Jim Beam Devil’s Cut Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
90 Proof
Price Point: $20 – $30 for 750 ML
Distiller: James B. Beam Distilling Co.
Background
The whiskey business is gimmicky. And I’m ashamed to say it, but it seems that most of these gimmicks are coming straight from the U. S. of A. Enter Jim Beam Devil’s Cut, a bourbon from the iconic distiller with a twist – the whiskey is apparently coming from inside the barrel’s wood. Literally. Here’s what the website says:
“We use a proprietary process that extracts the rich bourbon trapped inside the barrel wood. When ready, we then blend this liquid with extra-aged bourbon and bottle it at 90 proof for robust, premium bourbon with deep color, aroma and character.”
Review
This bourbon noses very much like other Jim Beam products (go figure). Jim Beam Devil’s Cut is simple, with scents of corn, rye, and charred oak. There’s maybe a little more wood than the standard Jim Beam expression, followed by sugary sweet vanilla.
On the palate, Jim Beam Devil’s Cut exhibits grassy rye, with a bitter and off-putting taste at first. There’s less wood here than on the nose; I’m not feeling it. Corn sweetness begins to work its way in as you continue to sip.
This bourbon finishes a heck of a lot sweeter than I thought it would, with more vanilla. The bitterness creeps its way back in at the tail end.
Rating & Recommendations
Jim Beam Devil’s Cut earns a sub-standard rating of 76 out of 100.
This is not a particularly great whiskey, but I didn’t expect all that much to begin with. Sometimes all a brand has is a gimmick, and that seems to be the case here.
-Ryan