Hennessy cognac has released a new decanter designed by architect Daniel Libeskind for one of the rarest bottlings in their collection, Richard Hennessy, named after the founder of the brand. The Richard Hennessy Cognac is made with some of the rarest eaux-de-vie from Hennessy’s reserves, aged between 40 to 50 years and up to 150 […]
Hennessy cognac has released a new decanter designed by architect Daniel Libeskind for one of the rarest bottlings in their collection, Richard Hennessy, named after the founder of the brand.
The Richard Hennessy Cognac is made with some of the rarest eaux-de-vie from Hennessy’s reserves, aged between 40 to 50 years and up to 150 years old derived from only 12 French oak barrels allocated every year to make the cognac.
The Richard Hennessy cognac was bottled at 40% alcohol by volume [80 proof] and is said to contain notes of leather, orange peel and tobacco.
The Polish-born Libeskind is perhaps best known for designing the rebuilt World Trade Center in New York, the Jewish Museum Berlin (Germany), the Royal Ontario Museum (Toronto, Canada), Crystals at City Center (Las Vegas, US), and the Museum of Zhang Zhidong (Wuhan, China).
Richard Hennessy cognac is being made available this month in the UK for $6,800 per bottle.
Jim Beam Black Bourbon is an older and slightly higher proof version of Jim Beam “White Label” Bourbon, the number 1 selling bourbon in the world. According to the bottle label: “By giving our classic Jim Beam Black the important added ingredient of time in our charred white oak barrels we discovered the smooth caramel and warm oak notes of this premium extra-aged bourbon. A full-bodied character that’s definitely worth the wait.”
Jim Beam Black Extra-Aged Bourbon 86 Proof $19.99-$20.99 Review
Please enjoy our Jim Beam Black Bourbon review!
What is Jim Beam Black Bourbon?
Jim Beam Black Bourbon is an older and slightly higher proof version of Jim Beam “White Label” Bourbon, the number 1 selling bourbon in the world. According to the bottle label: “By giving our classic Jim Beam Black the important added ingredient of time in our charred white oak barrels we discovered the smooth caramel and warm oak notes of this premium extra-aged bourbon. A full-bodied character that’s definitely worth the wait.” So, let’s check it out!
Jim Beam Black is “Extra Aged”
“Extra-aged”; so, what exactly does that mean? Well… Similar to its white labeled sibling, Jim Beam Black does not carry an age statement. A few years back, this bottle bore an 8 year age statement. Currently, the general consensus is that Jim Beam Black is around 6 years old. Whereas, Jim Beam White Label is around 4 years old. At one point, Jim Beam Black was called “Double Aged”, but that name has since been dropped. I guess “One and a Half Times Aged” just didn’t have quite the same ring to it!
Jim Beam Black Bourbon Tasting Notes
Let’s taste it:
Rested for 15 minutes in a Glencairn
Nose: Pear, cherry, caramel, light cinnamon, honey, oak, vanilla, and a touch of cedar Taste: Simple syrup and light honey sweetness, caramel, vanilla, soft apples, some barrel char and oak Finish: The flavors continue into the finish with some added char and black pepper spiciness and a fairly long finish for the proof
Summary
For 86 proof, Jim Beam Black Bourbon has a surprising mouthfeel and nose, as well as a relatively long finish. Now, I’m not saying that you would confuse this bourbon with something like Knob Creek Single Barrel at 120 proof, but it definitely drinks a bit bigger than it is. At the same time, it is very drinkable, and “approachable”, if you will. It’s light enough for a hot day, yet full bodied enough for a cold night around the fire. It is just an all around good bourbon. At around 20 bucks for 750ml bottle, it’s a great deal. Just as aside, that same $20 will get you a full liter of Jim Beam White Label. Jim Beam Black is not loaded with complexity, but hey, it’s 20 bucks!
I hope you enjoyed our Jim Beam Black Bourbon review! Would you like to learn more about where Jim Beam Bourbon is made? Check out our James B Beam Distillery Tour Review!
Would you like to learn more about distilleries and bourbon? Are you planning a trip to Kentucky Distilleries? Maybe you would like to live the bourbon life vicariously through us? If any of these are true, then check out BourbonObsessed.com today!
There has been a growth in the number of whiskeys that are being Bottled-in-Bond in the last few years. Most of these whiskeys have come from the smaller artisan distilleries. The category almost died out after the Reagan administration deregulated… …
There has been a growth in the number of whiskeys that are being Bottled-in-Bond in the last few years. Most of these whiskeys have come from the smaller artisan distilleries. The category almost died out after the Reagan administration deregulated... Continue Reading →
The Blood and Sand cocktail is probably the second most iconic Scotch cocktail around. The obvious title-owner is the Rob Roy, though I think that crown might be slipping. In recent years, I haven’t seen many bars or restaurants touting their Rob Roys, but it seems like everywhere has a Blood and Sand, a Penicillin, […]
The Blood and Sand cocktail is probably the second most iconic Scotch cocktail around. The obvious title-owner is the Rob Roy, though I think that crown might be slipping. In recent years, I haven’t seen many bars or restaurants touting their Rob Roys, but it seems like everywhere has a Blood and Sand, a Penicillin, or a proprietary riff of either/both, on their menu.
I haven’t been keeping an exact score, so I’m speaking anecdotally, but between the two, the Blood and Sand seems to be the one I see more often on menus or in my social feeds. The simplicity of this cocktail makes it a perfect candidate for riffing and experimentaion.
— This cocktail recipe contains affiliate links in the equipment section. If you use these links to buy the recommended equipment I might earn a commission. Cheers.
If you want to make it extra bloody, use blood oranges instead. It not only takes on a darker hue, but tastes a bit more tart. I love making these when they're in season.Recommended Whisky
The original Blood and Sand cocktail recipe calls for 3/4 oz of each of the ingredients which makes a 3 oz cocktail and it’s perfectly fine at those ratios. However, over the years I’ve played with and adjusted the ratios to what I have listed in the recipe above. It’s a recipe I’ve found to make a balanced cocktail no matter what scotch you’re using. The only time I’ll really mess around with this recipe is when I have blood oranges. Then I’ll boost it to a full 1 oz because I enjoy their flavor.
What about you? If you have a go-to riff on this one let me know in the comments below, or if you make a Blood and Sand after reading this please tag me in the post so I can see how it turned out.
Stranahan’s Sherry Cask 008 is the fourth batch I’ve had since first trying it at the 2018 Stranahan’s Cask Thief event and I have to say… it keeps getting better. It’s getting more dialed in, more robust and multi-facted. It’s becoming one heck of a whiskey and as far as I’m concerned, it’s the best […]
Stranahan’s Sherry Cask 008 is the fourth batch I’ve had since first trying it at the 2018 Stranahan’s Cask Thief event and I have to say… it keeps getting better. It’s getting more dialed in, more robust and multi-facted. It’s becoming one heck of a whiskey and as far as I’m concerned, it’s the best sherry-finished American Single Malt on the market… so far.
I reviewed Sherry Cask Batch 003 several years ago and before that I tried Batch 002 at an event. Batch 003 and 004 were at the Cask Thief and now we’re digging into Stranahan’s Sherry Batch 008. Will it hold up to the previous batches? Can it hold on to that “best of” title? Only one way to find out.
Let’s get to drinkin’!
Stranahan’s Sherry Cask 008 – Details and Tasting Notes
Whiskey Details
Non-Chill Filtered | Natural Color
Style: Single Malt (American) Region: Colorado, USA Distiller: Stranahan’s
Mash Bill: 100% Malted Barley Cask: New Charred Oak (#3), ex-Oloroso Sherry Age: 4+ Years ABV: 47%
“We take our four-year-old Rocky Mountain Single Malt and then transfer it to 500-liter Oloroso Sherry Barrels to cask finish. Procured from the Andalusia region of southern Spain, these sherry barrels have been aging wine for over 40 years.” – Stranahan’s
Stranahan’s Sherry Cask Tasting Notes
EYE
Bloody copper
NOSE
Fudgy dark fruit, oak, copper, hazelnuts and leather with some spiced citrus and vanilla.
Aroma is warm and rides evenly – well structured.
PALATE
Oaky, sherry, dried dark fruit, leather, roasted nuts, leather, oil, graham, cocoa and a bit of citrus and herbal baking spice.
There’s a nice berry sweetness in that dried dark fruit that weaves its way through the flavor.
FINISH
Long -> Dried dark fruit, blackberry licorice, oak and nuts.
BALANCE, BODY and FEEL
Good, med-full, touch dry warm
Stranahan’s Sherry Cask 008 – Overall Thoughts and Score
Batch 008 has plenty of oak layering through the sweet notes which is accompanied by dashes of spice and an underpinning of earthy notes. A nice berry sweetness starts light and builds as it goes and brings a bit more cocoa with it as it opens. The graham and leathery notes also rise with the earthiness popping in more heavily at intervals. Yup, this is good.
I wouldn’t say it’s better than any of the previous batches I’ve had, they’ve all been great. This one has a bit more of a berry-like sweetness and a bit more earthiness than previous batches, but in regards to quality, it hits the same marks. There is nothing at all to dislike, but plenty to love, about Stranahan’s Sherry Cask 008, it’s quite nice on all fronts.
*Disclosure: The bottle for this American Single Malt review was graciously sent to me by the company without obligation. The views, opinions, and tasting notes are 100% my own.
Company: Jim BeamVol: 47.5%Age: No Age Statement (between 5-7 years*)Classification: Kentucky Straight Bourbon WhiskeyBreakdown: 77% corn, 13% rye, 10% malted barleyPrice: c. £36HistoryJim Beams Knob Creek Single Barrel had already been around for some…
Company: Jim Beam Vol: 47.5% Age: No Age Statement (between 5-7 years*) Classification: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Breakdown: 77% corn, 13% rye, 10% malted barley Price: c. £36
History
Jim Beams Knob Creek Single Barrel had already been around for some time until Mr Fred Noe decided to introduce the Jim Beam Single Barrel in March 2014 and even though you won’t find an age statement on the bottle, Mr Noe has said that the single barrel version will be older,*between 5 and 7 years of age and bottled at a higher proof than the white label. Warehouse barrel location is of course key in terms of flavour profile of the bourbon inside and for the thousands of barrels which make up the rick houses in Clermont, Kentucky they chose to use the barrels from the top, bottom and sides of the warehouse and left the centre location to pick for Knob Creek and Booker’s. Prior to the single barrel the top, bottom and side barrels contributed solely towards the standard white and black label offerings.
Less than 1% of Jim Beam barrels are hand selected by the distillers to deliver what the company declares as “unique and perfect in their own way, both in the distinct flavour and personality of the liquid itself. Not all barrels are created equal. Meet the top 1%”
As you can see above we have reviewed the original Jim Beam Single Barrel at 47.5% ABV or 95 proof. This came in a flat faced, tall almost rectangular shape continuing with a white label detailing barrel number and bottling date. The one which we sourced (from Mexico) weirdly doesn’t have this level of detail on it. In 2019, Jim Beam relaunched the Single Barrel with a brand new bottle design, shorter and stockier, similar to the Double Oak and Rye bottles, alongside adding a 54% ABV or 108 proof bottling (it is also a screw top; I haven’t yet found the right moment to let Mav know about this!).
Let’s see how we find the original Jim Beam Single Barrel.
The Review:
The below tasting notes are a combination of two sittings, once in a Glencairn glass and secondly in a Copita nosing glass.
Nose
What we got – Oodles of typical bourbon notes, caramel, toffee, oak and vanilla throughout the nose. Mav calls out cherries with almost every Jim Beam offering we’ve sampled
What they say we should get – Apple pie and rye spices, with buttery corn and oaky vanilla
Palate
What we got – Extremely easy on the palate with vanilla and full on nuttiness oak goodness. Honey and dark chocolate with sour cherries on the back end
What they say we should get – Oak char leads into creamy vanilla, brown sugar, burnt caramel and peppery spice
Finish
What we got – A perfectly respectable short to medium finish with the slightest of fading spice kicks at the back end. Cherries making one last wave before they’ve gone for good
What they say we should get – Hints of dried apricot, toasty oak and baking spices
Summary
This is clearly what the Jim Beam standard white label wants to be when it grows up and is in essence a higher proof version of the standard white label. Yes of course, the bourbon itself must have been chosen due to extra nuances of quality found in the balance and body for it to be picked out in the top 1% of barrels and for it not to be used for blending. But as is the nature of single barrel whiskey bottlings, there will be some winners and losers across the selections and horses for courses served up against individual palates. There are also many who dismiss the Jim Beam portfolio probably more to do with the popularity of the brand rather than an honest dismissal due to the dislike of the whiskey. With regards to the couple of Jim Beam Single Barrels we’ve had, they are most enjoyable and are balanced and well-rounded bourbons and fall effortlessly into the daily drinker section of the drinks cabinet. You could quite easily drink this all day, especially if you love cherries!
Daithi O’Connell thought he wanted to own his own distillery, and almost pulled the trigger on building one. He thought better of it at the last minute, and decided to go the independent bottler route instead. He launched W.D. O’Connell Whisky Merchants in late 2019, shortly before the pandemic, and that turned out to be an even more well-timed move. He’ll explain why on this week’s WhiskyCast In-Depth, and I’ll share tasting notes for a couple of his whiskies in the What I’m Tasting This Week Department. In the news, spirits companies are pulling out of Russia following the invasion Read More »
Daithi O’Connell thought he wanted to own his own distillery, and almost pulled the trigger on building one. He thought better of it at the last minute, and decided to go the independent bottler route instead. He launched W.D. O’Connell Whisky Merchants in late 2019, shortly before the pandemic, and that turned out to be an even more well-timed move. He’ll explain why on this week’s WhiskyCast In-Depth, and I’ll share tasting notes for a couple of his whiskies in the What I’m Tasting This Week Department. In the news, spirits companies are pulling out of Russia following the invasion of Ukraine, while U.S. whisky exports are starting to show gains following the troubled year of 2020. We’ll also look at an important anniversary for whisky lovers in our Behind the Label segment, too.
I’ve shared before that Old Tub is a great product, suitable for an everyday pour. One bourbon aficionado exclaimed he could “drink the…
I’ve shared before that ,Old Tub is a great product, suitable for an everyday pour. One bourbon aficionado exclaimed he could “drink the sh*t out of this every day”. While I used to see the Jim Beam Bonded product on store shelves somewhat infrequently, I recently heard that Jim Beam was going to discontinue this rendition of their popular brand.
While there still remains a decent amount of supply of Jim Beam Bonded, I thought we should sample these two side-by-side before a comparison is lost forever. Both products are bottled-in-bond, indicating assuring us that the products are from the same distilling season by the same distiller at the same distillery, have been aged at least 4 years, has had nothing added or changed other than filtration and proofing, and has been proofed to exactly 100-proof.
Beyond the bottled-in-bond standards, both products share the common Jim Beam mash bill: 75% corn, 13% rye, and 12% malted barley. This low-rye mash bill is shared by Jim Beam, as well as ,Knob Creek, ,Baker’s, and ,Old Crow.
One differentiator between the two is that Old Tub is a non-chill filtered product. This style of bourbon, highlighted in their ,Repeal Batch special release, allows some of the oils, fatty acids, and esters to remain in the product, allowing a “thicker mouthfeel”. For many years, Old Tub was only available for purchase at the Beam distillery; now it has become widely available (though I’d add that it certainly isn’t as widespread as Jim Beam and Knob Creek).
Martell Cognac continues their collaboration with American musical artist Janelle Monáe with a promotional video entitled “The Unexpected Effect”, directed by filmmaker Ewurakua Dawson-Amoah. The promo highlights the impact of Black culture on American hospitality, and features Martell’s Blue Swift bottling, made of VSOP Cognac and finished in Kentucky Bourbon casks. Additionally, Martell is offering […]
Martell Cognac continues their collaboration with American musical artist Janelle Monáe with a promotional video entitled “The Unexpected Effect”, directed by filmmaker Ewurakua Dawson-Amoah.
The promo highlights the impact of Black culture on American hospitality, and features Martell’s Blue Swift bottling, made of VSOP Cognac and finished in Kentucky Bourbon casks.
Additionally, Martell is offering a limited edition cocktail kit which includes a Martell Blue Swift recipe and a copy of The Ideal Bartender by Tom Bullock, said to be the first cocktail book published in 1917 by an African-American bartender.
Rested for 15 minutes in a Glencairn
Nose: Pear, cherry, caramel, light cinnamon, honey, oak, vanilla, and a touch of cedar
If any of these are true, then check out 
