Battle of the Blacks

[Flyfish]

As I was enjoying several pours of EW Black (really) I got to thinking of the popular black label whiskies: Jack Daniels, Evan Williams, Ezra Brooks, Jim Beam...(what am I forgetting?) How do you rank them? Why? Sometimes I think that volume is the key. That EW, for example, is not great bourbon but after about half an hour with it, it suits me fine. You just have to get beyond the sipping stage and enter the drinking stage.

[squire]

I rank Evan first, it's a remarkable, consistent, surprisingly affordable brand.

[jonhalter]

Evan

Jim

Ezra

Jack

Evan is the only one that will make an appearance in my house. The others work fine as mixers out.

[393foureyedfox]

...................

nevermind

[Variable]

I like JB Black. Seems to me like a straightforward bourbon. I usually employ it in Manhattans or in my Sunday AM coffee.

[Josh]

Evan

Jim

Ezra

Jack

What he said. I like Beam black but I wish it was higher proof. But I think that about just about everything with Jim Beam on the label.

[GaryT]

I did a similar tasting a while back (EWB, JDB, but JBW), and was surprised that I actually liked the Jack a smidge more. Although at double the price of EWB - no contest on which I buy more of The older Ezra though - that was some lovely stuff.

[steeltownbbq]

EW - price is right

JB - enjoy the funk and wood as an occasional change of pace

JD - if someone else is buying or its the only alternative to Canadian or white spirits

EB - ditto

[zillah]

How about Virgin Bourbon 101? I would say that one takes the cake.

[ethangsmith]

Ok, I'm going to be the odd man out here and say Ezra Brooks. It seems there's some real dislike for the Ezra brand, but I really like the stuff. I always have a bottle around and often sip some in the evenings after dinner.

[Flyfish]

Ok, I'm going to be the odd man out here and say Ezra Brooks. It seems there's some real dislike for the Ezra brand, but I really like the stuff. I always have a bottle around and often sip some in the evenings after dinner.

Thank you. I admire a man who is willing to advance an opinion he perceives to be contrary. For example, I admire myself for being willing to say that I don't get the hyper-love for 4R. On an intellectual plane, I appreciate what the brand has done to return the brand to respectability after the Seagram years. In my mouth, though, I'd rather have virtually anything from HH or Sazerac. Besides, I rather like Ezra, especially Old Ezra 101.

[JPBoston]

Big EWB fan here. Funny timing for this thread, I was just offered (and happily accepted) several free pours of JD Black, first time I've had a sip in at least a decade.

It wasn't as bad as I remembered, has an Old Forrester'y vibe to it. Still, I much prefer EWB, and at half the price, it makes it even more enjoyable.

I'd rank it:

EWB

JDB

JBB (only had one bottle, and it was pretty horrible. Will hopefully stumble upon some free samples someday to revisit it).

[ethangsmith]

Yep, Old Ezra 101 is probably one of the best deals out there- if you can find it!

Thank you. I admire a man who is willing to advance an opinion he perceives to be contrary. For example, I admire myself for being willing to say that I don't get the hyper-love for 4R. On an intellectual plane, I appreciate what the brand has done to return the brand to respectability after the Seagram years. In my mouth, though, I'd rather have virtually anything from HH or Sazerac. Besides, I rather like Ezra, especially Old Ezra 101.

[393foureyedfox]

I admire myself for being willing to say that I don't get the hyper-love for 4R. On an intellectual plane, I appreciate what the brand has done to return the brand to respectability after the Seagram years. In my mouth, though, I'd rather have virtually anything from HH or Sazerac.

well said. I dont get the 4R stuff being put on a pedestal either. I too admire what theyve tried to do with bringing it back from the ashes, but it just doesnt do anything for me.

what i DO admire is a company that is more interested in putting out good stuff at good prices, and relies on its products to sell itself rather than advertise the shit out of it to drum up sales. Even though i have now learned that i dont care for it, i truly admire HH for doing what they are doing with the ECBP. sure, they could retail it at $60 and still not be able to keep it on the shelves, but they would prefer to put it out at a very reasonable $40 retail. JB/JD only sells the amount they do because of advertising. a new drinker will walk into a bar and order a 'jim beam' or a 'jack' like he will walk into a restaurant and order a 'coke', or use a 'kleenex'....and the product price is surely not indicative of the taste/quality, but those advertising costs have to be made up somewhere....

anyway, on topic, i dont care for any of the black labels.

[compliance]

well said. I dont get the 4R stuff being put on a pedestal either. I too admire what theyve tried to do with bringing it back from the ashes, but it just doesnt do anything for me.

what i DO admire is a company that is more interested in putting out good stuff at good prices, and relies on its products to sell itself rather than advertise the shit out of it to drum up sales. Even though i have now learned that i dont care for it, i truly admire HH for doing what they are doing with the ECBP. sure, they could retail it at $60 and still not be able to keep it on the shelves, but they would prefer to put it out at a very reasonable $40 retail. JB/JD only sells the amount they do because of advertising. a new drinker will walk into a bar and order a 'jim beam' or a 'jack' like he will walk into a restaurant and order a 'coke', or use a 'kleenex'....and the product price is surely not indicative of the taste/quality, but those advertising costs have to be made up somewhere....

anyway, on topic, i dont care for any of the black labels.

Don't give HH too much credit, they are also putting substantial raises on EC20, 21, etc... with every release. Makes it hard to determine what their philosophy is.

[393foureyedfox]

Don't give HH too much credit, they are also putting substantial raises on EC20, 21, etc... with every release. Makes it hard to determine what their philosophy is.

than again, those examples are 20+ year bourbons. no one ever expects such an aged bourbon to be cheap

[HighInTheMtns]

Anyone who has access want to compare Virgin 101 to the rest of these black labels?

[zillah]

Anyone who has access want to compare Virgin 101 to the rest of these black labels?

On Virgin: Outstanding QPR. Nice cherry cordial notes and creamy cheescake with some well-rounded grain notes on the side. Very nice nose and a simple, yet aggressive, palate. Similar but much more flavorful than EWB.

[Grain Belt]

Jim Beam Black is damn good bourbon to me. I am sipping some on the rocks as I watch Mr. Manning dismantle the Raiders. I like sipping it with my dad and talking smart. I enjoy Jack on the rocks while listening to rowdy country music. Dale Watson in particular. Evan Williams Black is always a great choice. Good sipper, mean Manhattan, great after a nice deer or pheasant hunt to pass the bottle around with the boys. I have never cared for Ezra Brooks for some reason. It's been a few years since I gave it a pull. I know a local that carries it. Might have to give it another run.

[marco246]

What he said. I like Beam black but I wish it was higher proof. But I think that about just about everything with Jim Beam on the label.

Check out Costco's Kirkland-branded bourbon. It is Jim Beam Black (7 years old) but at 103 proof. It costs about $20 per liter.

[BMartin42]

I'll throw an odd one out here. Johnny Drum Black. For the 15.99 I think it is quite tasty. Tastes suspiciously like EW but it has it's own nuances.

[Flyfish]

Check out Costco's Kirkland-branded bourbon. It is Jim Beam Black (7 years old) but at 103 proof. It costs about $20 per liter.

When I first saw Kirkland a couple years ago, the label said Clermont so I concluded that it was Beam juice. Recently, though, the label says both Clermont and Frankfort so I concluded it was Beam and/or BT juice, Yet I have not detected a change in the flavor profile. Is it possible that some bottles come from one and some from the other and that I have just purchased all Clermont juice merely by chance? I'm fairly confident that I can tell the difference between the Beam and BT house styles but Kirkland still tastes the same to me. Col. Cowdery, is this an issue you could address?

[Josh]

When I first saw Kirkland a couple years ago, the label said Clermont so I concluded that it was Beam juice. Recently, though, the label says both Clermont and Frankfort so I concluded it was Beam and/or BT juice, Yet I have not detected a change in the flavor profile. Is it possible that some bottles come from one and some from the other and that I have just purchased all Clermont juice merely by chance? I'm fairly confident that I can tell the difference between the Beam and BT house styles but Kirkland still tastes the same to me. Col. Cowdery, is this an issue you could address?

He could, but I will. If you have noticed, Frankfort also appears on bottles of Old Grand Dad. The Frankfort on Old Grand Dad and any other Beam product refers to the bottling plant owned by Beam in Frankfort at the former Old Grand Dad distillery aka the Forks of the Elkhorn plant. Beam got that plant when it took over National Distillers. They stopped distilling there but still use it for bottling and other things. I think that site may still be used for aging too, but I'm not sure on that one.

So no, it's not likely that the Kirkland is BT and Beam. Probably just Beam.

[suntour]

He could, but I will. If you have noticed, Frankfort also appears on bottles of Old Grand Dad. The Frankfort on Old Grand Dad and any other Beam product refers to the bottling plant owned by Beam in Frankfort at the former Old Grand Dad distillery aka the Forks of the Elkhorn plant. Beam got that plant when it took over National Distillers. They stopped distilling there but still use it for bottling and other things. I think that site may still be used for aging too, but I'm not sure on that one.

So no, it's not likely that the Kirkland is BT and Beam. Probably just Beam.

I've always wondered this regarding modern Old Taylor. It has Frankfort on the bottle, and claims it is "made under supervision of the US government" there. I sometimes think they keep it Frankfort so when/if they switch to all BT stocks they won't have to change the label.

[Flyfish]

He could, but I will. If you have noticed, Frankfort also appears on bottles of Old Grand Dad.

Thanks, Josh. I never noticed the Frankfort reference on OGD even though I have consumed numerous bottles. I just assumed it was Beam and didn't even bother to look. I only paid attention to the Kirkland label because it was new to me at the time and I was curious about who provided it to Costco. Still think it is pretty damn good for $20 a liter.