BOTM, 11/06: Jim Beam

[SBOmarc]

Were we bad?

Did we misbehave?

Whatever we as a group did, please tell us so we correct it and not suffer through JB White!

It is a common well bourbon out here on the West Coast. Maybe with a mixer, but that is it.

[jeff]

I'm not feeling the love here folks. Open-mindedness is the key. Sometimes to understand your pleasures, you must understand your what it is you dislike about something else. Breath in...breath out...

Follow my lead. I went out and bought a 1/2 pint of the 4yo this afternoon. Didn't cost much, but worth what it did for the sake of science. I get a lot of yeast on the nose with a sharper graininess and just a touch of leather. No real vanilla to speak of. It tastes young and just slightly harsh, but not terrible by any means. Seems stonger than its 80 proof would suggest. Green wood, leather and just a touch of turpentine. The finish is medium length with a little cinnamon at the end. I added a couple of ice cubes and most of the green/harsh tones fade away and just the slightest little bit of vanilla pokes through. Not a great bourbon, but I would drink it before scotch.

I'll pick up a bottle of the 7yo this weekend and compare the two.

[melting]

I drink a little Jim Beam White at least once or twice a week. It's far from being a great pour but I've definately had worse. It can be had on sale for $9.99 just about every month somewhere which is pretty hard to beat.

Maybe 10 years from now, after I put both my kids through school, I'll be able to afford paying two to three times the price per bottle for better tasting spirits.

After the first couple glasses of the better quality pours just about anything else will finish off the job if you know what I mean.

Chris

[TNbourbon]

I'm not feeling the love here folks. Open-mindedness is the key. Sometimes to understand your pleasures, you must understand your what it is you dislike about something else. Breath in...breath out...

I'm with ya, Jeff! Really. I'd intended to match my current 200ml remainder of JB White 4yo with some 7yo this very night and compare, then post -- but when I got to the local shop, the package purveyor had set aside for me today's delivery of Stagg and Eagle Rare . And that prompted me to call another area storeowner who sticks things back for me to see if he'd gotten the rest of the Antiques and, lo, I've spent the last 90 minutes on the road for Handy and Weller.
Let's see: Antiques or JB White, JB White or Antiques?..
Um, Jeff -- maybe tomorrow.

[barturtle]

Okay, I occasionally have to sit out and read others comments due to finances, unavailablity or just the unwillingness to open an expensive bottle. So darn it, I bought a bottle of Makers last month and I'm buying a bottle of Beam this month.

Goes out the door in a huff!

[barturtle]

Okay, back from the store. Gotta Bottle of Beam and a snifter in my hands. I'm not sure that's the correct type of glass, but we'll try it anyway....

Wow! That's bourbon.....?

Yup it distinctly has characteristics that I aquaint with bourbon. A little caramel, some wood, even a hint of a certain smokiness. Sure there's some off notes that remind me that it's quite a bit younger than even the whiskey I use to cook with and it's not the most beautiful packaging either. But hey, for the normal price (but not what I paid) it rises to the level of the expectations that any reasonable person should have.

I must admit though, when i went to go buy this bottle, I knew I wasn't gonna go the the store I normally buy whiskey at...I mean those people know me, and how would it look if they saw me buy Beam?!? And to make the purchase even more difficult, the place I normally go to to get a quick six-pack is having a few problems with its license! The hell I went though to get this bottle!

[Virus_Of_Life]

I'm not feeling the love here folks. Open-mindedness is the key. Sometimes to understand your pleasures, you must understand your what it is you dislike about something else. Breath in...breath out...


I'll pick up a bottle of the 7yo this weekend and compare the two.

Got nothing but love for you baby! And I was by no means trying to rush you, just merely happy that November was here because I always vacation in Oregon during November and that means lots of good food, good friends and need I say, good whiskey!?!

Anyway my main question: Is the 7 year old limited distribution? Or have I just never paid attention to it? I'll search out a little and grab a bottle of each if I can find it today or tomorrow.... Even if it is a small bottle.

[TNbourbon]

...Is the 7 year old limited distribution?..

I believe that is the case, from past discussions of it here. Perhaps not quite as limited as the Jack Daniel's green-label #7, for example, but not universal.

[Gillman]

Just to put in my two cents, and since I played some role in the Beam White being selected as BOTM, I think the BOTM should reflect a variety of generally available bourbons and ryes. Some of these should include moderately priced brands that may not be connoisseur or sleeper choices so people can give their opinion (if they wish) on its taste and other merits or lack thereof.

One of the things I hope to learn from this exercise is, is Beam White worth sampling occasionally, if so what is the best way to drink it (e.g. I learned from Jeff that the regular White Label tastes better iced than neat), and its price/value ratio. That is how I at least will approach it. Maybe this bourbon is the best out there for a whisky sour, maybe for some it is just fine taken neat, maybe the 7 year old version is a sleeper, and sure, probably some just don't enjoy it.

My review is coming shortly.

Gary

[clbrosch]

I have poured enough of this stuff down my gullet in College to float a boat. We used to call it "mother's Milk" back then.

I find it to be a fair "well" bourbon best suited to a crowded smokey bar and a few bourbon and gingers are what you want to drink.

Not the worst but I wouldn't want to bring it as a gift for a host/hostest gift either.

Best enjoyed with friends at a Football game or in a Bar.

Looking forward to the next BOTM...