LeeEvolved
Jim Beam Double Oak
Bourbon — Kentucky, USA
Reviewed
January 16, 2018 (edited March 21, 2018)
Well well well, it appears I’ve reached the 200 review milestone here on Distiller. I wonder what perks I’ve unlocked. Nothing, @Distiller? Fair enough.
So, I keep looking through Jim Beam’s product line for variations to my bourbon and Coke cocktails that I enjoy when I’m not sipping on single malt scotches. I normally just buy a half gallon of the standard White Label, but I’ve recently been experimenting a bit with the Bonded (100 proof) and now this Double Oak. I need to give the Distiller’s Cut a go soon before I truly decide if a change from the standard is in order.
The Double Oak is 86 proof and advertises being normally aged in charred, white oak barrels and then being transferred to freshly charred oak for a second maturation. I’m not sure of the lengths of time for either maturation and I’m actually not all that interested in doing the work to try to find out. Needless to say, this bottle doesn’t work for me as a cocktail. It’s too “woody” to play well with Coca Cola. I went ahead and did a dram neat so I can see what’s what. This is a review of that dram.
The nose is wood and char with quite a bit of spiced vanilla. The palate is smooth enough but there’s just too much oak to even make it enjoyable as a sipper. The finish is still kind of short and, dare I say, boring. I wouldn’t want to drink this on a regular basis and I even poured the last couple of drams down the drain. For the record- I wasn’t a fan of the Woodford Reserve Double Oaked whiskey, either. I guess it’s just too too much.
It doesn’t play well with Coke. The heavy oak presence feels artificial and the only way to calm it is to add more cola. I normally like to add a splash just to enhance the bourbon but this can’t be accomplished without turning this into a overly sweet mess of a drink.
So, in conclusion, it’s a no as a neat sipper and a no as a mixer. I think I have to get a bottle of Distiller’s Cut and give it a go or just declare the Bonded as the winner. This is one I would avoid. I hate giving it a bad score because I love Jim Beam, but this one isn’t worth the price to play. 2 stars, if I must. Cheers.
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Lee, Yes well done on the 200th review. I've only gotten to try a single shot of this so I don't usually review on that basis UNLESS it's something like my up coming George T Stagg review. Anyhow I would first note that a "mixer" is not such a common animal, I NEVER mix coke with anything I drink, EVER so there is that, but say a whiskey sour is a different mixed drink than a Manhattan in that in the later the liquor taste is actually important. I would classify a coke mix as a "sour" type drink where the actual whiskey or bourbon taste is so mangled by the added sugars and artificial flavoring there is little point in using or WASTING a quality bottle on it. Might as well throw in CC, 7 or some bland canadian and be done. Then there is also the Jim Beam Rye as another option. Regarding the Double Oak I found this a very pleasant, sweet wood, drinker, more of what I look for in Devils Cut only somewhat filtered. Again Bonded wins and Distillers Cut is still around as an even better option, for a very special Manhattan I might even break out the 12 year signature. Esp if Mila is at the bar.
Batting a double-century, as we say in cricket. Well done!
@LeeEvolved - If you’re going to be a disciple of Richard Paterson, then those drams need to go on the floor next time. :)
Thanks for the kind words, guys. I’ve been obsessed with this hobby for over 2 years now. Here’s to hoping I can spend another 2 years reviewing bigger, better and older whisky. Cheers.
Huge congrats @LeeEvolved!!!
Congrats!
Actually i was looking at the date the first whisky you reviewed was loaded by distiller not your review date which looks a yearish ago which is even more amazing! Would be interesting to know how many words in total as well...pretty sure it'd make a solid whisky book if all the reviews were published :-)
yep, 200 reviews is quite the number. and quite a lot of whisky. Also, they are good reviews, not just many. Well done good Sir!
Congrats, 200 reviews in nearly 3 years. Solid effort! :-)
@Reverend45 wait, Mila’s holding a Jim Beam? Never noticed that. 😀
Pretty sure you're not looking at Jim Beam in an Ad with Mila Kunis either ;)
@LeeEvolved I think I’m turning into a snob...unless if it’s Mila Kunis pushing this in her ad, I can’t even fathom looking at Jim Beam. Yeah, I’m a snob...but I guess I’d my liver is going to take a hit, might as well be for the good stuff
I actually like this one, especially in the summer with a large cube. That seems to tone the oak down a notch.
Congrats on 200, and for reaching it at 7:30 am on a Tuesday no less! I will be sure to avoid this one.