Jim Beam Devil’s Cut Bourbon Review

Brian’s Jim Beam Devil’s Cut Review:


16-May-2020

JIM BEAM DEVIL’S CUT BOURBON REVIEW:

I must begin this review by saying, I went into this tasting not expecting much. I was pleasantly surprised – Jim Beam Devil’s Cut is the best $20 bottle of whiskey I’ve ever had. Now I’m not likely to rush out and buy another when this one empties, but it might be a worthy addition to the bar for the novice drinker. It is not complex, in fact it’s pretty simple, but certainly worth the money.

JIM BEAM DEVIL’S CUT VITAL STATS:
Jim Beam Devil's Cut

– Category: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
– Region: Kentucky, USA
– Distiller: Jim Beam
– Classification: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
– Mash bill: 77% Corn, 13% Rye, 10% Malted Barley
– Casks: New Charred Oak
– Barrel Char: #4
– Barrel Entry Proof: 125
– Age: nas
– ABV: 45% (90 Proof)
– No batch or bottle number identifiers
– Price: $19.95 USD

Learn more at https://www.jimbeam.com/bourbons/jim-beam-devils-cut

ENJOYMENT METHOD:

For the evaluation, I shared the juice neat from Glencairn glasses with my daughter and fellow Whiskey for the Ages reviewer Hannah.

Check out her review for this bourbon here!

NOSE:

When I first brought the Glencairn to my nose I was greeted with brown sugar and caramel but the sweetness does not linger. There is a little alcohol burn and at times, sensations of strong alcohol. When the harshness wafts through, the aroma is a bit rough and gritty with has faint scents of acetone. The off-putting aromas are overshadowed with nice roasted corn and dusty grain. Continued nosing brings, faint tart apples mixed with traces of orange zest and spices of cloves, white pepper and rye. But mostly, the juice is wood forward with plenty of toasted and hazy barrel char.

PALATE:

Jim Beam Devil’s Cut is not complex, so if you are after more, look elsewhere. But if you are after a simple and dry woody sip with just enough flavors to entertain, this bourbon could hit the spot. There is a bit of an alcohol bite, more than expected from a 90 proofer, but it’s not hot. The roasted corn and dusty grain sensed on the nose come through along with with some fresh citrus and warm applesauce with faint notes of cinnamon. And there’s just enough black pepper and rye to mix with the woody caramel and toasted wood and hazy barrel char to keep the palate entertained.

Jim Beam Devil's Cut

Balance, Body, Feel and Look:
In the mouth, this bourbon is pleasant and surprisingly smooth. It is not watery but not thick either. In the Glencairn, the juice makes a decent crown before falling in medium thick legs back to the russet and muscat colored pool.

FINISH:

The warm and slightly sweet finish of Jim Beam Devil’s Cut bourbon is quite short. There is herbalness and hints of roasted corn to go along with traces of pepper. Still my mouth continues to water long after the sip is swallowed. And the empty Glencairn gives up more toasted wood and hazy barrel char.

MY RATING: 84/100

Click 84/100 to access other whiskies with this score.
To access other whiskies from this distillery, click Jim Beam.

WHISKEY TRAITS AND FLAVOR NOTES AND PROFILE GRAPH:
Jim Beam Devil's Cut
Jim Beam Devil's Cut

Back to …

Brian’s Whiskey Reviews
Individual Reviews

Whiskey Marketing, part 1 of 3

When I began my whiskey journey, I never thought I would become a whiskey hunter or that sourcing a favored bourbon would be difficult. I figured all I needed to do was learn a little, taste a few, then make my purchases as needed. Just a few months into my odyssey, a world of whiskey availability and marketing challenges began to appear. I had to learn how they could and can be overcome.

Sure, there are plenty of folks who walk into their neighborhood liquor haunt, grab their regular mixer and maybe a favorite for sipping. But many of us whiskey adventurers are on the hunt for new favorites. There are hidden gems which others may have overlooked or do not yet know about!

Count me in this later group. I (like many) do have several bottles which I consider “daily drinkers”. I replace them as they are drawn down. But I’m always on the lookout for the latest Stagg Jr. or the newest Elijah Craig Barrel Proof release; and it’s impossible for me to pass on a Booker’s batch I don’t already have in the bunker.

As whiskey availability and marketing includes quite a array of subject matter, I’ll break it down over the next couple of articles, sharing a bit of what I’ve learned …

Whiskey Availability and Marketing

Idaho, a Liquor Control State
As I’ve mentioned in other posts, I live in Idaho, a liquor control state. Idaho’s liquor website details store locations, product inventories and monthly promotions. State and retail store sites are a GREAT place to begin a whiskey search. In Idaho, the spirits themselves are sold from state run stores, all of which are laid out pretty much the same, yet each manager has some autonomy in how product is merchandised. For example some place their small package (375 ml) liquor together near the front of the store for the impulse buyer (and security); others place the smaller bottles on the shelf with the distiller’s other offerings.

Stores in Idaho categorize spirits by group. Clear spirits are separated from dark and mixers are placed near the check-out for the impulse sale. Closeout, promotional, and Store Pick product are positioned near the front so patrons can see them as they walk by. In addition, some stores have special displays for locally sourced products.

… So, what can we, as buyers expect from our liquor sources, and where will the bottles be located in the shops we frequent? I’ve been in liquor retailers in Arizona, California, Montana, North Dakota, Oregon, Washington, and Wisconsin … all have similar layouts to those found in my home state..

On the lower shelves one will typically find budget priced spirits (<$25); on the middle shelves, mainstream popular and readily available products at a slightly higher price point ($25-$45). The top shelves (at eye level) house higher end elixirs (>$45) in effort to entice patrons to purchase. And some stores reserve special, out of view locations for rare and limited edition products (prices vary — $40-$150 or more).

The store manager can also partner with the state’s liquor control department and cater to their clientele’s needs. Some stores specialize in clear spirits, tequila or rum while others are more heavily stocked for bar business. The stores I shop cater to whiskey drinkers and tend to have a wider variety of product and harder to find bottles in this category.

When it comes to in-store whiskey availability, marketing, and merchandising, Scotch is separated from Canadian whiskeys, and Japanese and Irish whiskies have their own homes as do American ryes and bourbons. Yet all whiskeys can usually be found on one wall or section of the stores. I imagine the businesses you frequent have similar merchandising displays.

Bottom Shelf Whiskey
Bottles on lower shelves are generally main line and old standby whiskeys made by distillers in vast quantities with minimal aging. Most bottom shelf whiskey is great for mixing cocktails, yet any can be had neat or over ice. And many flavored whiskeys will be found on these shelves as well. Fast moving, high turnover product is merchandised on the lower shelves. These whiskeys sell well wherever they’re placed and don’t require any type of special marketing.

Middle Shelf Whiskeys
Bottles on middle shelves are typically a step up from those found just below. But what makes this so? All whiskeys are aged prior to bottling and middle shelf whiskeys usually have a few more years in the barrel. Extra aging adds more flavor and typically gives whiskey a fuller mouthfeel… Hence the higher price tags.

On middle shelves one can find whiskeys with wider aroma and flavor profiles of fruit, sweetness and wood. Distillers may choose to bottle older aged whiskeys at higher proof levels, so look for Bottled-in-Bond products in these rows. Whiskeys on the middle shelves can be mixers, but many people gravitate here to select one for sipping neat or over ice.

Top Shelf Whiskeys
The top shelves can be confusing and a source for buyer beware. Here, marketing really comes into play: fancy packaging, custom containers, wooden boxes, seasonal releases, etc. And some regional products, marketed as “premium” offerings may appear on these shelves as well. Packaging may appear similar to those on the lower shelf so pay close attention to labeling to make sure placement is not in error.

On the upper shelves, one will also find the full proof and barrel proof offerings enjoyed by so many. Generally, top shelf whiskeys will have longer aging but this is not always the case. Be an informed buyer. Do a little research or ask your expert about whiskeys on these shelves before laying down hard earned cash.

Rare and Limited Edition Whiskey
Rare whiskeys are another beast entirely. Whiskeys in this group are “unicorns” and are often prized by collectors, making them even tougher to secure. If this is your thing, make friends with your liquor store team. I typically ask the staff if they’ve received any “specials” recently … and as I’m in several stores on a regular basis, I’m frequently told what’s new even before I ask. And be sure to purchase regular shelf stock from them as well (responsibly) — Build a good relationship as a buyer.


Product marketing is a big topic, but with a little orientation, most people can be comfortable in their liquor store as they go in to make their purchases. Marketing and in-store product merchandising is just one aspect of finding the whiskey we want to purchase. In Whiskey Availability and Marketing part 2, I’ll dive into availability and provide a few of the reasons some whiskeys are so hard to find and purchase. Watch for my next post coming soon … Cheers!

Written by Brian Dawson

WhiskeyfortheAges.com editor

Back to …

The Sip – Whiskey Articles
Whiskey Reviews

Knob Creek SiB ID Select Bourbon 1 Review

Brian’s Knob Creek SiB ID Select Bourbon 1 Review

07-May-2020

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

Knob Creek SiB ID Select Bourbon 1 is an fine whiskey, one I happily place on my all time “Top 5 Pour” shelf. From the moment the stopper is pulled to the final waft of the empty Glencairn, it is pure joy in a glass. It checks all my boxes: a slightly sweet and earthy, high proof, oaky, unicorn bourbon, with big, bold flavors of chewy dark fruit and just a hint of toffee nuttiness. If a Select Barrel of Knob Creek is found in your store – buy, Buy, BUY!

KNOB CREEK SINGLE BARREL BOURBON, IDAHO BARREL #1 WHISKEY INFORMATION:
Knob Creek SiB ID Select Bourbon 1

Category: Private Barrel Select Bourbon
– (Selected by ISLD Product Manager Rick Baltadonis)

Region: Clermont, KY
– Country: United States
Distiller: Jim Beam
Mash Bill: 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley
Barrel Char: #4
Barrel entry proof: 125
Cask Type: New American White Oak
Cask Number: 7995a
Warehouse X, Floor 3, Rack 20, Tier 3
Vintage Year: 25-February-2004
Age: 15 Years
ABV: 60% (120 Proof)
Approx. Bottles Produced: 120
Price: $59.95 USD

Learn more at https://www.knobcreek.com/single-barrel experience.

BACK STORY:

In early 2019, representatives from the Idaho State Liquor Division (ISLD) and several Idaho bars visited the Knob Creek Distillery in Clermont, KY for the purposes of selecting barrels for exclusive distribution to Idaho whiskey patrons and connoisseurs. This Knob Creek Single Barrel iteration was selected by Rick Baltadonis, ISLD Product Manager. During the Private Barrel Selection event three other bourbons and two ryes were chosen.

ENJOYMENT METHOD:

For the evaluation, I enjoyed the juice neat from Glencairn glasses with my daughter and fellow Whiskey for the Ages reviewer Hannah.

Check out her review for this bourbon here!

NOSE:

It’s not often the first sniff of bourbon brings so much wood. Greeted with the sawdust of freshly cut old lumber and the haziness of charred barrels, in peeks a bit of warm and fruited sherry wine accompanied by the faintest hint of roasted dusty corn. But oh the dark fruit: well blended sweet cherry, raisin, and prune fruit leather is boosted with fresh candied citrus zest. Then, faint spices of cinnamon and white pepper dance with bittersweet chocolate, circus peanut candy, woody caramel a mix of dark molasses and roasted hazelnut toffee. Fifteen years of aging add depth and a fine earthiness of musty old leather, which is pleasing to nose.

PALATE:

In a word, AMAZING! All the aromas come through in warm alcohol bliss. I couldn’t wait – on the second sip gave the juice a healthy Kentucky Chew. Assertive, but not enough to hurt, the strong sherry wine flavored blend makes me salivate. A new herbalness compliments the dark cherry, raisin, prune and citrus marmalade fruit leather as allspice, cinnamon and black pepper join the party. Not quite sweet, cocoa powder and cinnamon red hots mix with the woody caramel, dark molasses and roasted hazelnut toffee sensed on the nose as does the old lumber sawdust and hazy barrel char. And ever present is the deep earthiness of musty old leather.

Knob Creek SiB ID Select Bourbon 1

Balance, Body, Feel and Look:
Knob Creek SiB ID Select Bourbon 1 is big, rich, viscous and oily, yet a bit rough and gritty. Well blended but still wood forward, its pleasant aftertaste of old fashioned cinnamon Dutch apple pie infused with raisins dried prunes fades slowly. In the Glencairn, a of curtain of liquid legs return to the dark, old oak colored pool.

FINISH:

The dram finishes exceptionally long. I continue to salivate as the aftertaste of fading wine, dark cherries mix with apple pie and raisins. Earthy and deep, its dark molasses fades into hazy wafts of aged leather. In the empty Glencairn, old oak lingers in memory of the dram.

MY RATING: 92/100

Will I seek out this whiskey in the future? Yes
Click to read Brian’s scoring process.

Click 92/100 to access other whiskies with this score.
To access other whiskies from this brand, click Knob Creek.

WHISKEY TRAITS AND FLAVOR NOTES AND PROFILE GRAPH:
Knob Creek SiB ID Select Bourbon 1
Knob Creek SiB ID Select Bourbon 1

Back to …

Brian’s Whiskey Reviews
Individual Reviews