Jim Beam Black Label Extra-Aged

Vanilla, oak, spice and a little bit of barrel char. A nice long finish with spice coming on strong. Very good.

Nose is nice and sweet with brown sugar, vanilla, and citrus. Taste is a different story. Heavy char up front followed by corn dust then with late sugars and baking spice in finish. Kind of a 2-3 note drink. Not complex enough for me.

The flavor is sweet with wood notes that carry a little smoke. Vanilla and flowers are prominent with some fruit. The flavor balances full and refreshing. This Whisky is cheap enough to mix and decent enough to sip. Wood and vanilla take the forefront with the sweetness and tartness battling each other. Ultimately, the floral notes overtake the wood ones and the sweetness wins out in a satisfying finish that throws a little toffee into the mix. This isn't an amazing Whisky, but it changes over time and has enough richness to be a satisfying sipper. I wish the finish were not so dominated by bitter alcohol though. Compared to Colonel E.H. Taylor Small Batch. this bourbon is less spicy and has more of a toffee flavor as it progresses. It is also less harsh, partly due to the diminished spice and partly due to the lower ABV. Something tastes a little off at the beginning, but the sweet, woody finish is nice, so a little odd note is easy to forgive. All-told, this is a good bourbon. It's a bit watery with some icing sugar notes compared to some other Bourbons, but it has less of a cinnamon bite. Not objectionable, but not delicious. Sweet, not super deep, and mild. That all said, it is rounded and just barely sippable. Don't overlook this bourbon. It may not be that storing, but it is enjoyable. It lacks the richness of Old Forester Signature, but it is darned close in quality despite the mineral elements. Despite relative variations in flavor, the off notes of this balance those of E.H. Taylor Small Batch, making the two drinks comparable in quality. Mild compared to other Bourbons to the point that its flavor is overwhelmed by minerals. Minerals aside though, it is sweet and the flavors aren't bad. It's good for mixing, but not a great sipper. Sweet, toffee, some burn. It's tasty, but not super deep and well-rounded. When not compared directly with other bourbons, this is tasty and well-rounded rounded. Despite the relatively low ABV, this is a robust drink. What is most striking is that however good the flavors may be individually (which in this case is not excellent), they do not provide enough complexity when combined. This isn't overly meaty but it has a fair amount of wood that goes well with the earthy flavor and the vanilla and caramel sweetness. There's some spice and mineral for sure. There are some fruity notes of rich red cherry and orange, but they don't have a huge presence. There are also nutty elements with hints of almond. It's interestingly balanced but doesn't have a lot in the way of stand-out flavor. Still, it's quite good. It's a heck of a lot better than High West American Prairie. 5his has some of the same flavors as Jim Beam Original, but the age has done a lot for them and they are much more palatable now. Pretty darn good for a cheap bourbon with a balance of richness and complexity. It could be sipped neat or mixed quite easily. There's definitely more going on here than in Ezra Brooks and while it it's mellower and more muddled than Jack Daniel's, it's also less characterized by banana and also more rich. It's a really good choice, though Ezra Brooks is better for aging whiskey at home with its more pronounced flavor.

Great smell. Smooth. Smoky.