Jim Beam Repeal Batch

BACKGROUND: Jim Beam Repeal Batch is a special release intended to evoke the bourbon era following the end of Prohibition on December 5, 1933, marking the 85th anniversary. Interestingly, while the Beam family had been involved in distilling since the 18th century, the company was officially named “Jim Beam” in 1933. Before being named for owner James Beauregard Beam, it was known as “Old Tub” starting around 1864. According to the official announcement, seventh-generation Master Distiller Fred Noe stated, “For the 85th anniversary of Repeal Day, we wanted to release a bourbon inspired by our heritage and dedicated to the hard work my great-grandfather (Jim Beam) put into rebuilding our family business after Prohibition. Jim Beam Repeal Batch pays tribute to all the generations of Beams that came before me.” Unlike most bourbons, Repeal Batch is non-chill filtered, which preserves fats and acids that contribute to flavor, aiming for a fuller mouthfeel and bolder char and oak taste than regular Jim Beam. NOSE: The aroma features the distinct scent of buttered popcorn, along with oak and a nutty richness (which is a positive characteristic for most Beam products). PALATE: The Repeal Batch palate is notably nutty, with sweet cornbread notes, oak, and a hint of cherry cough syrup, a flavor sometimes found in bourbons. FINISH: The extended finish is predominantly oak with a distinct mint flavor that emerges on the back of the tongue. It drinks a little warm for 86 proof and even provides a slight comforting sensation in the chest. FINAL ASSESSMENT: I am fond of Jim Beam's more limited releases, such as Double Oak, Distiller's Cut, and Bonded, as well as their premium expressions like Knob Creek and Booker's. Repeal Batch fits nicely into the category of Beam products that appeal to my taste. At only $17.99 per bottle, Jim Beam Repeal Batch is a suitable choice for daily sipping, enjoyable on its own or inexpensive enough for mixing. I award Jim Beam Repeal Batch three-and-a-half stars out of five.

I acquired several Jim Beam products on sale and am now reviewing the Jim Beam Repeal Batch. The idea behind the Repeal Batch is to replicate the bourbon made in the 1930s after prohibition ended. It's bottled at 43% ABV and is non-chillfiltered. I bought this bottle for $9.99, which is such a good price it's hard to pass up. Thankfully, I believe it was worth the cost, even if it's not particularly exciting. Here are more details and my rating: 🥃 Jim Beam Repeal Batch - 43% ABV Nose: Smells like peanut butter, charred oak, and sweet corn. A little peppery and warm, but no off-putting scents. A tiny bit of sweet cinnamon. It's a really nice aroma, already superior to the standard Jim Beam white label. Taste: Tastes of strong corn, barrel char, and heat. Some baking spices. It's both sweet and a little sour. Plenty of warmth for the proof. This is where the low price is noticeable. It feels a bit thin and lacks depth in flavor. The texture seems slightly oilier than other inexpensive Beams, but it's still quite light. I suspect this is because it's non-chillfiltered, though I wasn't aware that other standard Beam products were filtered. This is a good bourbon for the price. Simple to drink, doesn't require much thought. The nose is quite impressive, but the taste isn't remarkable. 1st rating: 76/100 Latest rating: 74/100

I recall when a less well-endowed acquaintance of mine and I realized that Coors Light and Keystone Light were produced by the same company. The jest became: “Keystone Light. The beer for those for whom Coors Light needs to be turned down a bit.” I am currently sampling Jim Beam Repeal Batch, with the original Beam in my other glass for comparison. From the aroma, I can undoubtedly identify this as Jim Beam. I detect the yeast, a hint of banana. However, compared to the original, it's barely noticeable. Body delivers on the aroma. It also has oak, a bit of leather. When I returned to the original, it nearly knocked my teeth out. The same flavor profile exists, but you truly cannot grasp how subdued this body is until tasting them side-by-side. Amazing. I've stated before that Jim Beam's finish is almost nonexistent. Once again, the repeal batch has managed to turn nonexistence down a bit. In comparison, the original tastes spicy and has a long finish. On this repeal batch, I struggled to find the transition. It's all body, and then it's gone. I think I slightly prefer this one, as I'm not a big fan of Jim Beam's flavor profile. The repeal batch is a toned-down version, from start to finish. Nothing groundbreaking, but not awful either.

The nose is delicate and buttery, with hints of vanilla, cream soda, charred oak, and a touch of floral rye spice. It's not significantly different from a standard Jim Beam, with the only potential distinction being that this one is not chill-filtered, but the difference would likely be minimal. Nevertheless, it's enjoyable to keep smelling it before taking the first sip. The palate is smooth and buttery, met with an immediate, though mild, burst of black pepper. Charred oak and cinnamon follow, giving the mouth a slight tingle as the creamier notes fade. There's not a great deal to this one, and I wouldn't say it's vastly different from any regular bottle of Jim Beam. The finish is medium length, and while the mouth remains slightly tingly, everything else dissipates quite rapidly.

It's absurd that I spent $8 on this. I feel insulted. I don't know how or why or at whom, but I'm furious that $8 gets me this. If you ever find yourself debating chill filtering versus not, it turns out $8 will definitively settle the argument. Purchase this for that reason alone. Keep it. Treasure it. And appreciate the subtle jab from Jim Beam and the rest of this industry that routinely deceives its fanbase. That's so American. You thought you had us fooled, didn't you? Damn you, Jim Beam, for this incredible $8 bottle, and I mean that sincerely.

The aroma is rather faint; with effort, one can detect buttered popcorn, vanilla, and a whisper of cherry. The taste is somewhat more promising, with corn and cherry flavors being more noticeable, and some oak spice making an appearance. Vanilla and butterscotch continue through the finish, which is surprisingly warm and lasts longer than anticipated. Generally, it's definitely better than the white label, but not something one needs to seek out.