Jim Beam Single Barrel Bourbon 108 Proof

Barrel # JB000763932 Color: Medium Copper-Amber (First pour in a Glencarin, neat) Nose: Spicy, slight alcohol whiff that tickles my nasal passages. Definitely getting some Barrel char and oak, followed by doughiness — like Play-Doh (Weird, I know). Since this is Beam, I'm supposed to be getting "nutty". Not sure about that — at least not on this initial neat pour. Maybe on the next one....? Palate: The palate follows the nose's lead, almost to a "T". "Spicy" is the first thing to make it's presence known, followed by some heat — but nothing overwhelming. Chest hug comes in at you sloooowly. Moderately creamy mouthfeel that coats the tongue nicely. As I was saying, since this is a Beam, I was expecting the roasted nut profile. I'm not sure if that's what I'm getting. But it's a "roasted something". Smoky, roasted something! I grew up in the North East, not far from New York City, and spent quite a bit of time there, visiting museums, Rockefeller Center, etc. In the Winter time, the street vendors' carts emitted all kinds of smells — one being roasted chestnuts. That aroma is fairly etched in my brain, and I am pretty sure that's what I'm getting — what I am recalling mentally... if a smell can be "tasted". I think that's one of the most abstract things I've ever said here since joining the platform. LOL! Finish: Ever-so-slightly bitter finish with lots of oak and spice, and more of that roasted something. Funny, I've not once mentioned "sweet". It hasn't been a prominent feature. But I can say there's some "sweetness" on the finish. Just a bit around the sides of the tongue. Final thoughts: This is good. Not exactly, "Oh my God"-good... but good. Solid sipper that doesn't really drink per its proof. This Beam SiB was fairly hard to track down. No stores around here ever have it in-stock, which seems odd to me. I'd think a Beam bottle would be more widely available. But I had to buy this online from a liquor app — which I never have done until now (shipping is ridiculous, and makes affordable bottles unaffordable). But I had a free shipping promo, and so it was now or never. So, what am I getting at?: Would I buy this again? Maybe. If I could find it in a store for around the same price or less, sure. But I won't go out of my way again for it. Just as I was finishing up this review, I took a sip and BAM! There's the Beam "nuttiness" at the back of my tongue. Added 7/13/24: Getting some "oatmeal raisin" on the palate tonight... as the large ice ball melts. As a result, I am upping my rating from 3.0 to 3.5.

I had heard about this bottle for a while and finally located it. There isn't much information available. Why isn't this listed on the Jim Beam website alongside the Jim Beam Single Barrel 95 proof? Why does the 95 proof, chill-filtered version cost more? How does this differ from Baker's, which is at a similar proof and also a single barrel, yet significantly more expensive? I have many questions, but I'm glad I had the chance to try it. Regarding the flavor: It presents a recognizable but more refined Jim Beam profile. It brings to mind Knob Creek single barrel, and you might feel like this is a KCSB simply diluted to 108 proof. The reason I call it more refined is the absence of the heavy peanut, heat, and dark caramelized sugar notes typically found in KCSB, even considering proof variations. Overall, it tastes less dry or dusty. It almost seems as if it was filtered, despite the label's claim. It's an enjoyable sipper served neat, with a creaminess that makes it drink smoother than its stated proof. So, is it worth the price? Sadly, I paid $38 for this in NJ. At that cost, it's just adequate, not offering much more value than KCSB at $10 more and 12 proof higher. Conversely, the product is sold for $24 in Kentucky. At that price, it would have been an absolute bargain, no doubt!

Barrel No. JB000207032 Opened for 6 months Nose - Unpeeled peanuts with salt, subtle mint, savory caramel, bright citrus peel, mild oak, moderate ethanol. Palate - Crunchy peanut brittle with salt, grain, light honey and caramel, drying tannic oak, sharp ethanol sting. The ending is medium-short, primarily tannins and ethanol at the back. The finish lacks sweetness and peanut character. It seems young and would have benefited from being blended with other barrels. If I were rating this based on the initial pour, it would be a 4.25/5. Unfortunately, the quality declined after being open for a couple of weeks and it sat on my shelf unused. I recall a single barrel I purchased over a year ago at 95 proof being significantly better, with less bite and much more well-rounded sweet peanut notes. I am aware this is priced unusually high in NC, costing $40 while some states offer it for under $30. At $40, this is definitely not worth buying; I would opt for the Jim Beam Black instead at a lower price, or simply purchase any Knob Creek. It would make sense to rebrand their single barrel at a higher proof given the price point, but they chose a poor barrel for this release.

Beam made an interesting choice to increase the proof for their SiB. This results in a crowded selection, all sharing the same mashbill. Knob Creek, 100, 9 year - $29 Beam SiB 108, NAS - $37 Knob Creek SiB, 120, 9 year - $54 Bakers SiB, 107, 7+ year - $68 It's unfiltered and has a screwcap, which makes me wonder about its identity. Nose: Dominated by grain and toasted bread, with hints of sweetness. There's also a notable warmth present. Palate: Features nuttiness, developing spice, and cherry, accompanied by a very pleasant texture. Finish: A bit subdued, with minimal oak influence, but a good presence of cinnamon and pepper. Considering its relatively low rye content (13% rye) in the mashbill, this exhibits considerable warmth on the nose and towards the finish. The warmth on the nose seems more like ethanol than a distinct flavor. In terms of both price and proof, this falls squarely between Beam's other offerings. It's a perfectly functional bourbon, presenting a decent range of flavors, but it's simply too hot and lacks refinement. It clearly tastes young. For a slightly lower cost, I'd opt for Knob Creek 9 year or even OGD 114. I likely won't purchase this again. Not impressed.

The aroma is typical for the brand, with a distinct Beam sourness, possibly from the mash, alongside peanut shell and baking spice. It remains a favorite nose. There's no harshness or alcohol smell, even at 108 proof. It begins sweet with pleasant brown sugar notes. As peanut and leather emerge, the high proof causes a burn that intensifies in the middle and persists until the finish, where it subsides with notes of oak and tobacco. It's straightforwardly Beam; if you enjoy that profile, you'll likely appreciate this. It strongly represents the "Beam profile" and resembles the Distiller's Cut release, which had a slightly lower proof, less impact, but was about half the price. This single barrel could easily benefit from a bit of water to mellow the heat. Perhaps not a great value, but what single barrel worth drinking costs under $40? Cheers!

The aroma presents a strong rye spice presence initially, followed by hints of vanilla, honey, caramel, and cherry. As it sits, notes of peanut shells emerge, signaling a Jim Beam origin. The alcohol content is noticeable and complements the spicy character. The palate reveals tastes of caramel, caramelized sugar, and vanilla that persist on the tongue, while the spice travels down the throat. Black pepper and citrus notes appear, along with a subtle suggestion of roasted peanuts. The finish is warm and enduring on the palate and throat, in a very pleasing manner. Evaluation: Aroma 3/5; Taste 3.75/5; Overall 3.75/5. Would buy again: Yes. Category: Everyday Sipper.