Jim Beam Signature Spanish Brandy isn’t a finished bourbon, it’s actually a Jim Beam Bourbon that’s had “Rare Spanish Brandy” added to it. This addition of Spanish Brandy means it no longer qualifies as a bourbon and is instead labeled as a “Bourbon Whiskey Finished With: Rare Spanish Brandy” and the term Straight is never used. For comparison their Quarter Cask is labeled as “Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Quarter Cask Finished”.
In Jim Beam’s Words: Jim Beam Signature Spanish Brandy
“A rich bourbon that is carefully aged, then finished with a touch of Rare Brandy to bring you lush, slightly sweet notes and hints of fruit”
One other interesting thing about the label of this whiskey is that next to the size it says “750ml of Kentucky’s Finest”. Liking or disliking the whiskey itself is the topic of the Jim Beam Signature Spanish Brandy review below, but I do like how they’ve handled the label for this release. I like the transparency, I like that they never used the term straight and I like that they call out it was brandy, not brandy cask, finished on the front and back. It was a nice step towards transparency.
Jim Beam Signature Spanish Brandy Info
Region: Kentucky, USA
Distiller: Jim Beam
Mashbill: 77% Corn, 13% Rye, 10% Malted Barley
Cask: New Charred Oak
Age: NAS
ABV: 43%
Price: $40
Jim Beam Signature Spanish Brandy Review
EYE
Butterscotch
NOSE
Brandy spice, fruity dark chocolate, orange creamsicle, sour grapes and a bit of candy sweetness and oak. It comes across more like a brandy than a bourbon and it doesn’t hit for me.
PALATE
Dark fruity brandy dominates the palate followed by notes of baking spice, caramel and some bits of oak, vanilla and cocoa. It also doesn’t quite work for me on the palate either.
FINISH
Layers of dark sweet fruit, brandy and spice slowly fade out with just a hint of oak and dried corn.
BALANCE, BODY & FEEL
Not well balanced and a medium body that comes across like a hot light syrup.
OVERALL
Jim Beam Signature Spanish Brandy is not a bad drink, but fails as a “bourbon” whiskey. The brandy dominates the bourbon and throws it off balance. I’m missing the rich oak driven bourbon character and instead get a nose and mouthful of something that 3/4 reminds me of a light brandy and 1/4 reminds me of a light bourbon. At the very least it should be the other way around because at the moment the only time I think “Bourbon” is on the tail end of the finish. It’s interesting, but not something I’ll be buying again.
SCORE: 77/100 (C+)
