Review 174: Jim Beam White Label

Whew! I've been gone for a while again. Let's ease back into things with the ubiquitous Jim Beam White Label bourbon. You can get this entry-level bourbon just about anywhere, so I suppose it's about time I reviewed it! Look for an upcoming miniseries on Beam bourbons (including Devil's Cut), perhaps followed by some other American friends (like Four Roses and Woodford Reserve).

Jim Beam White Label

Color: Amber +0

ABV: 40%

Aroma Neat:
Dry Firewood, Nutmeg, Cinnamon, Bitter Dutch Cocoa Powder, Paper Pulp, Dry Honey, Stone/Mineral, Cedar, Graham (slightly).

This has definitely got the trademark Beam woody dryness. Sometimes I dislike Beam bourbons for this characteristic (on other days I might call it staleness), but it works really well for me today in this whisky. It reminds me a bit of Wild Turkey 101 on the nose, which is a very good thing.

Aroma Water:
Sweet Corn, Woody Sap, Cracked Pepper, Oily Cloves, Tarry Tobacco, Cardboard, Pine, Mineral Water, Butter Cookies, Cocoa Powder.

Easier now, with moderated grainy sweetness at the fore, but still a pleasantly dry and masculine bourbon. More complex than neat.

Taste Neat:
Cooked Corn, Caramel, Cracked White Pepper, Dry Oak, Cedar, Cooked Cereal Grains, Fatty (pine nuts), Cardboard/Pulp, Oily Cloves.

A drier bourbon, which is to my liking. A little hot and biting though, which I wouldn't expect way down at 40% ABV.

Taste Water:
Drunken Apples, Apple Pie Spice (cinnamon, nutmeg), Clove/Pepper Spiciness, Molasses/Brown Sugar, Sappy Oak, Lightly Charred Oak.

Apple! Wow, I don't run into this too frequently with bourbon. I think we get this fun surprise because JBWL is a young bourbon that is not yet overly dominated by wood.

Finish:
Oak Char, Stony/Mineral, Ashy Tar, Cigarettes/Tobacco, Sweet Apple Cider (slightly).

Surprising apple-fruitiness again (I'm still surprised), before returning to its normal austere character. A nice surprise to be sure!

Conclusion:
Pleasantly austere nose that improves with water.

Dry palate that is hot neat, but quite manageable with water. Spicy and fruity!

Ashy, tarry finish that also has a splash of apple.

Rating: 80/100

You thought I'd hate this cheapie bourbon, didn't you? Well, it's actually a darn decent dram. Keep it on hand for mixed drinks or for straight sipping after a hard days work outside. It makes me feel like I actually work for a living (in reality I'm just a pencil pusher)!

It's good to be back!

Josh