When you think of Jim Beam, you’re most likely picturing the original Jim Beam Bourbon Whiskey. However, Beam has a lot more bourbon tricks up its sleeves.
The Jim Beam brand itself has a whole range of whiskies including Jim Beam Rye, Jim Beam Single Barrel, and Jim Beam Double Oaked. But Beam Suntory, the company behind Jim, also happens to own Knob Creek, Basil Hayden, Baker’s, and Maker’s Mark. Not too shabby. But the unsung hero of the Beam world is none other than Old Tub.
Long before the Beam family was brewing Jim Beam, they were distilling Old Tub. It’s an unfiltered bourbon that also happens to be bottled-in-bond, meaning that it’s aged at least 4 years, bottled at exactly 100 proof, and produced from one distillery in one season. Bottled-in-bond bourbons have been growing in popularity the last few years, but Old Tub still manages to make itself stand out from the crowd.
Old Tub is packed with the smells and flavors of dry oak, vanilla, sweet peaches, corn, and just a hint of pepper. Although the texture is a bit thin, the long vanilla and spice finish balances it out. Even with the bottled-in-bond 100 proof, Old Tub is very easy to sip and enjoy.
The bottled-in-bond market continues to grow with options like Benchmark Bonded, Bluegrass Distillers Bottled-in-Bond Blue Corn Bourbon, Evan Williams Bonded, Old Grand-Dad Bonded, and New Riff. With an ever-growing selection, it’s nice to have an easy go-to option like Old Tub. It’s an affordable bourbon that’s easy to find and offers tons of flavor and versatility.
Old Tub bourbon is a fantastic option to have around for a sip or a cocktail. We can definitely see how Old Tub helped launch the Beam empire.
STATS: Old Tub Bourbon
- Price for us: $25 for 750 mL
- Proof: 100
- Aged: NAS, but at least 4 years
- Distillery: Jim Beam
- Recommendation: Neat
