Jim Beam Distiller’s Cut Bourbon Review
By Father John Rayls
Rating: A-
(Credit: John Rayls)
A limited release from Jim Beam ought to grab a bourbon lover’s attention, and this time it truly is something special. The cost is… well, we’ll get to that, but, regardless, Jim Beam Distiller’s Cut is worth a good, long look. And I say that even though Beam is not one of my favorite producers.
Here are some points to consider. It’s within everyone’s price range, but the flavor profile is exceptional for Jim Beam. It is 5 to 6 years old, unfiltered and bottled at 100 proof. The no-filtration part may be the doing the charm here, due to additional fatty acids and other compounds that stay in the whiskey. Those acids tend to cloud the whiskey at lower temperatures, but many aficionados swear by them.
The Bourbon
This bourbon has a beautiful dark reddish brown coloring with attention grabbing dark copper highlights. The legs begin with a plethora of thin, reluctant rivulets surrounding the glass. They slowly merge into thick legs, frozen in place and refusing to drain.
The nose is medium in intensity, but readily available. Charred oak is primary with leather and caramel and light vanilla supporting the aromas and some distant fruitiness (cherries).
The flavor profile was spot on with a combination of big charred oak, leather, light caramel and tobacco. The mouthfeel was slightly oily with primarily a mid-mouth experience both upper and lower. The finish was long, but didn’t interfere with the palate experience. The charred oak continued with an introduction of black pepper. It soon transitioned into white pepper, but it never became overpowering. The heat was just enough to get your attention and to maintain it while providing a definitely dry experience. The finish simply refused to quit and stayed mid-mouth.
The Price
Prepare yourself for this part: suggested retail is about $23.00, but can be found for under $19.00. This is a major find with big flavor and unbelievable price. Remember, this is a limited release from Jim Beam and you should go and buy several bottles right away. You won‘t be disappointed.
Have to agree here. This is a fine any day whiskey, ranging from everyday to special day. For the price this is insane overall quality and taste. I always like sipping and tasting in very small sips, from usually very small pours, never tossing anything down in large swallows. I do the same with my wines. Sucking in a little air such as with wine tasting also reveals a great deal about any whiskey. A small piece of ice or a drop of water should always be tried, even with something as ridiculously good as a Midleton Very Rare. There is so much to enjoy about the spirits when one is not simply tossing it down. This Distiller’s Cut is an outstanding example of what can be done for much less money.
In comparison to Booker’s “Sip-a-While” which I am currently enjoying I find many flavor profile similarities. If you don’t like Booker’s, you won’t like JBDC. For my palate the JBDC is one of bourbon’s great bargains. If you find it, buy as much as you can.