Ok what is this?

[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.

Hah! Found it! :grin:

[whskylvr]

Jim Beam Signature --

Apparently this is a NEW series that JB is starting. A limited quantity series featuring new distillation methods, with distillation using non-standard methods and they are planning on using different grain recipes

Signature is the first in a series of SUPER PREMIUM SMALL BATCH BOURBONS from Fred Noe to celebrate bourbon.

Sounds like they are trying the same thing Buffalo Trace is already doing.

[SMOWK]

I've had a bottle of Jim Beam Signature a few times in the past. Purchased at a store in Delaware for around $15/750ml. I really don't think that was the same stuff we're talking about here. I don't remember anything about 6 grains, and the bottle didn't look anything like the one on eBay.

[cowdery]

Unfortunately, Beam has a history of being more hat than cattle, so I'll curb my enthusiasm until I get some facts.

[matthew0715]

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.

Beam states on their Small Batch website, "Baker's Bourbon utilizes a special strain of jug yeast that has been in the family for over 60 years. This time tested yeast provides Baker's with a silky smooth texture and consistent taste from batch to batch." Is more marketing puffery? Is this the same yeast used for all Beam products or do they honestly have different yeast strains like Four Roses. While I wouldn't be surprised by any "misleading" advertising claims, I don't want to shout, "Liar" if that is not the case.

[cowdery]

Beam states on their Small Batch website, "Baker's Bourbon utilizes a special strain of jug yeast that has been in the family for over 60 years. This time tested yeast provides Baker's with a silky smooth texture and consistent taste from batch to batch." Is more marketing puffery? Is this the same yeast used for all Beam products or do they honestly have different yeast strains like Four Roses. While I wouldn't be surprised by any "misleading" advertising claims, I don't want to shout, "Liar" if that is not the case.

[cowdery]

Back to the subject of Jim Beam Signature, I hearby eat my words.

This is a real product made from a special six grain mash bill. There is a chance I will have a bottle of it in my hands before the sun sets.

First, of course, is corn (maize), which is more than 51% of the mash. It is bourbon.

Second and Third, as you would expect, it contains the other two standard Jim Beam Bourbon grains, rye and malted barley.

Fourth, the other obvious choice: wheat.

Fifth and Sixth, now it gets interesting. One someone guessed and one no one guessed. Yes, it's the first triticale bourbon. Triticale is a hybrid of wheat and rye, created about a century ago.

The final, unexpected ingredient: brown rice.

Fred Noe is credited with the product's creation and it is the first in a series.

I'm pumped! This is what I'm talking about.

One side point, Fred does not have the Master Distiller title. I'm told that claim (in the note above) was a mistake in translation.

[DeanSheen]

Has rice ever been used in a commercial bourbon mashbil before?

[cowdery]

As old as the industry is you can never say never, but I've never heard of it. Triticale either, for that matter. Rice is sometimes used in beer, most famously in Budweiser.

[sku]

Has rice ever been used in a commercial bourbon mashbil before?

I remember someone saying that BT had made some, but that it hadn't been marketed. Maybe part of a forthcoming experimental collection?

[cowdery]

Thanks, Lief. Nice catch.

[Rutter]

Tempted by this myself, but i've already spent far too much on whiskey this month!

[StraightBoston]

It's listed in the duty-free (er, Travel Retail) shops in Hamburg and Frankfurt -- I'll keep an eye out next week in Paris.

[cowdery]

FYI, I just posted some new info in the other thread.

[jburlowski]

It's listed in the duty-free (er, Travel Retail) shops in Hamburg and Frankfurt -- I'll keep an eye out next week in Paris.

Just came back via CDG, didn't see it in any of the duty-free shops I visited.