Jim Beam Double Oak Twice Barreled is not a new product, but we have just discovered it. It has been around for a couple of years, but I don’t often purchase whiskey so I was surprised to see it on the shelf the other day and picked up a bottle. It is Jim Beam Bourbon that has been aged in a new charred oak barrel and then placed in another new, charred oak barrel and aged again. It makes for a sweeter, more flavorful expression than regular Jim Beam white label. Matt and I sat down to taste it and here are our tasting notes.

Jim Beam Double Oak Twice Barreled

Proof: 86

Age: No Age Statement

Nose:

  • Mike: Vanilla, caramel, apples, pears, pepper spice and oak wood.
  • Matt: Caramel, pears, cherries and oak wood.

Taste:

  • Mike: A bit thin in the mouth-feel. Vanilla, caramel, apples, pepper and oak wood. Tasted with a dried cranberry and  notes of chocolate and cherries come forward and the mouth-feel is thicker. Tasted with a pecan and the caramel becomes a rich buttered caramel with a note of chocolate.
  • Matt: Caramel, brown sugar, pears, lemon zest and oak wood. The dried cranberry added a note of honey. The pecan added strawberry and honey.

Finish:

  • Mike: Medium long with oak wood, vanilla and pepper spice. The dried cranberry added some lingering cherry notes to the finish. The pecan made the finish long and sweet with oak wood, caramel and pepper.
  • Matt: Medium long with oak wood and brown sugar. The dried cranberry added some lingering honey notes to the finish. The pecan made the finish long and sweet with oak wood and honey.

I would pair this Bourbon with a cigar that has lots of vanilla and dried fruit in the smoke. I would reach for a Rocky Patel Special Reserve Sun Grown Maduro cigar.

Jim Beam Double Oak Twice Barreled

Photos Courtesy of Rosemary Miller