Jim Beam Single Barrel Bourbon (95 Proof)

Familiar pleasant Beam soapy smell. Slightly sharp initially, but overall mellow relative to my expectations for a single barrel offering. Wood, butterscotch, some bitterness on the backend. I'm a Beam flavor profile fan, and while those notes definitely exist here, they somehow feel muted. Adding a limestone water ice cube just mutes it even further, giving the bitter aspect more of a prominent place. Will definintely need to revisit this bottle (and I understand the variability inherent in single barrel offerings). But for now, in my judgment not only does Jim Beam Bonded offer a better value, I think it just tastes better regardless of price. 2/17/17. Tried it again a few days later, the flavor profile was better, not as muted as before. It's good for Beam fans. I still prefer Jim Beam Bonded, especially for the price. 2/19/17 This continues to evolve for the better, has rounded out nicely and developed more of the nut and cherry flavors that I like about the Beam mash. Jim Beam Bonded is still a better buy given the flavor profile I like is more apparent from first opening and especially given the price, but I am definitely a fan of this Single Barrel. 4/8/17