Jim Beam Black Label Extra-Aged

Auburn/mahogany color. A little bit of dripped-paint legginess; looks pretty sticky. The nose is spicy rye and prickly black pepper at first. Dried corn kernels; heather, herbs, field grains and molasses. Sawdust wood from dad's workbench. Not incredibly complex but definitely gets the job done. Taste is soft corn syrup sweetness up front, with a quick, ashy burn mid-palate. A little bit of vanilla and toffee, which really comes out with an ice cube. A pleasant peppercorn, which stings a bit at first and then settles down. Barrel spices and charred wood. It washes over the rest in a slick, syrupy smoothness. Right in the pocket. The finish is a charcoal smolder at the end. Tobacco ash. Dusty mocha chocolate. Corn syrup, almost like corn oil you'd use in cooking. JB Double Black is a good, nicely-priced Bourbon. It has some good barrel char, tempered by some syrupy corn and a dry, ashy finish. It's Not terribly layered, but it's exactly what you want when you want a well-priced bourbon.