Jim Beam Pineapple Review

 

Ask Mrs. Whiskeyfellow if you don’t believe me. My two favorite fruits are blueberries and pineapple. Mix them together and, well, oolala!

 

Now, when I mention flavored whiskey, there is a segment of whiskey drinkers who will roll their eyes and give you some long, in-depth explanation as to why you shouldn’t drink it. That’s a clear violation of the #DrinkCurious mantra. If you need another reason, there’s this:

 

“In my experience, there are two types of flavored whiskeys. The first involves attempting to salvage substandard whiskey by burying it in additives. The second is adding or infusing flavors into otherwise decent whiskey to enhance it. Yes, there is a real difference.” – The Whiskeyfellow, on many occasions.

 

What happens when you do the reverse? By that, I mean, when you take a flavored liqueur and infuse it with perfectly good Bourbon? We’ll get to that momentarily.

 

Jim Beam is no stranger to flavored liqueur-Bourbon blends. Its current line-up includes seven such expressions: Pineapple, Apple, Peach, Honey, Red Stag (cherry), Vanilla, and Kentucky Fire (cinnamon).

 

“Jim Beam’s legacy began in 1795, and after generations of perfecting our bourbon craft, we’ve taken that same dedication and created a range of delicious flavored liqueurs infused with Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey. While our classic Jim Beam White Label remains a favorite, fans also love the sweet taste of our flavors including Jim Beam Apple, Jim Beam Honey, or Jim Beam Peach. Bold and easy to mix, Jim Beam Flavors add a new twist to your favourite bourbon cocktail, while still carrying the tradition of quality that defines Jim Beam bourbon.” – Jim Beam

 

All of that leads us to the subject of today’s review: Jim Beam Pineapple. I’ve had plenty of pineapple liqueurs and flavored whiskeys. Some are great, and others taste like they’re fresh from an industrial chemical factory’s mop bucket. As you can imagine, I prefer the former.

 

As you may also know, I’m not big on cocktails. I drink them, I like them, but they’re more of a you-don’t-have-anything-I-want-so-sure-make-a-cocktail kind of thing for me. However, Jim Beam’s challenge is to serve Pineapple “straight, mixed or topped with soda – any damn way you please.”

 

With that, I’m going to explore Jim Beam Pineapple two ways: neat, because that’s the kind of whiskey drinker I am, and in a “cocktail” that I’ll create with Pineapple mixed with SkinnyMixes Blueberry Cobbler Syrup (which Mrs. Whiskeyfellow keeps in her kitchen).

 

Before we get started, I must thank Jim Beam for providing me with a sample of Pineapple in exchange for my no-strings-attached, honest review.

 

• Whiskey Type: Liqueur infused with Bourbon
• Distiller: Jim Beam
• Age: NAS
• Mashbill: Undisclosed
• Cooperage: Undisclosed
• Alcohol Content: 32.5% ABV (65°)
• Price per 750mL: $19.99

 

Appearance: I used a Canadian whisky glass because, to be completely frank, I had no clue what else to use, and my usual nosing glass seemed weirdly out of place. The liquid was clear with a brilliant gold hue; it produced a medium rim with crowded, thick, slow tears.

 

Nose: I treated Jim Beam Pineapple the same way I would with anything else I’m reviewing; I let it breathe for about 15 minutes before interacting with it further.

• Neat – Initially, it smelled exactly like pineapple juice. As I continued to sniff, I picked up vanilla, and once I identified it, it seemed unmistakable, even as an underlying component. Drawing the air into my mouth brought a taste of pineapple.

• Mixed – The aroma of Blueberry Cobbler took center stage, with vanilla and pineapple playing supporting roles. Inhaling the vapor through my lips brought the pineapple notes back into the spotlight.

 

Palate: I sipped Pineapple at room temperature; my inclination is that this would be the most natural way to experience it, as chilling it or adding ice would mute its qualities.

• Neat – The mouthfeel was edgy, and I understand that’s a completely obtuse descriptor. It was simultaneously slick, grainy, and creamy. The very first thing I tasted (and the last I anticipated) was the Bourbon. There were notes of caramel, vanilla, peanuts, and oak. The pineapple showed up mid-palate, carrying into the back with caramel and oak.

• Mixed – The texture was soft and creamy; far different from how things played out neat. Gone were the grainy or slick qualities. Blueberry and pineapple danced the tango. Vanilla watched from the sidelines, and the Bourbon component narrated but wasn’t making the star presence it had when sipped neat.

 

Finish:

• Neat – Pineapple, caramel, and oak remained, and were joined by sugarcane. Perhaps it was still the grainy part of the texture, but it was as if I could feel individual grains of sugar on my tongue, if only briefly. There was even a smidge of cinnamon spice just as the finish faded at 0:52. I’d classify it as a medium-short duration.

• Mixed – Pineapple and blueberries competed for attention. Vanilla seemed tired and quietly exited the stage. The mouthfeel was similar to that on the palate; there was no evident sugary graininess.

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: I had fun with today’s tropical adventure. Drunk neat, there was nothing manufactured or fake about it. I didn’t find it overwhelming and was pleasantly surprised at how the Bourbon infusion maintained its character.

 

Obviously, each cocktail has its own characteristics. While the SkinnyMixes was emboldened and shut out the Bourbon infusion, I wouldn’t assume that would happen with every cocktail, as SkinnyMixes is a fairly potent mixer.

 

Jim Beam Pineapple is in the top half of the pineapple-flavored “whiskeys” I’ve tried, and for the money, you really can’t go wrong. My Bottle rating seems well-deserved.

 

Oh, one last thing. You should know that not only do I put pineapple on my pizza, but I also consider it a preferred topping. Cheers!

 

 

My Simple, Easy-to-Understand Rating System

• Bottle = Buy It
• Bar = Try It
• Bust = Leave It

 

Whiskeyfellow encourages you to enjoy your whiskey as you see fit, but begs you to do so responsibly.