Jim Beam’s got a special bond with this bourbon.
For a long time, Jim Beam was synonymous with one whiskey and one whiskey only – Jim Beam White Label. But things aren’t so black and white label anymore. To stay competitive in the growing whiskey market, Jim Beam started to release unique, flavored whiskies like Jim Beam Apple, Jim Beam Honey, Jim Beam Maple, Jim Beam Kentucky Fire, and Red Stag. You name a flavor and chances are Jim Beam has already thrown it into a barrel. However, in the last few years there’s been a noticeable pivot in the Beam brand toward more premium bourbon and whiskey offerings. Not only are there top-shelf items like the Signature Craft Series, but more accessible releases like a Double Oaked, Single Barrel, and even a rye whiskey. The natural next step had to be a bottled-in-bond bourbon.
To be considered bottled-in-bond, a bourbon has to check off certain criteria like being produced from one distillery, bottled at 100 proof, and aged for at least four years. It’s a title that’s been around since 1897, but has become a sought after trend in the last decade or two. Big name brands like Evan Williams have adapted to the trend, while smaller distilleries like Bluegrass Distillers and New Riff are also trying to capitalize. So again, it’s not a huge shock that Jim Beam would release its version – Jim Beam Bonded.
As is legally required, Jim Beam Bonded is 100 proof and aged for a total of 4 years. And as is custom for the brand, Jim Beam Bonded is an incredibly affordable $23. The initial aroma of this bourbon pulls you in with notes of soft oak and dry roasted peanuts. The oak aroma continues into a richer oak flavor, along with light vanilla and a bit of pepper. A surprisingly dry mouthfeel is dragged through into a sharp, bitey finish that cuts off rather quickly. We’ve come to expect a bit of heat and rich oakiness from Jim Beam products, but this is still a bit lackluster.
And yes, sure, creating a bottled-in-bond bourbon is not an easy task, but the funny thing is – Jim Beam has already pulled it off. Twice. Both Old Tub and Old Grand-Dad are bottled-in-bond bourbons courtesy of the Jim Beam family. Those Old bourbons also fall in the same affordable price point, yet deliver a more expensive experience. If Jim Beam Bonded was the cheapest bottled-in-bond on the market, we’d be able to recommend it as a cheap way to get your hands on a bonded bourbon. However, with Old Tub and Old Grand-Dad hanging out at the same price point, it would be hard to recommend Jim Beam Bonded as our top choice.
Whether it’s the mashbill, the process, or the aging, it feels like Jim Beam needs to give the same time and attention to Jim Beam Bonded as it does its other bonded bourbons.
STATS: Jim Beam Bonded Bourbon
- Price for us: $23 for 750 mL
- Proof: 100
- Aged: 4 Years
- Distillery: Jim Beam
- Recommendation: Neat
