Review #56 Old Tub: Bourbon

Score: 8.5 / 10

Distillery: Jim Beam

Type: Kentucky Straight

I’ll be the first to admit that I hate the name Old Tub. It was an immediate turn off and had me scratching my head when some friends of mine that live in control states asked me to look for it for them. Old Tub? Reminds me of when my dad used to tell me stories about making “Boilermakers” in a bathtub at Purdue. Everyone would show up at a party and then just dump whatever booze they had into a tub and stir it up. Is that what were getting into here with Old Tub?

Well a couple of months went by and I found a whole shelf of it for $19 at a local store. Again, pretty skeptical at the price. Really? Bottled in bond whiskey from Jim Beam (one of my favorite distillers), so I picked up a bottle to try out. It used to only be available at the distillery in pints, so it is nice to see a ramp up in production and normal release.

Bottled in Bond - 50% ABV - 100 Proof. Served neat in a Glencairn glass.

Whiskey Review:

Nose: Bursting with sweet sugary peanuts (maybe even almonds), vanilla bean, cinnamon, a tinge of ethanol gives way to lemon rind and citrus, charred oak with a hint of smoke.

Palate: Upfront notes of fresh ground coffee and cacao. Then big chewy caramel meets creamy vanilla as the viscosity changes throughout the drinking experience. Raisin and just a touch of cayenne pepper that builds on the back end leading to a sizzling cinnamon.

Finish: Bigger than expected. It's robust, potent and long lingering with charred oak, toasted sugar, cinnamon and spice. To my surprise an astringent grapefruit flavor coupled with a numbing Szechuan Peppercorn.

Score: 8.5

Scale:

S+ Sensational - The Pinnacle (9.5+)

A - AXEceptional (astounding) (9-9.5)

B - bravo (step aBove average) (8-8.9)

C - competent (7-7.9)

D - disappointing (6-6.9)

F - flush it down the toilet (fail) (5.9 below)

Notes: Availability? Common - Uncommon, but is growing in popularity very fast. Get it while you can!

Bottom line? Go grab a bottle! Still hate the name, but this might be my new favorite budget whiskey and I would put it right up there with Evan Williams BiB ($14). Also, don't be hatin' on the yard in the picture. We're currently working on sod!!!!!