Hardin's Creek Colonel James B. Beam

How anyone gets away with charging $85 for a 2 year bourbon I do not know. Maybe a sign of the times?, inflation?, the world gone mad? Long story short I’m not sure I could knowing pay that. But I can, and did, unknowingly pay approximately that. This is one of two bottles that arrived on my doorstep in a large fancy box from Clermont, KY. The Beam family’s Barreled and Boxed program is outstanding in that it cuts the allocated bourbon line and instead places bottles, and a very large box, on your doorstep. The presentation is lovey and the convenience can’t be beat. But overpaying for a 2-year bourbon to get my hands on a 15-year bourbon that isn’t sourced from Barton - it seemed like a good enough idea. The premise behind this bottle - essentially what I’ve asked for again and again - is lovey. Lower proof off the still. The fermentation period being stretched to 5 days is interesting and could go either way. More ethanol, less in fermented sugar, more byproducts of fermentation that could taste spent or fantastic. Light golden in color and a bit of a viscous appearance. The nose screams Old Granddad 114 - gobs of vanilla, red hot cinnamon candies, corn cookies, apple pie and a dash of cola. There is a singe of alcohol as well. The surprising part is this doesn’t have the grainy cereal notes of some other craft bourbons being put out at 4y or less and I would guess 6y if I didn’t know better. There’s a bit of oak to balance the sweet notes but that’s it. A bit hot and thin but bursting with cinnamon, vanilla and more oak than the nose. There are some black tea notes, but if tobacco and corn grain mid-way to the finish which is short and spicy with a bit of caraway, pepper and sorghum. It’s really quite good. I’m surprised in the same way that Castle & Key’s bourbon (batch 2) and Willett’s 4 year rye pack an unexpected amount of flavor in such a short time. I would say the same thing about their price points as in this case - they have some marketing fancy that drives up the price to a point in a cringy way. Is this more complex than OGD 114 but with a very similar profile - yes. Does it command the additional ~$50 - absolutely not. It’s up my alley but wouldn’t be something I’d ever purchase stand alone unless the price hovered closer to $45-50 max. I could see going as high as a 4 in my book but with price considered can’t justify more than a 3.5. Frankly I could go as low as 3.25 and for the time being will stick with that as a score so long as OGD 114 is available.

The nose starts with a mix peach cobbler, vanilla ice cream and a light oak spice then cocoa nibs, candied peanuts and butterscotch candy followed by Granny Smith apple peel, maraschino cherries and tangerine orange zest that transitions to light spearmint, cloves, ginger and mild black tea with medium ethanol burn. The taste is a thin to medium mouthfeel starting with creamy orchard fruit, butterscotch pudding and a light woody spice then blonde roast espresso, candied peanuts and freshly lit pipe tobacco followed by sautéed apples, cherry candy and mandarin oranges that transitions to light spearmint, cloves, ginger and mild black tea with medium ethanol burn. The finish is short with sautéed cinnamon apples, butterscotch candy, caramelized peaches, light spearmint, black pepper and mild black tea. I’m actually very impressed with how well this tastes for just being two years old and I think this could easily beat some of the five to six year old bourbons I’ve tried over the years. It’s nothing show stopping but a well-balanced easy sipping bourbon that I’d really like to try again at five to six years old to see how the age has impacted the flavors. At a price of $85, I think this is a priced a bit too high and could shed the fancy packaging to allow for a more reasonable price of around the $50 mark which is where I think this deserves to be at. Thanks @Bourbon_Obsessed_Lexington for the generous sample.

Notes of vanilla and caramel, akin to butterscotch. Finishes hot, but is somewhat sweet while on the pallette. Also seems like a light body, which makes it finish hot.

Apples with all the good baking spices on the nose. Actually completely translates over to the palate with these notes as well with a lingering cinnamon finish.

Not bad for a 2 year, complex flavors Bought at Distillery on 10/21/22 and tasted again on 11/8/22

Light and tasty, lots of flavor for it's youth. Peanut brittle and salty pretzels