Zachary-Robbins
Jim Beam Single Barrel Bourbon (95 Proof)
Bourbon — Kentucky, USA
Reviewed
April 25, 2019 (edited January 13, 2020)
I'm almost finished with my bottle and ready to give a review. I've been oscillating between a 3.5 and 4 rating for this depending on the day, and my opinion is sometimes colored by the $39.95 price for a Jim Beam Single Barrel when the other Jim Beam variations are all under $30 in NC. But, the closest comparison I can give in terms of price and distillery is Knob Creek Small Batch, another Jim Beam product I also recently bought and is available for $36.95. Between the two, the Jim Beam Single Barrel is a much better bourbon. I wouldn't recommend the Knob Creek Small Batch if you could only choose one. While Knob Creek has overwhelming alcohol and oak flavor, Jim Beam is less harsh with a very nutty taste. The spice/harshness difference has nothing to do with the rye, since they both have the same percentage of 13%. It's also tough to chalk it up to the minimal difference in proof, since Jim Beam is 95 and Knob Creek is 100.
This Jim Beam bottle is sweet and nutty on the nose and taste. I kept thinking of desserts with caramel and lots of nuts, and once I got peanut brittle in my mind I couldn't think of a better comparison. It also reminds me of generic chocolate nut samplers you buy at Valentine's Day. This is a pleasant flavor that gets old after a couple of pours, but I like to switch up whiskeys no matter how much I like the taste. I've enjoyed this bourbon and I'm anxious to try some of the higher priced Jim Beam lines like Knob Creek Single Barrel and Baker's in the future.
39.95
USD
per
Bottle
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@BeppeCovfefe Knob Creek Single is high on my wish list. I agree Jim Beam Single isn't the best out there but I purchased the Black Label Extra-Aged a couple of weeks ago and it tastes like really watered down Single. Even though it's 86 proof it drank like 80 proof. Pretty disappointing, made me appreciate the Single a lot more.
The thing I find lacking in the white label Beam bottles including the single barrel is the variation of sugars, the carmel seems thin and little else stands out. The Knob Creek, esp, the 120 9year is SO MUCH richer and fuller in the middle. Interesting how Beam changes up the product line.