Jim Beam Distiller's Masterpiece

Served neat. Opened two days ago. This bottle was on the shelf at my local shop for over two years. After a fellow whiskey enthusiast told me it was his all-time favorite pour, my wife got it for me as a Christmas present. The sherry finish on this is incredible. If you told me they poured sherry straight into the barrels, I'd believe it. These barrels must have been saturated. The sherry on the nose is just amazing. Straight raspberry and strawberry preserves. Mix that with the typical Jim Beam nuttiness, baking spices, cinnamon, and oak, and it's like a peanut butter and jelly sandwich on toast. The oak is the next most prominent element on this nose. The oak is very strong and present, but it's also like young, fresh wood. It almost brightens the whiskey compared to the sherry, which is an unusual thing to say about oak. The whiskey flavors themselves are more typical Jim Beam. Nutty, cinnamon, etc. The bourbon itself is sort of the weakest component here, or at least muted by the other flavors. The texture is very smooth, and the sherry hits the tongue upon impact. The mid-palate is full of these delicious berries. It's a mix of fruits. Cherries, raspberries, strawberries, and maybe blueberries. Simply delicious. It's all coated in cinnamon and powdered sugar too. The back end of the experience shifts more toward the Jim Beam profile. Nuttiness and caramel. Then the finish consists of all the fresh oak and vanilla. Again, the oak aspect of the experience actually lightens the flavor profile. Perhaps the best sherry-finished bourbon I've ever had. I honestly can't think of a strong competitor. As good as the finish is, I do wonder if the actual bourbon underneath complements the finish or if it's being significantly enhanced by it. The ten years and the oak are quite nice, but all the flavors besides the age are really secondary. Still, very impressed and very happy to add it to the collection.

A bourbon finished in PX...what?!? Indeed, this non-age-stated Jim Beam utilized "extra aged" bourbon and finished it in Pedro Ximenez sherry barrels. It's bottled at 50% ABV, or 100 proof for bourbon enthusiasts, has a natural color I'd describe as rust, and I have no information on whether it's chill filtered. The aroma presents a strong wave of sherry sweetness initially, with a noticeable alcohol presence if you're too eager and don't allow it to rest for a few minutes. It offers dark dried sherry fruits and corn sweetness. Cotton candy (the first time I've distinctly detected cotton candy). Some rye is present in the background. Notes of maple or perhaps slightly caramelized sugar. Low levels of vanilla emerge over time. A very intriguing aroma. The taste is equally fascinating. A bit sharp on the first sip, but you quickly adapt. Abundant sweet syrup and sherried American oak. Cinnamon and clove. If you agitate it thoroughly in your mouth, the underlying bourbon characteristics become very prominent. It has a somewhat oily texture and is slightly mouthwatering. A rather extended finish. Dry with notes of caramel, dark sherry fruits, oak, and some lingering warmth. This was challenging to evaluate initially due to the contrasting profiles. Bourbon and sherry are not flavor profiles I would typically associate together, but it works. I believe a higher-quality bourbon, such as an Elijah Craig or an Evan Williams, would have truly excelled with a PX finish, or even an Oloroso finish. While many people rave about JB, it's not my preference. Nevertheless, this was quite good. Not worth $200, which makes me pleased I obtained a 1oz sample from a friend, who I believe received it from someone else. A solid 4.25 score.

Nose - Strong oaky vanilla, light caramel sweetness, hint of roasted peanuts, slightly waxy, faint dark cherry twizzlers in the background. Taste - Sweet dark luxardo cherry sweetness makes a strong appearance on the palate, cinnamon spice & heat, caramelized vanilla sugar, oak, creamy vanilla latte foam sweetness. Finish - Lingering cinnamon spice heat, oaky, slightly bitter, sweet dried cherry sweetness, faint bitter peanut shell/skins reappear. Score - 84/100 Final Thoughts - I had trouble detecting any PX influence on the nose for this one, and apparently, all it took was a single sip to perhaps break the surface tension or something? It was very subtle on the nose and "different" on the palate. It seemed one-dimensionally sweet with luxardo cherry, unlike the dark fruits and chocolate I usually get from sherry-finished whiskies. To me, this tasted as if they just took their bonded bourbon, finished it briefly in PX sherry, bottled it in a fancy bottle, and sold it in a fancy box for a significant markup. I will admit the extra finishing helps tone down the peanuty notes I typically get from Beam products, but it didn't eliminate them completely. This wasn't a bad dram by any means, and of course, I wouldn't refuse it if offered, but I don't think this is something I'd want to spend my money on for an entire bottle.

This was originally posted on the Barreled app. I sampled this a second time at Whiskyfest DC on 4/17/18. I included an update at the end of my first review: Let's be honest, Jim Beam is the Budweiser of bourbons. If you disregard that simple comparison, ignore the high cost, and judge this bourbon on its own qualities, you'll discover a delightful, sweet Scotch-like spirit that brings a big, contented smile to your face. The inclusion of rye and its 100 proof confirm its bourbon status, but the Pedro Ximenez sherry casks impart an incredible depth, transforming it from a common Budweiser into an outstanding craft beverage. Invest the money and try it. It will not disappoint you. UPDATE from 4/17/18: I had the opportunity to taste this again at Whiskyfest and still found it very pleasing. I noticed a more prominent oak cask influence than I remembered. This ensures you don't forget you're drinking a Beam product. The sherry cask notes effectively balance the rye. It's a 4.25-4.5 star drink, but I must revise my opinion and state that it's not truly worth the current secondary market price, in my opinion. It's worth sampling at a bar if you can get it for less than $12-15, however. Cheers.

From the Drammers Club. Aged roughly 10 years, then finished for 1 month in PX casks. Excellent stuff, about as close as one can get to a bourbon sherry bomb. Smell: Chocolate, Caramel, Toffee, Raisins, Dates, Maple Syrup, Figs, Plums, Cinnamon, Cherries, Grass, Anise, Cotton Candy, Peaches, Oranges, Gingerbread, Dill, Vanilla, Flowers, Peanuts Taste: Chocolate; Oranges, Cherries, Caramel, Prunes, Cherries, Maple Syrup, Cloves, Pepper, Christmas Cake, Ginger, Oak, Bubble Gum Aftertaste: Caramel, Peanuts, Citrus, Christmas Cake, Chocolate, Cranberries, Toffee, Maple Syrup, Figs, Dates

This bourbon is excellent, well-balanced. But is it worth the cost? Yes, but only because of the packaging, nothing more. Buy the single barrel instead....... It's a shame to say but...... I find it better. However, if you want to introduce someone to bourbon, this is a good way to get them to like it...... and to impress others.