Review - Jim Beam Winter Reserve
First review, so be kind.
Yet another look at the Jim Beam Winter Reserve. The ads have been popping up on my social feeds and the reviews have been mostly pretty positive, so I took a drive to my “local” Total Wine location. It’s in quotes because it’s the only one in New York state and it’s 15 miles from my house.
Quick note about me: I am an amateur, relative newbie at exploring bourbon for fun. Not new to drinking it, though. When my friends were chugging beers in the late 80’s, I was downing Beam. I stuck with the three cheaper classics: Beam, Jack and Makers (when I had a little extra pocket change). For years, I did this. Then I fell into the “WTF are you thinking” trap of flavored whiskey.
I know, I know.
When a bourbon aficionado at a work event found out I was drinking Screwball, he rightfully made fun of me and poured me a Basil Hayden “just to get you started back up.” I was suddenly hitting the higher shelves at every company sponsored event. So, consider me back on course.
Anyways, I am not a unicorn chaser. I am strictly a middle to bottom shelf budget bourbon guy. I put pricier bottles on my Christmas list, but mostly I cap it at $60. And TBH, there are some amazing pours in that range. Frankly, I’ll probably never spend in triple digits for bourbon (I can hear the vets on the sub leaving already).
Okay, let’s get to it. This is my first review, and this is for the folks like me – explorers who haven’t gotten their palate to pro level, aka The Average Joe What Likes the Bourbons.
Room temperature, poured into a Glencairn and let sit for 10 minutes.
Not thick, decent color. Doesn’t have that piss light King’s Creek shade (first and last time I take a Spirits Direct bottle home).
Nose: Caramel, cinnamon, and initially light chocolate. Chocolate notes increased over time. Which is funny since "Vanilla" is emblazoned on the label.
Mouth Feel: you know Jim Beam when you drink it. The characteristic bitterness is right up front. TBH, not the most pleasant initial sip. 86 proof, low viscosity but give it a second. It definitely punches above its weight. Feels like "fake proof." Making us amateurs feel like we're hitting the big leagues.
Palate: there it is…the holidays. The cinnamon spice and chocolate (again, weird) are a pleasant reward for the Beam snap. There’s another spice I can’t place. I wanna say nutmeg, but I’m not sure. Still not getting the vanilla though.
Finish: this is where I was really surprised. Caramel and cherry (didn’t see that coming) which lingered longer than I expected. Very pleased with the finish.
So, to sum up, this was worth every dollar of the 28 spent and the 15 mile drive (one way) – I also took a dozen pictures of better bourbons to send to relatives who asked me what I want for Christmas, so not a wasted trip.
If you’re looking for a decent bourbon on a strict budget this is not a bad choice. I may sound like I’m damning with faint praise, but I am actually pleasantly surprised at the experience for the money paid. I mean – it’s got screw cap, which is usually a bad sign. 😊 I wouldn’t necessarily make a special trip to get another bottle next year, but if I run into it again shopping for something else – or if I see it on clearance in February, I’d certainly restock. I'm sure it would make a fine Old Fashioned.
If you have a friend who “wants to get into bourbon” this is a solid choice. For well-seasoned veterans, why are you even still reading? I'm sure I lost credibility with "Screwball."
Nose: 7/10
Mouth Feel: 4/10
Palate: 6/10
Finish: 8/10
Experience Score: 6/10
Extra Credit -
Value: 9/10
Overall Bang for the Buck: 7/10
Posted Dec 1, 2025, 3:01 AM UTC