Jim Beam Distiller's Cut Bourbon Review & Tasting Notes

The newest whiskey that folks seem to be chasing down right now is Jim Beam Distiller’s Cut. Jim Beam? Are you serious?

Absolutely.

This newest incarnation of Jim Beam is a 100°, non-chill filtered Bourbon that’s aged anywhere between five and six years. If you caught the words, “non-chill filtered,” and understand what that means, the excitement suddenly makes sense. If you’re unfamiliar with the term, it means that the fatty acids that naturally occur during distillation haven’t been filtered out. Aside from affecting the taste, chill filtering brings clarity to the appearance lower-proofed whiskeys.

The mash is the standard Jim Beam bill: 75% corn, 13% rye, and 12% barley. If you’re looking at the proof and wondering if this just isn’t a relabeled Jim Beam Bonded, I’m going to set the record straight right now. I keep a bottle of the Bonded version around, and these are two very different Bourbons.

The appearance is a deep, clear amber that may be unexpected from some familiar with non-chill filtered whiskeys. There can be a cloudiness, especially when adding water or ice, but when you get above 92°, that cloudiness doesn’t happen. Swirling it around in my glass leaves an almost non-existent rim that is so thin it takes a bit to find it. But, once it appears, it produces very slow, fat droplets that eventually fall into the pool.

Aromas of nut are predominant, and at the first sniff or two, it is all that’s picked up. Underneath that comes pepper, a hint of apple, and finally, oak. Inhaling through my mouth brings a bubblegum quality.

The mouthfeel is thick but oily. It does coat the palate and is incredibly smooth.

Flavors of cinnamon and pepper are up front, with an almost immediate follow of caramel and vanilla. Underneath the caramel and vanilla is very light pear. Bringing up the rear is oak.

The finish is long and warming, with the pepper hanging around, especially mid-palate. It continues to build and stays around for several minutes after the swallow.

Bottle, Bar or Bust: If you’re not a fan of Jim Beam, this is the version that will change your mind. I’m loving this, and not only do I recommend picking up a Bottle, I might even suggest two, especially for the $23 price tag.

Allegedly, this is a limited edition Bourbon. I don’t know how many bottles are available, but they’re plentiful for now. If Jim Beam is listening, you need to make this a permanent offering of the product line.

If I have anything negative to say about the Distiller’s Cut, it would be the bottle’s screw-top closure. I don’t mind screw-tops at all, and in fact prefer them, but in this case, it is a very short cap and doesn’t feel like a secure closure. In reality, it works just fine, it is merely the feeling in the hand. As such, this is excessively minor and shouldn’t affect a purchase decision.

Cheers!