Beam isn’t known for their travel retail offerings, which is only part of why this Jim Beam Lineage Bourbon is so interesting. The name stems from the family having run the distillery since the beginning and this offering was a collaborative effort between father (Fred) and son (Freddie). But the most interesting thing about this whiskey being a GTR offering is that it doesn’t suck.
Far too often global travel retail options are awful. Some of the most recent GTR offerings I had the displeasure of reviewing were the Highland Park 14 Years Loyalty of the Wolf and the Bunnahabhain Eirigh Na Geine. They’re far from being the only examples, I’ve had far more misses than hits with GTR, but I also don’t want to give the impression that all GTR offerings suck.
They often do and, more-often-than-not, tend to be little more than overpriced cash grabs, but sometimes you get a Laphroaig Brodir and it seems like maybe GTR offerings might not be completely terrible. I’ve already spoiled the reveal that this is good, and can be added to the “doesn’t suck” GTR list, but the question remains of just HOW good the Jim Beam Lineage Bourbon is. Let’s get to drinkin’ and get an answer.
Jim Beam Lineage Bourbon – Details and Tasting Notes
Whiskey Details
Region: Kentucky
Distiller: Jim beam
Mash Bill: 77% Corn, 13% Rye and 10% Malted Barley
Cask: New Charred Oak
Age: 15+ Years
ABV: 55.5%
Cask Strength | Non-Chill Filtered | Natural Color
Batch: 1
Price: $250*
Tasting Notes
EYE
Deep oaky brown
NOSE
Deep, complex, sticky dark fruit, oak, roasted nuts, cinnamon-heavy baking spice, creamy vanilla, rich caramel, peanut brittle, touches of citrus peels and leather.
This is one of the deepest, most complex aromas I’ve had from a Jim Beam product that wasn’t a Booker’s release. This is intense!
PALATE
Same heavy, sticky, dark fruit character with even more oak battling for dominance, roasted peanut-peanut brittle, cinnamon heavy baking spice, hazelnuts, leather, vanilla custard, pepper, some citrus peel, anise and a warm herbal undertone.
Good hell this is an intensely flavorful and compelling dram to sit and sip. Palate of the Jim Beam Lineage Bourbon is even more complex than the aroma with deep, new, notes arriving one after another as it opens. LOVE it.
FINISH
Long -> Oak and dark fruit fade out to baking spice, nuts and leather.
BALANCE, BODY and FEEL
Great balance, full-round body and a warm oily feel.
Jim Beam Lineage Bourbon – Overall Thoughts and Score
I pulled out 3 Booker’s to do a blind comparison with and see how this compared and who came out on top. The combatants were Pigskin Batch, Boston Batch and Kentucky Chew and 3/3 times the Lineage took number one with the KC coming in a fairly close second (2/3). And if you’re curious the Boston came in 3rd twice. This bourbon is something else though and for the sake of curiosity, I took it on a roadshow.
A very good friend of mine recently turned 50 and so we had a small, outdoor, whiskey event in his honor that ended up being a 50+ bottle share. I brought the Jim Beam Lineage Bourbon and let some very educated palates give it a taste. It was an instant hit. So much so that the bottle disappeared by the end of the night. Through a convoluted series of events we got the bottle back, but still, it was a coveted bottle that night.
If you add some water to this extraordinary bourbon, oak rises further to the top along with some molassesy brown sugar notes on the aroma. On the palate, it picks up a light biscuity quality along with even more oak and an explosion of peanuts and hints of clove and black tea which slides a bit more into the finish as well. Lineage is a GTR, and the price reflects that, but I can honestly say, without a single doubt, that Lineage is the best bourbon I’ve ever had from Jim Beam.
SCORE: 5/5 – Superstar
*Disclosure: The bottle for this bourbon review was graciously sent to me by the company without obligation. The views, opinions, and tasting notes are 100% my own.
Jim Beam Lineage Bourbon Review $250
Summary
This is intensely deep, warm and complex across the senses with a finish that goes on forever. This is the best bourbon Jim Beam has produced to-date.
Overall
5- Nose (5)
- Palate (5)
- Finish (5)
- BBF (5)