Jefferson’s Marian McLain Limited Edition Bourbon Whiskey
Jefferson's Marian McLain Limited Edition Bourbon Whiskey is a tribute to one of the earliest documented women in American whiskey — a limited-edition 750mL multi-bourbon blend honoring Marian McLain, founder Trey Zoeller's eighth-generation grandmother, arrested in 1799 for the "production and sales of spirituous liquors" to support her five children after her husband died in the Revolutionary War. The blend honors her five children with five distinct bourbons, and the 2023 launch was tied to the Marian McLain Entrepreneurial Fund with Barbara Corcoran. IMPORTANT: two releases exist — the original 2023 bottling at 102 proof and a second 2025 release at 106 proof cask strength — so confirm which bottling is on the shelf before relying on a specific proof. Bottled for Jefferson's Bourbon Company in Crestwood, Kentucky. Available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.
- Size: 750mL — limited edition, two releases: 2023 at 102 proof; 2025 second release at 106 proof cask strength
- Concept: five-bourbon blend honoring Marian McLain's five children
- Who she was: Trey Zoeller's 8th-generation grandmother; arrested 1799 for producing and selling spirits
- Awards (brand-reported): Platinum — 2023 Ascot Awards; Gold — 2024 SFWSC; Gold — 2024 BTI Packaging and Design; Gold — 2024 BTI Luxury Spirits
- Bottled for: Jefferson's Bourbon Company, Crestwood, Kentucky
The 1799 Tribute Blend
Marian McLain's story survived in family and court records: a widowed mother of five in 1799 America, prosecuted for making and selling "spirituous liquors" to keep her family fed. Jefferson's built this limited edition around her — five bourbons for five children, finished with the brand's signature blending. Explore more bourbon whiskey and American whiskey, or see the Jefferson's range at Del Mesa.
Tasting Notes
Release-era coverage (2023 bottling) describes caramelized brown sugar, vanilla bean, and toasted oak on the nose; dark fruit, honeyed spice, baking spice, and wine-and-rum sweetness on the palate; and a long, warming caramel and charred-oak finish. Reviews of the era note cinnamon and honey, dried fruits, orange zest, milk chocolate, espresso, and banana with a tannic oak and musty-leather backbone. (Tasting notes reference the 2023 release — recheck against the shelf bottle if it is the 2025 106-proof release.)
How to Enjoy
Neat, in a tulip glass — a multi-bourbon tribute blend at this level is built for slow sipping. One large cube if you want the fruit to open.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Marian McLain?
Founder Trey Zoeller's eighth-generation grandmother — arrested in 1799 for producing and selling spirits to support her five children, making her one of the earliest documented women in American whiskey.
Why five bourbons?
The blend honors her five children — five distinct bourbons in one limited-edition bottle.
Is this the 102 proof or 106 proof release?
Jefferson's released Marian McLain first in 2023 at 102 proof and again in 2025 as a 106-proof cask-strength second release. Check the bottle on the shelf to confirm which release is stocked.
A tribute 227 years in the making — order Jefferson's Marian McLain Bourbon from Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.