Tastes

Sweet charred oak ... very smooth and delicious! I get a little burnt toffee peanut?

8 years ago I gave this a 2.5 - I've upped it to a solid 3 (maybe 3+) since it's become harder to find solid Bourbons at a decent price point... In the sub $12/liter range, there's only JTS Brown, Henry McKenna, and this still available in Virginia when it comes to drinkable straight bourbon... everything else is either blended shit with neutral grain spirits or awful stuff (Old Crow, Rebel Yell)... yes, Green Label is available here, but not worth drinking when there's Black Label for a few dollars more.

As a bottom shelfer, I really enjoy the band-for-buck of this boubon. The nose is weak and somewhat dominated by ethanol, but the palette is Cracker Jacks (caramel corn and peanuts) and makes a great daily drinker if you like Cracker Jacks. Still a little weak for mixing, but I've learned to adjust on the bitters and vermouth for my Manhattens (more Bourbon and bitters, slightly less vermouth since the Bourbon is so sweet).

I mix this (2/3) with Fighting Cock (1/3) to produce a decent 86+ proof daily drinker. With a 1.75L of JTS and .75L of FC at $18 each on sale in Virginia, I can have a decent dram at less than $15/L. On its own, JTS 80 proof is non offensive and a fine mixer - It is also OK over ice, but noticeably basic... just corn sweetness and caramel. Mixing with the higher proof Fighting Cock raises proof, taste, spiciness, and complexity - the mix only lacks a bit of smoothness and wood from older ($$$) bourbons.

Much better than basic Jim Beam White - I like it more than Beam Black.

Good bang for the buck. Mixes OK and I've even enjoyed sipping it - no off notes at <$10/liter.

While I don't taste the nutty Beam funk yeast in any of the Beam small batch Bourbons, I taste it in all the sub-$25 Beam offerings. While it makes Jim Beam White one note, it works much better in the high eye OGD and brings a little of the Basil Hayden profile to the sub-$25 market. I picked up sweet vanilla, corn, licorice, and cinnamon. Moderate finish. Good enough to sip neat and full enough to mix well. I will buy when it is on sale. Edit: with ice, the barrel influence and oak show up ... quite enjoyable for the price ... 3.5 stars?

Based on price, I'd give this 3.5 stars. Blended Irish whiskey is known for being smooth, but this is especially smooth... It might be my favorite sub-$25 Irish Whiskey for casual sipping (had some around a fire pit last night, and it was perfection... Bushmills Black Bush had been my favorite for such occasions, but this is cheaper and smoother).