Flavored whiskey is all the rage right now, and Jim Beam Maple is one of the newest to hit shelves. This one should please open-minded Beam lovers and newcomers alike.
Maple is a complimentary flavor in the standard Jim Beam spirit, so it’s a logical one to bring to the forefront. Plus, who doesn’t love maple?
After your first whiff, you’ll have to question whether you’ve accidentally grabbed a bottle of Mrs. Butterworth’s. I know you guys get all antsy-in-the-pantsy when you get that syrup in you, so rest assured you’re drinking a 70-proof spirit. While the maple dominates the nose and entry, it’s easy enough to find the original Beam hanging in the background.
Once you get past the initial onslaught of maple, the spirit reverts to the old Jim Beam many have grown to love. The edges are rounded-out by the sweetness of the maple, but it’s no longer dominated by the singular taste. Now suddenly the vanilla, caramel, and oak show up to create a better balance, making you want to apologize to the bottle for ever thinking it was a one-trick pony. Don’t do that though; you’ll look like an alcoholic.
The maple lingers a little long after the finish, which immediately made me think of one thing, LMFAO yelling, “Shots! Shots! Shots! Shot! Shots Shots! Everybody!” I rarely take a mixed shot (waste of money), so I’m always looking for new spirits to shoot. This is most certainly one of them. The maple-heavy entry and finish make it fun, delicious, and incredibly easy. No one ever notices what the mid-palate of a shot tastes like, so even non-whiskey lovers should gladly rip these at the bar. Could Jim Beam Maple be the next Fireball?
The short answer is, no. Fireball’s shot appeal comes from somehow making you feel badass while still being an incredibly easy to drink. It’s also only 66-proof so you can take a dozen of them, too. Jim Beam Maple lacks those qualities, but it never sought them in the first place. The expectation is for it to be used in cocktails.
I’ve been making Manhattans with maple syrup since I first saw a recipe in GQ three years ago. It’s one of my go-to choices when someone says to make them something interesting. Jim Beam Maple just made that cocktail a little less messy. If you want something even more simple, just throw JB Maple in some apple cider. It couldn’t be easier and is the perfect seasonal drink. It’s at least 1092x better that other seasonal POS, the pumpkin spiced latte.
Jim Beam Maple is yet another in what’s sure to be a long line of flavored whiskeys. As long as they taste good like this one, I have no qualms about really exploring the flavored space. It will never be my favorite drink nor one I have often, but I’m always pro-innovation. I’ve been saying since honey whiskeys hit the shelves that caramel whiskey was coming. Just wait. It’s going to happen, and when it does, I’ll be making as much bourbon candy as possible.