur over a very long time. But chances are, a bourbon this good won’t last too long on your shelf – you’ll find yourself reaching for it to pour “just one more taste” for you and friends. After all, whiskey is meant to be enjoyed. So while collecting is fun, don’t forget to actually drink and share your Widow Jane Borough Blend – that’s what it was made for!

A Final Toast: Experience the Borough Blend

Widow Jane 10yr Borough Blend isn’t just another bourbon – it’s a liquid love letter to New York City. From its conception with local bartenders to the hints of city-inspired flavors in each sip, it embodies a spirit of collaboration and creativity that’s very much in tune with NYC’s vibe. For bourbon lovers, it offers a fresh angle on what a 10-year whiskey can be, marrying time-honored aging with a novel blending approach. For New Yorkers (and New Yorkers at heart), it’s a point of pride to have a bourbon that captures a bit of the city’s soul.

If you’re curious to taste this unique creation, don’t hesitate. Supplies are limited, and once it’s gone, this particular edition may not come back. We at Seneca Wine & Liquor are thrilled to have Widow Jane 10yr Borough Blend available for our customers – it’s not every day you can pick up a bottle that’s an exclusive taste of New York’s whiskey scene. Whether you’re adding it to a collection or cracking it open on a special evening, you’re in for something memorable. So here’s to you and here’s to New York’s very own bourbon: pour a glass, raise it high, and enjoy the Borough Blend. Cheers!

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