It took the folks at Jim Beam years to release a single barrel Bourbon under their flagship brand, even though the Small Batch Collection has had single barrel expressions for years. This one was worth the wait, though.

The nose is smooth and rich with good spicy notes of black pepper and cinnamon balanced by honey, vanilla, cocoa beams, and a hint of roasted nuts. The taste is smooth and spicy with consistent black pepper and cinnamon, along with notes of vanilla, honey, dark chocolate, and toasted oak underneath. The finish is smooth, long, and well-balanced with nice fading spices and honey sweetness. Excellent! (April, 2014)