Ok what is this?

[nor02lei]

Ok what is this?

http://cgi.ebay.de/1-Liter-Jim-Beam-Signature-44-5-Bourbon-Whiskey-/390202692070?cmd=ViewItem&pt=Spirituosen&hash=item5ad9e491e6

Leif

[doubleblank]

To quote Mr. Hendershot from Maximum Overdrive....."F__ked if I know Bubba...F__ked if I know."

Randy

[cowdery]

It could be anything. It could be something the guy made with Photoshop.

[kickert]

Here is google's translation:

Jim Beam Kentucky Straight Bourbon Signature Six Grains Whiskey 1 liter with 44.5% vol in a distinctive leather bag. This limited bottling is 6 years old. The six different grains distilled bourbon is very soft and vollaromtisch. Caramel and vanilla accents dominate the taste until his velvety and warm long finish. It is the first bottling of a beginning series of Jim Beams, the short run the market will come in only.

[Josh]

Here is google's translation:

6 grains huh? What could you have? Barley, Corn, Wheat and Rye for sure.

Then in decreasing likelihood: oats, rice, millet, sorghum, buckwheat...

Any other ideas?

Buckwheat is not a true grain, so I'd scratch that. Don't forget Fonio or Triticale. Actually a Triticale (a rye/wheat hybrid) whiskey might be interesting. If some micro tries that I better get a cut of the action.

To the point, Leif, I think it's what we in the U.S. call a FAKE.

[rocky480]

To quote Mr. Hendershot from Maximum Overdrive....."F__ked if I know Bubba...F__ked if I know."

Randy

OT: It's not often (OK, this is the first time) that I've seen a quote from Maximum Overdrive. That made my evening.

Back on topic: I have no idea, but perhaps it's something made for the export market? The bottle looks like it could be a Knob Creek bottle (rectangular, wax sealed top). I ran across this image in trying to find any reference to it, so perhaps an updated version of this product?

http://images.businessweek.com/ss/08/12/1203_packaging/7.htm

Just some guesses.

Mike

[nor02lei]

To the point, Leif, I think it's what we in the U.S. call a FAKE.

They don’t fake 45-euro whiskey on German e-bay. 1000-euro maybe.

Leif

[nor02lei]

OT:

Back on topic: I have no idea, but perhaps it's something made for the export market? The bottle looks like it could be a Knob Creek bottle (rectangular, wax sealed top). I ran across this image in trying to find any reference to it, so perhaps an updated version of this product?

http://images.businessweek.com/ss/08/12/1203_packaging/7.htm

Just some guesses.

Mike

1 litre sound like tax-free market to me.

Leif

[callmeox]

Here is google's translation:

6 grains huh? What could you have? Barley, Corn, Wheat and Rye for sure.

Then in decreasing likelihood: oats, rice, millet, sorghum, buckwheat...

Any other ideas?

What about cheese corn and candy corn?

[matthew0715]

6 grains huh? What could you have? Barley, Corn, Wheat and Rye for sure.

Then in decreasing likelihood: oats, rice, millet, sorghum, buckwheat...

Any other ideas?

[craigthom]

Buckwheat is not a true grain, so I'd scratch that. Don't forget Fonio or Triticale. Actually a Triticale (a rye/wheat hybrid) whiskey might be interesting.

As long as the Klingons haven't poisoned the grain.

[Josh]

As long as the Klingons haven't poisoned the grain.

I was hoping somebody would pick that up.:grin:

[Stu]

Leif,

Have you questioned the members of the European Bourbon Rye Association? It may be something that is for Europe only, or it could be a fake. 45.45 Euros isn't much for a bottle of bourbon in Europe is it? If you find out anything, post it and let us know. Good luck.

Stu

[cowdery]

By "fake," I would mean counterfeit, perhaps produced in the Far East, which made its way to Europe. The person selling it may or may not know it's a counterfeit and thinks 45 Euro is a fair price.

But we can be pretty confident that Jim Beam did not produce a batch of whiskey from a six grain mash bill just for some obscure non-U.S. release. I guarantee this is not a Beam-made six grain bourbon.

Actually, I think I heard that Tuthilltown is doing something with Triticale.

[nor02lei]

1 litre sound like tax-free market to me.

Leif

I got this e-mail from Beam today:

Hi Leif,

*

Thank you for your interest in Jim Beam Signature, please see below further details on this new product, available exclusively in the Duty Free & Travel Retail market.

*

§******** Jim Beam Signature is a special, extremely limited bottling. Fred Noe (our master Distiller and great grandson of Jim Beam himself) and the other distillers spend a lot of time working with small batches to perfect their craft.* From time-to-time their explorations lead them to a bourbon so delicious and unique that they can’t help but share; Jim Beam Signature is the latest of these serendipitous small batches.

*

§******** Jim Beam Signature is truly different bourbon.* It has an unparalleled pedigree of craftsmanship and it’s obvious that it warrants Fred’s signature.* It represents more than heritage alone—at its heart, it is artisanal bourbon that is robust, flavorful and complex enough to stand on its own.

*

§******** The liquid itself begins with a proprietary Beam family mash bill recipe that contains six unique grains. This special recipe imparts to Jim Beam Signature a nuanced and layered flavour profile that’s unlike other bourbons. *After distillation it is aged six full years in hand-selected white oak barrels. When it is bottled at 44.5% ABV (for a smooth and rich flavour) its character is warm and fully mature.* It has a silky finish and a pleasant nose redolent of caramel, oak and unusually subtle grain and spice notes.

*

If you have any further questions, please let us know

*

All the best

*

*

Gareth Brown.

[Gillman]

Good work Leif to spot this and obtain this info. That's a real "scoop" as we say here. I had no inkling Beam was starting something like this.

Gary

[Josh]

Interesting email, Leif. Is Fred Noe actually Master Distiller @ Beam? I though he was "brand ambassador".

[p_elliott]

Interesting email, Leif. Is Fred Noe actually Master Distiller @ Beam? I though he was "brand ambassador".

I agree some one is pumping sunshine up someones a$$.

[kickert]

So its real... wow.

[callmeox]

Ask them what the 6 grains are.

With their notes, my money is on cheese corn and caramel corn. :-)

[cowdery]

I find it hard to believe that Beam has made a six-grain bourbon and is debuting it this way, but anything is possible. I'll do some checking.

[CorvallisCracker]

I have a vague recollection of somebody making a "multi-grain" bourbon that, upon investigation, turned out that two-or-more of the grains were just different varieties of corn.

[cowdery]

I have a vague recollection of somebody making a "multi-grain" bourbon that, upon investigation, turned out that two-or-more of the grains were just different varieties of corn.

Even at that, this would be a big deal. That's why I'm very skeptical.

As most folks here know, despite all the chin music about 'small batches,' none of the Beam small batch products starts out small. It's all the same distillate, either the Beam recipe or the Old Grand-Dad (high rye) recipe.

That's all Beam makes: Jim Beam bourbon, Old Grand-Dad bourbon, and Jim Beam rye. (And Maker's Mark, but that's all at the Maker's Mark Distillery.)

In recent years Beam has begun to modify slightly both the distillation proof and barrel entry proof of its small batch products, but they have never done a unique mash bill to the best of my knowledge.

Although I've never seen it, presumably Beam has some kind of a pilot still set up where they can experiment with variations such as different mash bills. It's possible they were happy enough with one of their experiments to put it into limited distribution, but Travel Retail seems an odd place to do it.

Yet this is clearly a real product. We'll see what my sources tell me.

[Virus_Of_Life]

I find it hard to believe that Beam has made a six-grain bourbon and is debuting it this way, but anything is possible. I'll do some checking.

He has the email from Beam, so it looks like that is the case. I am not so surprised giving all the stuff that was exported over the years.

I'd like to taste it now, I know that. Leif, are you going to get it?

BTW, in case anyone asks - since I am notarious for pulling ebay links - I let this one stand because it is on a European version that I doubt very few people on this site are going to hit and it is a buy it now item.

[Gillman]

As I read the reply to Leif, it implied that some kind of pilot plant has been operating and trying different things. The reference to a proprietary mash bill suggests it is something Beam did itself, not a purchase of white dog from another producer (which I don't think they would do anyway). I'm somewhat puzzled why it wouldn't release this domestically, it would be snapped up at any price. Probably there is just a little to go around and the duty-free market allows sales of small amounts without undue pressure to replenish supply. Anyway it looks like this one was kept under their hat pretty well all these years.

Gary

P.S. I'd have to think the extra grains are something like oats and spelt. It could be different types of corn (maybe some malted?) but that too would be a marked departure..