Note: this was originally posted on r/bourbon in June 2022.

Background

Time to taste some new Beam releases! This year Beam announced their new “Hardin’s Creek” line, which started with two releases: Colonel James B. Beam, and Jacob’s Well. According the press release from Beam Suntory, Hardin’s Creek will be “an ongoing series of annual releases, featuring some of James B. Beam Distilling Co.’s rarest and most unique liquids and grounded in the rich experience and distilling expertise of James B. Beam Distilling Co.” What this means moving forward is a little unclear. Will we see “Hardin’s Creek: Jacob’s Well” again next year? Or will it be “Hardin’s Creek: Insert Next Piece of Beam History”? Only time will tell!

As for these two releases, we have Colonel James B. Beam. A 2(!!!!) year old whiskey created because it only took the OG Col. Beam 120 days to set up Clermont distillery. Not totally sure how we got from 120 days to 2 years, other than that Beam’s marketing department figured bottling a whiskey at 2 years and slapping it with an $80 price tag was bold, doing so at 120 days might be EXCEPTIONALLY bold. Jacob’s Well on the other hand provides, at least on its face, a much more convincing value proposition. This is a blend of 15 and 16 year whiskeys, with a suggested retail price of $150. Time to see how these stack up!

Hardin’s Creek: Colonel James B. Beam (2 Years, 108 Proof)

Nose: Bright caramel, honeycrisp apples, cinnamon sugar. Sweet and inviting

Palate: Surprisingly viscous and honey forward. Toasted oak, honey roasted peanuts. Thin, simple, but it’s pleasant.

Finish: Baking spices, more oak, and a nice undercurrent of vanilla.

Sub-par (4/10)

Overall: This is a competent, if flawed whiskey. Grading on a curve for 2 year whiskeys, it’s quite excellent. That said, it's tasty, fairly simple, and unlikely to blow anyone away. I expected that young whiskey “this tastes more like the sum of its parts” experience and instead it is a cohesive offering.
 

Hardin's Creek: Jacob’s Well (15 Years, 108 Proof)

Nose: Rich and exceptionally inviting. Cherry cordial, creme brulee, dark brown sugars.

Palate: Dark mulled wine, plums, molasses, and cinnamon sticks. Shockingly fruit forward for a Beam product. There’s not a hint of the standard peanut notes to be found.

Finish: Deep oak tannins pull at the palate, it’s dry but not too dry, dark plums and baking spices. Overripe cherries and leather.

Incredible (9/10)

Overall: Whoa boy, this is pretty awesome. It just drinks like an old, musty, delicious whiskey. Rich dark fruits, syrupy texture, pops of spices and just the right amount of oak influence without being over-oaked or too dry. I ripped through an initial pour and went right onto the next one. It’s not my money to spend, and $150 for a bottle is not chump change, but I would say if you come across this whiskey - snag it.