Next on our tasting list is Jim Beam Rye. To be upfront, we are not big fans of Jim Beam products, with the possible exception of JB Black if you can buy it close to $20. So with that in mind, we did not have high hopes for the Beam Rye.
Jim Beam Rye comes in the same, very recognizable uncorked bottle, as the mega selling White label, the only difference being the label is Green. It is aged 4 years, is 90 proof, sells for under $20 and is available everywhere that spirits are sold. You still might be able to find the old Yellow label Rye which was only 80 proof which we understand, is no longer in production.
Since it doesn’t state that it is 100% Rye, we did some digging and found out that it is bottled at 51% Rye. In our minds that just barely qualifies. Seems someone is trying to jump on the Rye bandwagon.
NOSE
Todd: Very little Rye on the nose, very sweet, almost cloying so. I got a little oak and malt, but the overwhelming aroma was that of banana taffy, or banana bubblegum. Not good.
Ron: Slight smell of sweet almonds with a little pepper undertone. Had to really concentrate to get even this,
TASTE
Todd: Very sweet, would not have known this was a Rye. Tasted that banana taffy that I got on the nose along with a little butterscotch, wood and white cake.
Ron: Lost the almonds I got on the nose but added a little bit of sweet caramel/butterscotch. Not very hot neat, even Todd could drink this straight.
FINISH
Todd: Medium to short, not much going on but more sweetness.
Ron: It’s a stretch but I’d call it a medium finish with a bit of spice.
OVERALL
Todd: Not real impressed. Except for the price, it doesn’t have a lot going for it. Not much nose, taste or finish.
Ron: Not very complex and doesn’t drink like a traditional Rye, but was enjoyable for $18.
Nose 3
Taste 7
Finish 3
Total 13 out of 20 barrels
As you can see Jim Beam Rye didn’t change our opinion of Beam products. One could make an argument that there is not a lot of good stuff at that $18 range, and that is correct. But there are better whiskeys than this at that price, you just need to read our other blogs to find them. One last sentiment is that it just doesn’t drink like we think a Rye Whiskey should.