Jim Beam Signature Craft 12 Year and Rare Spanish Brandy

[DrinkSpirits]

We just posted our review of the new Jim Beam Signature Craft offerings.

These will be out in August 2013, $39.99 a piece at 86 proof. The 12 year is very much Jim Beam and will definitely appeal to existing Jim Beam drinkers looking to step up, but not interested in many of the big bold whiskies in the premium space. The Rare Brandy is an interesting experiment, but not as good as the 12 year. One thing to note is that Jim Beam went with screw tops for these, which is nice as there's no cork impact which seems to plague many of the premium bourbon releases that use natural cork.

Would love to hear your thoughts on our review.

Geoff

[smokinjoe]

Not sure how many premium bourbon releases are "plagued" by their use of natural cork. You reference the premium whiskies PVW, GTS, and PHC in your review, but I have not heard of problems associated with their use of cork. Certainly, there are personal preferences for and against the use of cork, which have been well discussed here on SB. And, there is always the potential for tainting in poorly stored bottles utilizing cork. But, I don't see where there's "...cork impact which seems to plague many of the premium bourbon releases that use natural cork." Though, we'll probably begin to see this problem increase, as Robert Parker's wine fans begin to horizontally store their newly hoarded cork closed premium bourbons in their wine cellars.

[DrinkSpirits]

Honestly my experience with Cork issues is more on the Scotch whisky side. I had a legendary bottle of Highland Park that I was offered a dram out of, only to find that the cork had totally disintegrated into the spirit...

[IowaJeff]

How does the 12 compare with Knob Creek? If it ends up at $40 around here it will be a little bit more than regular KC and a little less than KC single barrel. I really like the KC single barrel so the 12 would have to be pretty darn good for me to pick it over the KCSB.

How does the spanish brandy finish compare with Angel's Envy, or the PHC Cognac finish? I know they are not finished in the same type of liquor, but they are the only comparables I can think of off hand.

On the screw top issue: I'm split. The pragmatic side of me knows that a screw top is superior to a cork in every way. But my romantic side really likes popping the cork off when I open a bottle; and corks generally look cooler, and I haven't had any problems with them.

[portwood]

Would love to hear your thoughts on our review.

Geoff

[DrinkSpirits]

Portwood. I did not buy the 2 Jim Beam products, they were sent as preview samples for us to review. I do buy a fair number of spirits (my monthly bill from Kappy's is painful), but we are also sent a ton of samples. Everything we review we take price into consideration and most things that come in after they are tasted, tested and review are given away to friends.

More importantly, no one on our editorial staff deals with any of the advertising on the site. This is a much more important space as some notable spirits pubs have editorial and advertising handled by the same person, which can create conflicts.

We're very transparent about what we do, so I'm happy to discuss this.

[DrinkSpirits]

IowaJeff. I like Knob Creek better, it's denser with more body and character. Having said this, Signature Craft is much more "Jim Beam", it's something I think wil really appeal to the traditional Jim Beam drinker. For my money, I'm a big fan of the Knob Creek Rye.

In terms of the Spanish Brandy, it's finished by ADDING brandy into the bourbon while Angel's Envy finishes it in Port barrels. I like barrel finishing much better, it integrates more and drives up the complexity. I think both Angel's Envy and Big Bottom Whiskey do a good job integrating port with bourbon. Same goes for PHC, although it took me a little while to warm up to that release.

I agree with you about screw top, I like the feeling of cork. Brugal does a synthetic cork for their 1888 which is a nice middle ground.

[squire]

Very through review Geoff, I believe you covered the bases.

[DrinkSpirits]

Thanks Squire. I am working on putting together a Google Hangout with Fred Noe to talk about the releases (and to just talk Beam). Will keep you posted.

[squire]

Please do, I appreciate a review that gives me information rather than some generic tasting notes and an arbitrary numerical rating.

[DrinkSpirits]

yeah number ratings are complete BS. We used to have star ratings but those aren't much better. Ultimately I see my job as giving readers as much info as I can about the spirit, my thoughts about it and the context for the release. But I know we can always do better, so I'm always open and interested in feedback and/or letting us know when we say something dumbass or miss the mark (it does happen).

[IowaJeff]

Thanks for the follow up RE Knob Creek comparisons. Sounds like the 12 is more of an extension of JB Black rather than Knob Creek. I'll probably give it a try if I see it around here. I don't know about the brandy one. I'll see if I can procure a taste of that before I shell out any $$ for it.

[B.B. Babington]

I'm not sure why more folks aren't talking about these. I'm sipping both now, and enjoying them.

I pulled out an 8 yo black label distilled about the same time as the 12 yo. Color near identical. 12 yo had little more nose. 12 yo was like the 8 yo but more depth, more richness, longer stronger aftertaste. It's not like the makers vs makers 46 where ya just about need to sip side-by-side to notice difference. I wish Beam would do more with age, perhaps I could get more excited by Beam products if they did. I'd love to try this in a 16 yo barrel proof! Makes me wonder if an 18 yo would develop more interesting complexity like ya find with other older whiskey/whisky and which is generally lacking in Beam products.

The Brandy Craft is an interesting attempt at complexity. I know it's more likely marketing ploy rather than real attempt to produce great product, but it is an interesting attempt at something unique that a whiskey drinker might like, rather than adding cherry or maple or some such nonsense.

[MyOldKyDram]

I'm not sure why more folks aren't talking about these.

Price and proof.

The standard 12 is pretty good though for a lighter whiskey.

[B.B. Babington]

I'm not a Beam fan, so it's a moot point to me. But people pay 3x for ER17 when it's only a little more than half again the age of ER10. Whereas this is only $10 or $15 more for half again more age than black label.

[LCWoody]

I never drink Jim Beam but I did get both of these, it's worth it, something different

[zillah]

I bought a bottle of the 12 because I enjoy the black. Really good stuff. Nice nose, super sweet, and very easy to drink. It is quite pricey for what it is though. If it says signature craft on the label they could at least offer it at 92 proof (a nice progression from the white and black) and non-chill filter it. Ah, well. Won't buy another but I won't say I didn't enjoy it.

[Flyfish]

On the screw top issue: I'm split. The pragmatic side of me knows that a screw top is superior to a cork in every way. But my romantic side really likes popping the cork off when I open a bottle; and corks generally look cooler, and I haven't had any problems with them.

That's pretty much my experience. Have opened hundreds of bottles and never had a problem with cork. I am one lucky bourbon drinker.

[camduncan]

Can't wait for this stuff to hit our shores here in Australia. It sounds like it would be right on the money for my taste preferences.

[jburlowski]

I found the 12 yo to be thin and insipid. I had flashbacks of being an adolescent and sneaking a sip of a "grown-up" drink: a blended whiskey mixed with water.

Pass.

[Merrymash Monk]

As I really like Beam Black I was excited to try the new 12 yo Signature. I got a bottle of the black at the same time and have been doing some comparisons. On the delivery I find the Signature has a lot more definition to the sweet notes. Instead of a general corn sweetness as the Black initially has, the signature has more defined notes of sweet caramel and vanilla and even some fruit. There is a complexity and distinct quality at mid palate that the Black doesn't have. On the finish, my experience is different than BB Babington's. I get a longer, more satisfying finish on JB Black. There is more oak, char and the distinctive cola note which altogether make up a finish that I've only found only in JBB bourbon- and have come to enjoy very much.

So which expression is better?

Well they're both great IMHO.

The Signature is more refined, complex, and a bit lighter, especially on the finish. It also has a sweeter, more appreciable nose. But the JBB holds its own with its own "signature" taste, especially in the finish. I actually like that it is just a bit rougher around the edges with more char and the touch of wood bitterness in the finish.

I paid $37 for the Signature and $21 for the Black. That's a reasonable premium to pay for the extra 4 years. As some have pointed out, some whiskeys really head skyward in price for just a couple extra years of aging.

But overall, I have to say that with value taken into consideration, JBB is hard to beat. It remains my favorite whiskey in the Beam line up. I hope it doesn't get crowed out. As it is, a lot of folks talk about the White label as an entry level and skip right over the Black to Knob Creek- usually as a good example of premium moderately priced Bourbon. Can't argue with that. But the 8 yo lower proof JBB hits the sweet spot for me.

Edited October 16, 2013 by Merrymash Monk

[det]

Just appeared on shelves here in NorCal, $31.99. I'm much more curious about it at that price point.

[suntour]

I'm a known Beam apologist but I'd be all over that for $30.

Thanks M.M. for the side-by-side. It really gave me an idea of what to expect.

[hn4bourbon]

I got a bottle of the one with the brandy earlier this week but haven't had a chance to crack it open yet. I also felt that the price was reasonable for a try.

[MyOldKyDram]

I've yet to see the Brandy anywhere. Would probably give her a go, as I do enjoy the 12 yo.