Jump to content

Bonded Beam is back.


Josh
This topic has been inactive for at least 365 days, and is now closed. Please feel free to start a new thread on the subject! 

Recommended Posts

Updated availability info for those in or near Montgomery County, Maryland:

Around 3PM Eastern Time today (WED 4 Feb 2015), a clerk at the Westbard Store (Bethesda off River Road) did an online search for this for me. While it appears in their online inventory, it is not yet "coded" for retail sale. He said it should be on the shelves by the 1st of March with a retail price of $18.99. All this is subject to change, of course.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Updated availability info for those in or near Montgomery County, Maryland:

Around 3PM Eastern Time today (WED 4 Feb 2015), a clerk at the Westbard Store (Bethesda off River Road) did an online search for this for me. While it appears in their online inventory, it is not yet "coded" for retail sale. He said it should be on the shelves by the 1st of March with a retail price of $18.99. All this is subject to change, of course.

Thanks for the update. I will buy one bottle of this to try...but I'm skeptical about whether this will be better than the 7 year old Kirkland's, which is still cheaper, and one of our house standards. We'll see...I'll post an update.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Bonded bourbons are a mainstay in my bunker, but if this anywhere near $20 for 750ml it would be hard to justify buying. Around here, OGD BIB is $13, EW BIB is $13 for a full liter, old fitz is $16 for a liter, etc. And it does seem unlikely this will be better than the less expensive 7yr Kirkland's.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

OK, here it is: I got the first bottle for sale at my local retailer, and brought it home and took it for an immediate spin.

It's pretty much as you'd expect. Not too much different than JB White Label; just more.... It is certainly closer to the ABV that will show this mashbill off for what it can be.

It's definitely over-priced here in the Mitten State @ $25, but all of the offerings here are more costly than in many neighboring states.

The profile is definitely Beam...mellow, pretty smooth for 100-proof, and unfortunately (at least for my taste) has the yeasty 'funk' (I don't like that word, but it's pretty accurate for what it conveys to me) common to Beam's younger and lower proof offerings.

It's pretty well-balanced between corn-sweetness and wood influence, though it would benefit from a couple more years in the rick. The yeast that Beam uses is the thing I find off-putting. It seems to moderate with enough age and/or proof (Knob Creek/KC120, Booker's are all closer to the mark), though this offering doesn't have enough of either/both to hit my preference. All in all, I'd pass on another bottle for $25; but would keep it around at $20-22.

So, there you have it.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Got into my bottle last night and to me it so much better than the other JB offerings. Just creamy smooth and I didn't pick up the JB funk. After a couple pours I went on to KCSB and it was a great transition of heightened creamy goodness.

The price here is $22.95 which puts at high end of BIB's in my area. If the rest of the bottle tastes as good as last night it will become a stable on my bar.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I am definitely looking forward to a bottle of this, hopefully it hits my neck of the woods soon. Also, I am curious to try the updated Jim Beam Rye. The yellow label rye has been a favorite shot of mine for a long time.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

$17.95 in Northern KY. Bought a bottle but haven't tried it yet.

:D. Clever price point, JB!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I like this a lot, the idea of it since I haven't had a taste. But no Beam tastes that much different than any other, certainly not unexpected.

I especially like that they are amping up the consumer education, putting what bonded means right on the label. Sure, bonds are 100 proof and at least four years old, which is great, but it's the single-season, single-distillery part that makes it interesting.

What I don't see, however, is the required DSP number. Also, I hope they will honor 'single distillery' and consider Clermont and Booker Noe as different, even though they share the same DSP.

Based on the sheer volume that Beam produces of the White Label (I remember your 50 minutes out of every hour of production statement, which I still consider to be an amazing fact, BTW), does "Single Season" have any true meaning in this case? I do notice that on the label it doesn't say Single "Distiller-"y", but rather Single "Distiller". Now that the bottle is on shelves, can anybody tell us if the DSP is on there?

No matter for me, as I will certainly buy one. Excited to try a 100 proof 4 yr Beam. But, the whole BIB thing as a product segment in today's macro bourbon landscape doesn't really light my fire in general, as I personally don't see much that differentiates it over any other 100 proof 4 yr min aged bourbons. I know it was an important badge of honor decades ago, and it does make for an interesting story and cool label art (and I do like those kinds of things), but the idea that it puts the whiskey in some sort of real "special class" doesn't resonate with me.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

No matter for me, as I will certainly buy one. Excited to try a 100 proof 4 yr Beam. But, the whole BIB thing as a product segment in today's macro bourbon landscape doesn't really light my fire in general, as I personally don't see much that differentiates it over any other 100 proof 4 yr min aged bourbons. I know it was an important badge of honor decades ago, and it does make for an interesting story and cool label art (and I do like those kinds of things), but the idea that it puts the whiskey in some sort of real "special class" doesn't resonate with me.

Put me down as another who feels the same. I'm also biased by being spoiled by glut era or even strip age stated BIB's with more than 4. Of course I'll try a bottle because that's what we do.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Its not so much the bonded-ness that is exciting to me, as really single season/master distiller doesn't mean much to me, but just new labels at reasonable proof and age are something to encourage distillers to put more of on the market. I'd be quite happy to see a new 100pf straight single barrel offering, but the Bonded also implies great value for the cost and with the trend of limited editions, crazy pricing, and other shitweaselry that too is something to be celebrated.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

With the whiskey boom eating up aged stocks and micros routinely selling young product, I can see BIB becoming a badge of honor once again.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

With the whiskey boom eating up aged stocks and micros routinely selling young product, I can see BIB becoming a badge of honor once again.

I wish every distillery put out a 4 year BIB. It would be nice to be able to have a standard 'house profile' of each brand, as whiskey geeks like us like to compare things. BT, WT, 4R, MM, and even soon Willett, should all get in the game. Who all offers one now, other than HH, Beam, and Barton? Old Forester isnt technically a BIB anymore either, is it?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Old Forester isnt technically a BIB anymore either, is it?

yep I believe due to having the freedom to mix multiple distilling seasons for their end product.

And 4R SB is essentially a BiB, which I guess it true for any single barrel 100 proofer.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I wish every distillery put out a 4 year BIB.

I wish they all would go back to the 8 year BIB like we had 25 years ago.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use.