I’ve had Jim Beam Black before…back before they relabeled it and added an age statement. It was never bad, but I realized as I got close to the bottle of a handle bottle (1.75L) that I needed to write a short review on this new version–Jim Beam Black 7 Year–because it really is that good.
As compared to before, JB Black is now “Aged 7 Years” instead of just “Extra-Aged,” which really means nothing…I mean if one whiskey were to be aged two years, then a two-and-a-half year version could be considered “extra aged.” They also bumped the proof from 86 to 90. I don’t have an old bottle sitting around to compare to the new product, but I do know that I’ve really been taken with the Jim Beam Black 7 Year whereas I never was with the Extra-Aged version.
The color was a medium amber and I got honey and touches of pears and apples on the nose. Taking a sip, the Jim Beam Black was not overly sweet on the tip of the tongue, but it did have a smoothness to it, all the rough edges being worn off after 7 years in a barrel. I got more oak and a little corn ethanol. Notes of vanilla and molasses were very subdued, but there was a nice spiciness on the finish.
Bottom line, this has become a bit of a daily sipper for me…it’s very good, very easy to drink, and very affordable at about $25 for a fifth and about $45 for a handle.
