Jim Beam Signature Craft 12 Year Bourbon

Nose: Chloroform (or some other sort of sweet smelling solvent), plywood, pencil shavings, vanilla, mango cream, grilled pineapple, orange syrup, honey and a light hint of smoke. Over time the nose is dominated by orange blossom honey and vanilla. Palate: Sweet and creamy arrival with caramel fudge and light corn syrup flavours. The development brings out a little very mild rye spice, vanilla, honey and oak. The texture is good, but not outstanding and it can occasionally seem a little spirity. Finish: Medium. Honey, crème brûlée and a slightly bitter mocha coffee note. Just after the finish seems to have ended there is an aftertaste of sweet oak. A very soft, well balanced and easy to sip bourbon. The sweet and spice characteristics are finely matched throughout with fruity and cereal notes in support. The nose is fragrant and alluring and the finish lasts a good deal longer than expected. There is a vanilla presence in both the nose and palate that borders on being too dominant, and the longer you taste it the more obvious it becomes, but it never gets to the point of being cloying. Overall I'd describe this as "genteel" in profile. It's very much the Jim Beam house profile done just the right way at low proof and it wouldn't be inaccurate to describe this as a more refined Jim Beam White Label. It lacks the verve and punch of Jim Beam Bonded (which is THE value buy from Beam), and it has nothing like the commanding personality of the more expensive whiskies from this distillery. Nevertheless I'm enjoying this highly approachable liquor and it works equally well as a neat sipper, over ice, with a little water and even as a long drink in cola - although in this last form it does become a little too sweet and creamy. I am, however, at a complete loss regarding the official rating here, particularly in light of the official notes, which do not seem to be in agreement. 95 is an absurd score for this whiskey - maybe it was a typo and supposed to be 85? That would be far more believable. "Above Average" : 82/100 (3.25 stars)

Color: The whisk(e)y is a Dark shade of Amber. Taste: This whisk(e)y taste is refined. It has a better than moderate/typical flavor profile. It has a creamy/oily density to the body and it's a well balanced. This is a very smooth pour with some big bold oak notes in this 12 yr. old pour but it's a symphony that's in tune and in tempo and that oak is the crescendo. I don't see anything I don't like in this pour. This is a more advanced pour then average drams and has a good balance between sweetness and dryness but leans more towards the sweet-side. No burn noticed either! Notes detected include: Cinnamon, Rye, Apple, Orange blossoms, Fresh cut oak, Tons of Butterscotch/Carmel, Honey, Maple Syrup, Tobacco, Vanilla. The nose for this is amazing. My only negative (of sorts)… the finish for this whisk(e)y is medium but overall one of the more pleasant pours I've had this week! If I can find a steady of source of this, it'll always be in-house!

Ah, that classic Beam smell, but stronger than usual. Some deep caramel and honey, smells sweet. The nose really is wonderful. On the palate, it's sharp, the woody acidic notes are prominent. I get a hint of coffee, some bitterness. Some spice lingers. I sense that there's more, but it seems like it's constricted, like the bottle needs some air time to open up and release the flavors underneath. 7/26/17 All the above, with strong caramel and the addition of buttered bread. The acidic notes are still strong and for me that holds this back. 9/25/17 Great nose. This time I also get some additional earthy notes on the nose, something like mushrooms or truffles. The wood notes are still strong. On the palate, the sharp acidic bite is still there. Some turpentine and dark chocolate bitterness at the end. 12/16/17

I recently finished a bottle of this liquid and it is very good but not great. I really wanted to like this Bourbon and tried it neat, on the rocks, and in an Old Fashioned and it nice but did not knock my socks off especially for the price. I liked the taste it was not too hot neat and it opened up very nicely on the rocks but it did not have the full rounded flavor of Henry McKenna BiB or David Nicholson Reserve and yes I know they are a higher proof but this Bourbon just tasted thin. Still, it is not a bad drink but it is very close to JB Black or the Repeal Batch but at a higher price. If I find this on sale I would buy it again but at this price point, it is now a pass for me. If you like Jim Beam products then this is going to make you happy but it is just not my glass of Bourbon.

I'm surprised to hear they stopped making this. It's so good. Finally finishing off a bottle I've had. Nose: It smells like beam. Oak, Char, and a hint of Caramel. A little sweeter than your standard beam. Tongue: This isn't your grandpa's beam. It's more complex, so smooth. Hints of Caramel and vanilla are quickly overtaken by the oak char. Not overly spicy, and a sweet note. It really good. Finish: I don't get a lot of burn, which is good for me. It leaves a nice oaky taste, but not oily. It quickly disappears making you want another drink. If you get a chance, definitely have a little, it's well worth it. I have enjoyed it quite a bit.

NOSE: Light corn and salty smell at the beginning. A hint of green apple which quickly went away. After some time in the glass, I started getting the classic oak, char, caramel, vanilla scents. PALATE: Light buttery corn continues on the palate, dryness. Did not get the sweetness others got. FINISH: Medium. Dryness continues on the finish, like that of a mouthwash, but in a good way, not over astringent. Got spices, a pleasant burn and maybe a hint of dark chocolate. Some of these notes are not what Im used to or those I prefer. That being said, I was surprised to how much I liked this.