Jim Beam Distiller's Cut

Smooth, nothing special but for the price i was amazed there was no real bite.

Since 3 is considered an average rating on this scale, this is slightly better than average. As I stated before this is one of the better bourbons from Jim Beam, far more interesting and enjoyable than their standard white label. While this is not one I would purposely seek out I would not turn it down if it was offered

I get some strong cherry notes. This is my favorite bourbon so far but I’m only a few weeks in to my bourbon hobby. I bought a few just to have as my daily budget sipper since it’s a limited run. I hope it becomes a permanent offering but if it doesn’t I think I’ll be looking to Jim Beam Black for a daily budget bourbon based on reviews.

Jim Beam Distiller's Cut is, quite simply, the best Beam bourbon you can buy that doesn't say Booker's or Knob Creek on the label. And for $23 a bottle this should be a regular Beam product, instead of a limited edition! Given the proof is the same as JB Bonded, I half expected the same bourbon profile, but the DC is an incredible sip at the price point. I image the non chill filtering is providing much of the additional quality and flavor here. Speaking of which, name another NCF bourbon at the $20 price point! Enjoyed neat in a Glencairn, no water added. On the nose you can immediately tell this isn't your standard Beam, and that’s a very good thing! There are the delicious bourbon smells of sweet vanilla frosting, caramel, leather, and toasted barrel, but what really surprised me for Beam is the sweet floral and fruity scents, maybe some cherry mixed with something tropical. All combined together and you get a fairly complex nose that you might think would come from a bourbon at twice this price. On the palate, you immediately notice the thick velvety oily coating mouth feel, which I am sure is a byproduct of the NCF. It's the type of mouth feel you don’t get typically unless you spend significantly more on a bourbon! If NCF brings out this kind of quality in such a low price bourbon why aren’t more done this way!! Flavors are similarly complex and bold. There are the typical Beam flavors, albeit more savory than any regular Beam, of caramel, sweet vanilla and toasted barrel, but adds more complex notes of cinnamon and pepper, maybe some chocolate and a lovely light fruity note. The taste is both slightly sweet and a bit tart, pretty balanced. And for a 50% ABV, the DC is very smooth and drinkable neat, somewhat unexpected honestly at this price. Longer on the palate you get a nice peppery heat that lingers a bit. Again for a $23 bourbon, given the quality here, I feel like I could easily be tasting a much more expensive pour! While not as intense or deep, the flavors here are approaching my $38 bottle of 14-year-old Knob Creek Single Barrel. Not bad at all for a 5 to 6-year-old Beam!! The finish is also very nice with a sweet oaky flavor with light tobacco that lingers a medium to longer length. Not much to complain about here! Overall I must say at $23 I am highly impressed with this Jim Beam bourbon! The nose and the palate make me think I’m really drinking something special until I remind myself I barely paid over $20 for this. I am sure most of the extraordinary quality is coming from the NCF attribute preserving rich oils and flavors, which again makes me wonder why other inexpensive bourbons don’t employ the same technique! I could easily see myself drinking this on the daily but being a "limited edition", I almost feel like I should go easy on my pours. If Beam would make this a regularly stocked product going forward, I could see it being one of my favorite every day sips to rival my current daily favorite Turkey 101 or Buffalo Trace. Beam has made a damn fine bourbon in Distiller's Cut! Cheers!