Bachelor on the Cheap

By Mike Thayer

It's been awhile since I've done a flavored whiskey drink review!

Blended and flavored whiskeys are red hot right now, consumer demand for brown spirits continues to rise with American Whiskey in particular seeing some phenomenal sales growth. 

Regular readers know that I am a fan of flavored whiskey, I've always got a bottle of something in my freezer for a chilled shot or flavored specialty in the liquor cabinet to enjoy on the rocks.  My favorite in all this tasting fun so far, has been Yukon Jack Jacapple.

Tonight I'm trying a different flavor, honey, and the bottle of choice is Jim Beam's version of a honey flavored whiskey.

Here's the description from the bottle:  Our distillers have infused sweet, delicate honey liqueur with Fine Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey.  The perfect mix of bourbon with subtle hints of caramel, oak and vanilla.  Enjoy as a shot or with lemonade over ice.

I sampled this whiskey in a straight shot and on the rocks.  Both were pleasurable enough, nothing harsh.  The honey flavor is definitely there and you notice the vanilla note finish.  But I will say this flavored whiskey comes up more honey than whiskey.  As I've mentioned in other flavored whiskey reviews before, I want the flavor to compliment the whiskey, not overpower it.  Jim Beam's balance here is honey forward.  After sampling the shot and on the rocks, I did a mixed drink using my very own creation, the Hillbilly High as a base recipe.  The Jim Beam is pretty darn good in a mixed drink.  Perhaps that was what Jim Beam was going for here because that's how I'll sum this up, it's better in a mixed drink, than as a shot, served neat or on-the-rocks.  Costing me about $16 for a 750ml bottle, the price is reasonable but I'm not sure if I would buy it again.  I'm going to have to try other honey flavored whiskeys before making that determination.  Jim Bean Honey Whiskey gets 3 out of 5 Bachelor on the Cheap stars.