(Barrel #JB5423) Like the so-so album from a favourite band, this one's for the completists only. In theory, it's a great idea--what would the entry-level Beam taste like with all the nonsene stripped away. But in practice, all the nonsense *isn't* being stripped away, because most of the uniqueness is still being filtered out, pre-bottling. Smell is mainly caramel corn, a bit of semi-sweet chocolate, plums, creamed corn, slight cherry syrup, and nutty Beam funk. But it's all pretty restrained, even at 95 proof. And the taste is even more restrained: surprisingly muted in ABV *and* flavour. Slightly watery texture, more caramel corn, tobacco, a bit of sour milk, some candied nuts, bitter citrus pith, bitter chocolate, chalk. A bit gritty and tannic on the finish. On the plus side, the Single Barrel dodges the main problem I have with entry-level Beam (the saccharine sweetness). On the other hand, I'd much prefer to dish out the extra $15 or $20 for Baker's or Booker's--two high-proof Beam offerings that aren't overly filtered, and thus have some genuine character.