Introduction
Today, we are checking out Jim Beam Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey. This is the third Jim Beam product in our five-part miniseries of inexpensive Beam bourbons, after Jim Beam Devil's Cut and Jim Beam Double Oak.
Jim Beam Single Barrel is the most expensive in this lineup, usually priced between $30-$40. This 108-proof bourbon is rumored to be aged between 5-6 years, with a mash bill of 75% corn, 13% rye, and 12% malted barley. Bob and Brad dive into their thoughts on this unique single-barrel offering.
The following review is taken from our episode "Star Wars Episode VII: The Last Jedi / Jim Beam Single Barrel." Click the link to listen to this review in audio format.
Nose
Brad: On the nose, it came across as decently oaky but not overpowering. There's some orange peel, honeycomb, and a bit of mixed spice, leaning more towards baking spices. I think this is a pretty solid nose. I'm curious where it will go. I'll give it a 7.5/10.
Bob: I like this a lot, but there’s a big caveat there. There's a weird, almost oniony note. It’s really sweet and has the oak to it, but there's something savory and almost gym socky. I’m still going to give it a 6.5/10.
Taste
Brad: The funkiness turned into a tart cherry for me. The baking spices settled into a nice cinnamon flavor on the palate. There's vanilla and caramel. It’s a nice mixture of stone fruit and traditional bourbon notes. I'll give it an 8/10 here.
Bob: This is very different than what we’ve been doing the last couple of weeks. It’s really prickly on the palate with a lot of spice. It’s like unsweetened cinnamon. There’s a bitter stone fruit taste and a lot of oak. On the second sip, some candy sweetness came out. It’s a bit thin on the mouthfeel, but I like it. I'll give it an 8/10.
Finish
Brad: The finish sticks around with cinnamon, gets a little peppery and oaky as you'd expect, but it falls off quickly. I'll give it a 7/10.
Bob: The finish is really watery and short. There’s not a lot that lingers, but it’s okay. I'll give it a 6.5/10.
Balance
Brad: I think the balance is decent but not exceptional. There are good flavors, but not enough complexity. The lack of a solid finish hurts it. I'll give it a 7/10.
Bob: I'm impressed with the flavor. It’s like everything I’d expect Jim Beam to be if you said, “Hey, here’s straight from the barrel Jim Beam.” I’ll let the flavor influence me more than it should. I’ll give it an 8/10.
Value
Brad: This goes for $39.99. It's not a bad value, but it needs to be under $35. If you're getting this at $30.99, it’s probably an eight or nine out of ten value. At $40, I'll give it a 6.5/10.
Bob: I associate the $30-$35 range with Elijah Craig. This is comparable to that in terms of how much I like it. I think it’s a good value because I can’t think of many single barrels under $40 that are this good. I'll give it a 7.5/10.
Final Scores
Brad: I'm at a 36/50.
Bob: I'm at a 36.5/50, which brings us to a 36.25/50 or a 72.5/100.
Conclusion
At this score, we typically recommend trying a pour at a bar or buying a bottle. A 35/50 mark is where we start recommending a pour at a bar. A 40/50 is considered great, and a 45/50 is excellent. Jim Beam Single Barrel is worth buying a bottle or getting a pour at a bar. The spiciness merits the price, and it’s a solid offering from Jim Beam. If you find it for under $35, it's an even better deal.
