Entering the Beam lineup

[EarthQuake]

11 hours ago, kevinbrink said:

I've thought a bunch about why BT doesn't get me as excited as other brands and I think the word you used here nails it "neutral". I'd guess that you might not have meant it as a necessarily negative descriptor, but thanks regardless.

Yeah, it wasn't really a negative or a positive, more of a categorization. I tend to like BT products myself, the mash #1 ones especially. And I always have a few different brands stocked - Stagg Jr, CEHT, Eagle Rare, and a 17 and 18 GTS open right now - plus the trio of Mash #2 (Blanton's ETL and RHF), and an almost empty OWA somewhere. But when I open the cabinet, I'm usually grabbing Four Roses, 1792, or lately, MGP - these Blaum Bros 10 & 12 years are great, as is the George Remus Special Reserve. For that matter I put MGP in the spicy category as well and find it interchangable with FR most days.

Edited June 21, 2019 by EarthQuake

[Jazzhead]

54 minutes ago, EarthQuake said:

Yeah, it wasn't really a negative or a positive, more of a categorization. I tend to like BT products myself, the mash #1 ones especially. And I always have a few different brands stocked - Stagg Jr, CEHT, Eagle Rare, and a 17 and 18 GTS open right now - plus the trio of Mash #2 (Blanton's ETL and RHF), and an almost empty OWA somewhere. But when I open the cabinet, I'm usually grabbing Four Roses, 1792, or lately, MGP - these Blaum Bros 10 & 12 years are great, as is the George Remus Special Reserve. For that matter I put MGP in the spicy category as well and find it interchangable with FR most days.

Good that you mention MGP.   By any measure,  they are in the conversation.  I love their low-rye bourbon mashbill. 

Edited June 21, 2019 by Jazzhead

[Whiskeythink.com]

The KCSB store pics can run the gamut on notes. I really love them, but some of 13+ yrs can be overly-oaked, while some can be wonderfully complex. Often Ive found the 10-13 yrs are much sweeter. Fortunately alotta stores will let you try theirs before buying!

 

I still regret not getting the KCSB at Toddy's last fall...it was so tasty but I had spent my budget...

[smokinjoe]

On 6/19/2019 at 7:04 PM, B Wade said:

 

So I’m a huge Wild Turkey lover. It’s by far what I’ve drank the most of since I got into bourbon, specifically 101. I enjoy Elijah Craig, especially the Barrel Proof which I have a bottle of. I want to get into Beam next but am not sure where my entry point should be. I have had Basil Hayden’s which was fine but I didn’t love and I’ve had Knob Creek SB which I didn’t really find pleasing. I’ve heard some people say that they aren’t personally a fan of the Knob Creek but like different Beam offerings. I don’t want to jump straight to Bookers but also don’t want to buy white label and not get an accurate depiction of what they offer. I’m thinking maybe Distillers Cut should be my starting point, thoughts?

 

If you’re looking for another lane in the bourbon profile highway, Beam is a great way to go.  To get the total essence of it, I believe that you have to stay in their sweet spot, which would be something 7yrs or younger.  Baker’s owns that lane.  But, to get a less expensive ride, I would recommend Beam BIB.  Younger at 4 years, it highlights the quintessential Beam profile, with nice 100 proof, and well selected barrels in the mix.  It provides a great base to further explore their aged and higher proofed expressions, IMO.  

[EarthQuake]

1 hour ago, Whiskeythink.com said:

The KCSB store pics can run the gamut on notes. I really love them, but some of 13+ yrs can be overly-oaked, while some can be wonderfully complex. Often Ive found the 10-13 yrs are much sweeter. Fortunately alotta stores will let you try theirs before buying!

 

I still regret not getting the KCSB at Toddy's last fall...it was so tasty but I had spent my budget...

Two local stores are getting 15 year picks in soon, which I am very excited about. I've had an 11 year pick but if anything it was too sweet. I tend to like dry and oaky bourbons. I'm not sure if I've met a bourbon I would call over-oaked, though Rhetoric 23-25 are certainly teetering on the edge. Maybe Parker's 24 year - that one was just weird (like a herbal tea that had seeped for 100 years). Anyway, I'm interested to see what 15 years does to KC.

Edited June 22, 2019 by EarthQuake

[BrokeCal]

As a fan of WT I think 4R should be the next move.  Grab a bottle of Small Batch and a standard SB and have at it.  If you like what you're tasting you can move up to some Store Selected SBs and Small Batch Select.  I don't really see the point in going to Beam but that's just me.

[B Wade]

Just want to say all of this feedback is wildly helpful. Gives me a ton of direction. I think I just need to slow down and recognize I’m not really sure what I like yet and that sometimes it can change depending on the day. I have had the FR SiB and liked it a lot, then a couple times when switching from Wild Turkey to it I decided I didn’t like the 35% Rye spice, then another time decided I did like it again. That made me think that I didn’t like high rye but also don’t love BT #1 profile which is too sweet to my taste. Just gotta take it slow and find the sweet spot. All of these suggestions will be super helpful.

[flahute]

1 hour ago, B Wade said:

Just want to say all of this feedback is wildly helpful. Gives me a ton of direction. I think I just need to slow down and recognize I’m not really sure what I like yet and that sometimes it can change depending on the day. I have had the FR SiB and liked it a lot, then a couple times when switching from Wild Turkey to it I decided I didn’t like the 35% Rye spice, then another time decided I did like it again. That made me think that I didn’t like high rye but also don’t love BT #1 profile which is too sweet to my taste. Just gotta take it slow and find the sweet spot. All of these suggestions will be super helpful.

It took me years to figure out that Turkey and 4R are my preferred lane. I struggled with 4R early on and thought that BT products were my favorite. 

So there’s no hurry to figure it out!

Just enjoy the process. If it helps, even though 4R is completely in my wheelhouse, sometimes the 35% rye can taste too minty to me. Just depends what the palate is up to that day. And, even though WT and 4R are largely my preference, Stagg is still my favorite single bourbon. And there’s plenty I like from every house. 

[EarthQuake]

18 minutes ago, flahute said:

It took me years to figure out that Turkey and 4R are my preferred lane. I struggled with 4R early on and thought that BT products were my favorite. 

So there’s no hurry to figure it out!

Just enjoy the process. If it helps, even though 4R is completely in my wheelhouse, sometimes the 35% rye can taste too minty to me. Just depends what the palate is up to that day. And, even though WT and 4R are largely my preference, Stagg is still my favorite single bourbon. And there’s plenty I like from every house. 

This was pretty much my journey as well, starting with BT's brands and then moving on to spicier pastures. I wasn't a fan of the FR Small Batch or Single Barrel when I first had them, but once I got to try a few of the store picks, I was hooked! Honestly, I still don't think the Small Batch or Single Barrel are anything special. In this price range, I will take Russell's 10 or 1792 BIB over FR's offerings. But the FR store picks are great!

[flahute]

3 minutes ago, EarthQuake said:

This was pretty much my journey as well, starting with BT's brands and then moving on to spicier pastures. I wasn't a fan of the FR Small Batch or Single Barrel when I first had them, but once I got to try a few of the store picks, I was hooked! Honestly, I still don't think the Small Batch or Single Barrel are anything special. In this price range, I will take Russell's 10 or 1792 BIB over FR's offerings. But the FR store picks are great!

Russell’s 10 is so good and so overlooked. I know there’s a few fans here.

[DCFan]

2 hours ago, B Wade said:

Just want to say all of this feedback is wildly helpful. Gives me a ton of direction.

Based on your avatar I'd say you're pretty well grounded.   To your topic about JB, I think the regular Beam is perfect as a mixer but not so great for sipping neat. Can't say I've had any of the others but their BIB has always intrigued me but not enough to get me off of OGD BIB.

[fosmith]

If you can find the Jim Beam Distiller's Cut, I highly recommend it.  I liked it a lot better than the JB Bonded. 

[PaulO]

Your palate will change from day to day.

We don't want to eat the same food everyday, or listen to the same music over and over.

[Vosgar]

On 6/22/2019 at 10:54 AM, flahute said:

Russell’s 10 is so good and so overlooked. I know there’s a few fans here.

I'm one of them as it's a solid pour every time. The naysayers may bitch about it being only 90 proof but at 10yrs of age it's a quality bourbon and I don't think proof is an issue. With the SB versions taking all the glory these days, the old standby flies under the radar (at a great price as well, under $30 around here)

 

On 6/22/2019 at 10:24 AM, flahute said:

there’s plenty I like from every house. 

With the exception of WR, I'm right there with you, Steve

 

[Harry in WashDC]

On 6/22/2019 at 9:44 AM, B Wade said:

Just want to say all of this feedback is wildly helpful. Gives me a ton of direction. I think I just need to slow down and recognize I’m not really sure what I like yet and that sometimes it can change depending on the day. I have had the FR SiB and liked it a lot, then a couple times when switching from Wild Turkey to it I decided I didn’t like the 35% Rye spice, then another time decided I did like it again. That made me think that I didn’t like high rye but also don’t love BT #1 profile which is too sweet to my taste. Just gotta take it slow and find the sweet spot. All of these suggestions will be super helpful.

Really old joke, which I'm pretty sure I've posted here before, about slowing down (which is GREAT advice even if bourbon is not involved).

 

Old bull and young bull are on a hill top.  Young bull says, "Look at all those cows down there.  Let's run down and mess around with a few."  Old bull says, "Let's walk down and mess with them all."

 

This only applies to bulls, of course.

[Widebody]

On 6/22/2019 at 8:44 AM, B Wade said:

Just want to say all of this feedback is wildly helpful. Gives me a ton of direction. I think I just need to slow down and recognize I’m not really sure what I like yet and that sometimes it can change depending on the day. I have had the FR SiB and liked it a lot, then a couple times when switching from Wild Turkey to it I decided I didn’t like the 35% Rye spice, then another time decided I did like it again. That made me think that I didn’t like high rye but also don’t love BT #1 profile which is too sweet to my taste. Just gotta take it slow and find the sweet spot. All of these suggestions will be super helpful.

Like you, I’m a big WT fan and bought a few bottles of JB distiller’s cut last year when it first came out because it was getting so much praise.  Something to point out that hasn’t been mentioned yet is the peanut flavor profile of Distiller’s Cut that you might find different as a WT drinker.  I know that was the first thing I noticed with it and it wasn’t exactly my cup of tea.  For 20 bucks it might be fun just to do a SBS or WT101 and one of the JB offerings.  Cheers!

[flahute]

On 6/23/2019 at 5:08 PM, Vosgar said:

I'm one of them as it's a solid pour every time. The naysayers may bitch about it being only 90 proof but at 10yrs of age it's a quality bourbon and I don't think proof is an issue. With the SB versions taking all the glory these days, the old standby flies under the radar (at a great price as well, under $30 around here)

 

With the exception of WR, I'm right there with you, Steve

 

I remember it being you or Big Rich.  Maybe it’s the both of ya!

Drinking some right now at my father in laws house. He keeps bourbon around for me. 

 

 

[rjg1701]

On 6/22/2019 at 6:23 PM, fosmith said:

If you can find the Jim Beam Distiller's Cut, I highly recommend it.  I liked it a lot better than the JB Bonded. 

I agree, to me the BIB is just high proof white label.  The NCF on Distillers Cut is exquisite.

[Richnimrod]

4 hours ago, rjg1701 said:

I agree, to me the BIB is just high proof white label.  The NCF on Distillers Cut is exquisite.

Well, maybe not quite 'exquisite' to my taste buddies; but, certainly a big step in the right direction, and well worth difference in cost to both my taste buddies, and my wallet.