The Whiskey Reviewer A World of Whiskey, Poured Every Weekday
By Richard Thomas
If a product ever seemed inspired by the classic bar debate of which is better, bourbon or scotch, then Jim Beam’s latest product must be it. Jim Beam Kentucky Dram is a blend of Beam bourbon with an undisclosed Highland whisky, bottled at 40% abv and available only through travel retail outlets.
Beam Suntory owns the Highland distillery Ardmore, so that may be the source of the whisky used in the hybrid. On the other hand, given that Kentucky Dram is in limited distribution (and therefore production), the whisky could just as easily have come from a handful casks picked up from a different source.
Kentucky Dram is the latest example of cross-liquor fusions. Even within the whiskey business it is not the first such general example (rye-bourbon and scotch-Irish whiskey hybrids have been seen before), although it is the first example of a bourbon-scotch blend. Jim Beam Kentucky Dram has a recommended price of £34.99.
So… nobody in their marketing department thought that Bourbon + Scotch = Botch… As in, what this project is likely going to turn into, a Botch-ed job.
I knew that when the Japanese started getting into OUR BOURBON heritage (yes I am a proud Kentuckian, and especially proud of this aspect) they would go and FU%*^K it up big time. I pray that they never find the Maker’s Mark Distillery (even though I understand they own that too now:
High West has a bourbon-scotch combo called Campfire. Not bad…
Bourbon, scotch and rye to be exact! And that scotch was a vatted malt to boot.
A friend of mine just gave me a bottle as a gift. I have been a Jim Beam drinker for over 35 years and I will tell you this is one great combination. I live over seas so getting Jim is expensive. So if you have the opportunity to tast the smooth rich flavors combined in this limited edition combination don’t pass it up.