Tastes

I've had several Beam expressions, but I've never tried Jim Beam original... until tonight at my niece's wedding.... Good stuff. I'm finding that I don't need to spend a lot of money for decent bourbon that has all, if not most, of what I look for. This is sweet, nutty and smokey. I might just have to buy a bottle to have on hand.

Color: Light golden copper Nose: Light nose. Not getting a lot from it. Palate: Mint, Rye spice, wintergreen and pine. I'm getting a similar flavor that I get from most of the Rye I have had — an old library book. Sounds bad, but it's a really good profile characteristic. Must be a trait specific to rye, because I don't get it from any other type of whiskey. Finish: Medium with licorice cough drops and more spice. Interesting pour. I'm having this a hotel bar tonight, and I liked it enough to order a second round. I'm not sure if I will buy it, but I would definitely drink it again.

My original review for the new Heaven's Door Ascension on 8/12/23 was full of hope and I really wanted to give this juice the benefit of the doubt. However, I have deleted all that and am changing my review and rating... I do not like this stuff. I tried, but its got a heavy "medicinal" flavor that is very off-putting. It is quite seldom that I don't like a bottle enough to want to dump it down the sink... but this, unfortunately, has earned that fate. However, I'm instead going to try to pawn it off on a fellow bourbon enthusiast to get his take on it. If he likes it, awesome! If he has the same reaction as me, then HE can dump it. LOL! Sorry, Heaven's Door. I had such high hopes for your first KY Bourbon, but you totally missed the mark on this one. 2.25 final rating for not being the worst I've ever had, but definitely nowhere near even a "bottom shelf" status. I'll buy Old Grandad 100 BIB, or Evan Williams 1783, before I touch this stuff again. Those are far better bourbons for much less $$$!

Color: Medium "Rusty" Amber Nose: Sweet — molasses, slight alcohol, old library book (that's a good thing!) Palate: (First pour drank with an ice cube. Second pour with a large ice ball) Slight sweetness, and some char/smoke. Nice. I'm getting other things which I will attribute to the sherry cask. Slight burn in the chest. As the ice dissipates, it opens up and a blast of cinnamon will hit you. Spicy tingle on the back end. Finish: Medium with the lingering back-end spice and woodiness. Sometimes, I can be underwhelmed by a pour. But this one I find quite interesting. I don't typically go for these, "Finished in _____ Casks" expressions. But I'd say this one is worth the $50-$60, or whatever this goes for. I got to try it for free, as it was my final Flaviar freebie — which makes it taste even better. Interesting side note: I like to get my wife's take on the nose (she won't drink it!), so I asked her to nose my glass and tell me what she gets.... she said, "nail polish remover" — which the expert reviewer here also noted in their review.

Color: Light-medium orangey amber Nose: Nice nose! Slightly sweet with leather and cloves (think ,"holidays"). Apples, and some oh-so-slight alcohol whiff. One of those noses that you hope follows through on the palate... Palate: Light mouth feel, with an initial blast of heat at the back of the throat. This may sound weird, but this is the most "refreshing" bourbon I have ever tasted. Fruity and spicy, slightly sweet. But... I'll be honest. I was hoping this would knock me out. But it's nothing all that impressive — yet it's nothing to turn your nose up at, either. It's good. But I like my bourbon to be more smokey, nutty, and slightly more robust. This reminds me a lot of other "good but not outstanding" bottles I've had, where lightness and more of a citrus/fruity side dominates. Maybe subsequent pours will reveal more...? But as of the first two, it earns a respectable 2.75 stars with room to grow. P.S. The bottle is nice. Light coming in from behind reveals some interesting details. Added: 8/18/23: Yeah, this is not destined for a regular spot in my bourbon rotation. Tastes more like a light single malt whiskey to me. Downgrading from 2.75 to 2.5. Added 11/25/23: I've had this sitting around for a while now, and figured I'd give it another go tonight. I detected something on the palate tonight that I hadn't noticed before: An almost beer-like hoppy flavor. Very strange. Not a fan of beer, but I will be generous, and keep my rating at 2.5.

First things first... How on earth is the Distiller score for this 2 points higher than the WT 101?!?!? Had dinner this evening at a British Pub, and asked for their whiskey list. Much to my surprise, they didn't have a lot. This was the only bourbon they had, so I figured what the hell... This is no Rare Breed or 101. Those two are fantastic. But this is not bad... not bad at all. For a cheap pour, it surprised me. I always thought of Wild Turkey as stuff that only drunkards drink. LOL. But for the price, this is respectable stuff. Just enough "sweet" and "smokey" to get the job done. Am I going to buy a bottle? Nope! Will I drink it again? Yup!

When my bourbon journey began back in 2020, these Beam Signature Crafts were on my very first lists of bottles to find and try. But I could never find any of them anywhere... until tonight when I had dinner right next door to a Liquor Store (I rhymed!). TBH, I was hoping to locate the 12 Year Bourbon tonight. But they had the Brown Rice 11 Year, and the High Rye 11 Year. I opted for the former... Nose: sweet with old leather-bound book mustiness (that's a good thing). Palate: (drank with one small cube) Very strong oak presence right off the bat. Sweet and spicy... and something that I can't quite pin-point hits at the back on the first sip. Buttery pound cake? Man, what is it? Maybe it's more like a cherry-nougat truffle from a box of chocolates? Whatever it is, this is very good in a very different way. Cheers, Jim Beam! Finish: Very minimal burn, fairly long with lingering tingle and oakiness. Good stuff. I know they have more of this where I got it. I'm probably going to grab another before they're gone for good. The price might be considered high for a 375 ml bottle. But the quality and the relative scarcity of these Signature Crafts make it worthwhile, IMO.

Color: light-medium copper. Nose: Familiar vanilla and caramel. Slight hint of molasses. Palate: Initial alcohol burn followed immediately by cocoa — like a packet of hot cocoa. First time I've got such a strong cocoa flavor. I've seen it mentioned in the expert reviews here, for other bottles I've had in the past. But never have I actually tasted it until now. I'm getting a lot from this juice on its maiden voyage. Slightly sweet... slightly bitter cherry on the front end, orange zest appears on the back end. I drink my bourbon with either an ice cube or a large ice ball — depending on proof. Drinking this with a cube. As the cube has dissolved, a smooth and leathery-caramel flavor is revealed. Finish: Spicy and oaky with a slight drying quality. Final thoughts: I've wanted to try past Bardstown offerings, but they've always been a bit over what I've been willing to pay for, going on reviews alone. But coming in at under $50.00, this is excellent bourbon. A smooth, flavorful easy sipper. I would definitely buy this again. As a side note, the bottle is really nice. The artwork that appears inside the bottle, against the back light, is very pretty. Brownie points!

I originally reviewed this McKenna 10 Year back in October of last year. I am updating/replacing my original review tonight... Barrel No. 12937 Barreled on: 10/17/12 Color: Medium amber Nose: Vanilla, caramel and a hint of devil's food cake. Palate: Sweet, smooth, more caramel with oak tannins coming through. Nice gentle hug in the chest on the first few sips. This is somewhat spicy, but more tempered. I get that tongue-tingle that seems to be a general trait of most Bourbon. Finish: Long with a leathery tobacco quality. Think, "sitting in a leather chair in a cigar lounge". I had some McKenna 10 Year BiB at a restaurant last October. The nose on that one hit me in the face with butterscotch. I did not get that from this one. I know these Single Barrels WILL differ, but I'd not be surprised if the butterscotch made an appearance in subsequent pours. Bottom line: This is one of my favorites of the many Bourbons I have had, and it is a Top-Shelfer.