Thoughts on Jim Beam Black?

[bourbonman]

Been thinking of picking up a bottle but at 28.95 + tax I was wondering is it really worth it? I can pick up ETL or Lot "B" for $3-5 more. what do you think?
I'm looking for some expert opinion!

Edit to add - Drink it neat.

[HighTower]

If you can get Lot B for $5 more, get that.

Scott

[jspero]

If you can get Lot B for $5 more, get that.

Scott

I'll second that. I like Beam Black and really like ETL, but if you can get Lot B for $5 more, there is no question about buying the Lot B.

Jay

[Sweetmeats]

How much? WOW!

I just picked up my second bottle here for 13.95. There is a sale on it at CVS Pharmacy about every 3 weeks or so. It's worth it at 13.95 but barely. ETL anyday.

[cowdery]

If you're someplace where Lot B is $3 to $5 more than Jim Beam Black, they're either way overpricing the JB Black (which is <$20 here) or underpricing the Lot B (which is >$40 here). Either way, that's a pretty clear choice.

[full_proof]

Wow. What a disparity in price for JB Black compared to the south (GA, FL). The Lot B is the choice for me, hands down, most especially if there's only approximately $5 difference. Lot B resides in the barrel longer, has a heavier char smell and taste, longer finish, and is generally a heavier, more robust pour.

[miller542]

what do you think?

I think I may never buy Beam Black ever again. Ever since we did a blind tasting of 5 bourbons and EVERYONE picked it as the worst, I swore I'd never buy it again. I like Beam, but only for mixing, and the cheaper white label will suffice for that.


Oh, and by the way, the other four were: Buffalo Trace (hands down best), Bulleit, WT RR101, and Elijah Craig 12yr.

[fog]

I enjoy Jim Beam Black. I prefer it over Knob Creek.

[OscarV]

I have never been a fan of Jim Beam Black.
It has been highly touted here on this forum, but I just can't see it, or taste it, as it were.
Jim Beam is resposible for me not being into bourbons to begin with, early on.
To me it is oily, and the taste was hard for me to define, until I read a post by cowdery, he once said that it is the, "funky strain of yeast that Jim Beam uses".

BINGO!! That must be it.

Which brings up another question, how much, as in percentage, does yeast play in the taste of bourbon.

[full_proof]

Which brings up another question, how much, as in percentage, does yeast play in the taste of bourbon.

I've been wondering about the same issue as well. I think that would be a great topic to develop as the TOTM.