Jim Beam Black 7 Year

This bottle is a pleasant surprise from Beam, a producer whose products I often enjoy. I've been a fan of Knob Creek since its debut in 1992. I've sampled Black, Black Extra Aged, Beam Single Barrel, Beam Bottled-in-Bond, and several limited releases. One of my favorites was the now-discontinued Distiller's Cut 100 proof bottling, which was eventually succeeded by Old Tub. When I heard whispers about this 'new' 7-year-aged Black, I was eager to try it. It's not truly new; Black now boasts a 7-year age statement, which is an improvement. I acquired this bottle on sale for $21, which included a complimentary 4-pack of Fever Tree mixers valued at $6, indicating it's part of promotional offers. Let's begin with a direct comparison between the JBB7 and Elijah Craig Small Batch (ECSB), both under 100 proof (90 and 94 respectively) and priced under $30. The ECSB retails for $26.99 in my area, approximately 15-20% more than the JBB7. When judging purely the aroma, after resting for a few minutes in a NEAT glass with both pours from freshly opened bottles, the Beam and EC are nearly equal. The Beam offers sweetness, while the EC is sweeter and richer. Both exhibit vanilla, caramel, barrel char, and ethanol. The JBB7 leans towards a root beer scent, while the ECSB suggests white cake frosting. The Beam glides down smoothly on the palate, possessing a nearly syrupy texture, pleasant sweetness, distinct wood and cask characteristics, and developing into a medium black pepper spice in the middle. The finish is moderate, sweet, with just a faint hint of oak tannins and bitterness as it fades. It's quite impressive for a $22 bottle and evokes memories of that discontinued budget favorite, Distiller's Cut. I still have one bottle of that limited 100 proof release remaining and coincidentally finished my second-to-last bottle last week. The ECSB has a slightly thinner texture and is less syrupy. It presents with more intensity and spice, and its finish is a bit longer. It's not quite as rich as the JBB7. Its higher proof is not readily apparent, and thankfully, neither of these spirits carries a 'cheap whiskey' alcohol note. The ECSB is certainly spicier, but not necessarily in a way that defines it as a spicy bourbon, if that distinction makes sense. I genuinely enjoy ECSB; it's a staple I usually keep on hand. It's affordable, and its shortcomings are minor compared to its more refined counterparts. The JBB7 displays significantly more barrel character, offers greater complexity, and is equally easy to drink. Reluctantly, I must admit the JBB7 might supplant the ECSB in my regular rotation. An obvious comparison is with Jim Beam Old Tub. JBOT is a bottled-in-bond, non-chill filtered bargain that I've frequently used for mixing and occasionally enjoy on a large ice cube. It's a fine whiskey for an Old Fashioned. When compared side-by-side, the JBB7 presents a richer and more appealing nose than the JBOT. It's simply more intricate, more engaging, with less of a 'young whiskey' ethanol presence. In terms of palate flavor, there's little contest. The JBOT is drier, hotter, and less rich. The JBB7 is unequivocally a superior product. Considering the JBOT retails for $24.99 in my market, the JBB7 is an easy choice at 10% less. If I were still finding JBOT for $16.99, I might have stuck with it, but it appears Beam is implementing significant changes, and I anticipate developments with JBOT in the near future. Compared to my usual Wild Turkey 101 (WT101), it's more of a toss-up. The WT101 is fruitier and brighter on both the nose and palate. It's a battle of budget titans, with neither conceding defeat. I can see the merit in stocking both: the WT101 for its suitability in a bourbon Manhattan and the JBB7 for its compatibility with bitters and demerara sugar in a well-crafted Bourbon Old Fashioned. When comparing this whiskey to more premium options like Widow Jane, Barrel, or Stagg Jr, the competition intensifies. Each of the latter three provides a richer, more refined experience, though at triple the retail price. Barrel and Stagg, in particular, are both over 110 proof, placing them outside direct competition. The Widow Jane 10 year is more complex and, in my opinion, tastes better. Remarkable! This is an exceptional bargain and an outstanding bourbon by any standard. At under $25, it's an incredible deal that surpasses Buffalo Trace and sets a true benchmark (yes, it's superior to Benchmark) for its price category. Highly recommended!

Color: Medium Copper/Amber Nose: Classic oak aroma with a slight "burn-tickle" to the nostrils. The nose is stronger than I would expect for 90 proof. Further nosing starts to reveal the "nutty" character I associate with Beam... Palate: (drank the initial pour neat in a snifter glass) My first sip is syrupy and sweet! Subsequent sips are spicier and oaky. Similar to the nose, I'm getting more of a warming sensation than I would anticipate from such a relatively low proof. But it is fleeting. Approaching the bottom of my snifter, spice and what I will call, "burnt oak" appears to dominate. Finish: Somewhat short with a lingering chest hug. Pour #2, I will be drinking with an ice cube in a rock glass... "Nutty" is more noticeable right away with ice. It smooths things out a bit... but, beyond that, there's not much additional information to share. Final thoughts: This is a "robust" bourbon for 90 proof. Is that detrimental? Beneficial? I tend to think it's the latter. It's not complex, but I believe it has some elements that make it interesting. For the cost, it's essentially a no-brainer. However, I really need to compare it against a few other 7-year-ish bottles to truly gauge my opinion. But, for now... following its debut, I award it a solid 3.0 stars.

The grain composition of this spirit is 75% corn, 13% rye, and 12% barley. It is seven years old and was purchased for $21.99. This is a 90 proof whiskey with a copper hue. NOSE: Cinnamon, honey, citrus, a musty aroma, a fruit note possibly grape or apple, and very faint smoke. I often continue to detect aromas as I taste, as smell and taste are interconnected. MOUTHFEEL: Smooth and creamy, exceeding expectations for a 90 proof spirit. TASTE: Citrus, cinnamon, honey, a touch of oak, and brown sugar. FINISH: Medium in duration, beginning with oak, then a brief citrus note, concluding with dark chocolate. SUMMARY: This is superior to the standard Jim Beam. While only slightly older and with a marginally higher proof, it significantly outshines the white label. It's not exceptionally complex but is very good and offers value well beyond its cost, worth at least an additional $10. RATING: Rated a 6 out of 8 on my personal scale, equivalent to 3.75 stars, 75/100, or 7.5 out of 10.

JIM BEAM BLACK (7YR) 90 Proof *GLASS: Neat Glass *COLOR: Auburn 1.5 nearing Mahogany 1.6 *NOSE: Sweet. Maple, Vanilla, Peanut Brittle, Aged Oak. Uncomplicated and Direct. *NEAT: The sweet notes from the nose carry over, complemented by a solid presence of Cinnamon, Black Pepper, and a subtle hint of Cocoa. A controlled Beam Peanut Funk defines the latter part and finish. Cinnamon, Oak, and Vanilla create a lingering coating on the palate. *SPLASH: Vanilla becomes more pronounced while the Cinnamon softens. *VERDICT: The reintroduction of an age statement (along with an increased proof!) for Black Label is a pleasant and appreciated change. Priced at $26, it fits well between the standard White Label ($16) and the 9YR Knob Creek ($39).

Aroma: Vanilla, fragrant, and sweet. Taste: Vanilla, a touch of caramel, generally sweet but with some rough spots. Finish: Brief, with baking spices, lingering sweetness, and a little tannic bitterness. This is how a flagship Jim Beam should taste. The extended aging and a bit more alcohol content truly make a difference. While the final product won't astound anyone, it remains a straightforward, thin, basic bourbon hitting the expected sweet notes. It's almost a solid sipper, and given the cost, it could easily become a standard bar pour.

While visiting that famous distillery, I sampled a new iteration of their aged expression, and I found it quite delightful. On the nose, I perceive lemon peel and yeast. It smells exactly like malted barley, gooseberries, vanilla, and cookie dough. After an initial taste, I detected prune notes and a classic bourbon aroma. Grassy notes are also present. On the palate, I found red fruits, caramel, a syrupy texture, and a metallic hint. Delicious spices and pepper. It has a sugary quality, like milk. The finish is sweet, spicy, and sugary. Syrupy. Overall, a very good, solid dram for casual sipping. My rating is 87 out of 100.