Jim Beam Double Oak starts life as Jim Beam white. After selecting and dumping a bunch of 4-year-old barrels they take that bourbon and put it back into brand new charred oak barrels for a second round of aging. The second round of aging has no defined time requirement / amount and lasts until it tastes right.
I’m not kidding, the release for the Jim Beam Double Oak states “…and aged for a second time to taste”. It would be great to get more detail about it, but one thing is for sure – It tastes quite a bit better than the Jim Beam White. The extra time-in-oak makes it deeper, more complex and gives it a stronger oak backbone that gets it closer to some of their small batch releases. I just wish they would have released it at 46% and non-chill filtered to give it a bit more oomph.
Jim Beam Double Oak Info
Region: Kentucky, USA
Distiller: Jim Beam
Mashbill: 77% Corn, 13% Rye, 10% Malted barley
Cask: New-Charred Oak x2
Age: NAS (4+ years)
ABV: 43%
Price: $40*
Jim Beam Double Oak Review
EYE
Ruddy caramel
NOSE
Oak, caramel, vanilla, toasted corn, toffee, and dark fruit with some light bits of butterscotch, cinnamon and leather trailing on through. The aroma is definitely the best part of this whiskey.
PALATE
Oak, caramel, dry corn, vanilla, dark fruit, toffee and light bits of maple and a slight bit of yeastiness. The palate is a bit muted compared to the aroma, but it’s still wonderfully drinkable.
FINISH
Long strings of caramel, oak, spice, leather and frosting slip on by.
BALANCE, BODY & FEEL
The Jim Beam Double Oak has a decent sense of balance, medium body and a slick round feel.
OVERALL
The most amazing part of the Jim Beam Double Oak is the aroma. The second I opened it I was transported back to the Jim Beam a rickhouse with the aroma of sweet bourbon and earthy oak that came rolling out. The palate wasn’t quite as dense and complex as the aroma. I think they could have upped that richness on the palate by releasing this at least at 46% and NCF; 50% would have been even better. Regardless, the Jim Beam Double Oak is still a nice bourbon and I’ve enjoyed sipping on it ever since the bottle arrived.
SCORE: 86/100 (B)
*Disclosure: This Jim Beam Double Oak was graciously sent to me by the company for the purposes of this review. The views, opinions, and tasting notes are 100% my own.
Jim Beam Double Oak Review - Score Breakdown
Summary
Jim Beam Double Oak is a good bourbon. Definitely worth a try.
Overall
- Nose - 88
- Palate - 86
- Finish - 86
- Balance, Body & Feel - 85
User Review
( votes)
Once again, I came here AFTER buying a bottle..and again, you called it right. I can’t imagine treating this a JB White.
Ha, cheers Robert!
This is a pretty darn good whiskey ( although I’m rather new to whiskey; only been drinking it a few months).. I just moved down to Florida from Massachusetts and the alcohol selection down here is absolutely pitiable ( the only place to buy any is Walgreens).
I ended up picking up 2 bottles of this for 11 bucks a piece on sale.. I think I might stock up; this is very good whiskey for the price.
At $11 a bottle that’s a steal. Sorry to hear about your selection, but congrats on finding a killer deal :) Cheers Tom!
Josh, I am curious what you think: I know we tend to assume that “double oak” must mean taking the 4-year NAS JBWL and transferring it into the new barrels. But what would prevent them (legally speaking) from just taking a 2-year proto-Beam and dumping and transferring it then for 2-more years in another new barrel? It would still conform to being straight bourbon and not needing an age statement. I am not saying this is what they do, they could do 1+3 or 3+1 or any other permutation (not likely they’d waste new barrels on superficial aging periods). I’m sure they may well age it longer because even if there were no age requirements at all, producers would be compelled to release superior products to compete. But without the much needed transparency I don’t see much basis for assuming it’s much older than 4. But hey, if it produces twice the used barrels headed over to Scotland, I’m all for it ;) Beams are currently on sale near me for $20 – Double Oak, Bonded and Rye – might grab each one.
Your assumptions are totally correct, I don’t know anything more than the hints I’ve read or been told. Things like this I wish there was more transparency into the process and timing. $20 ain’t bad, I’d probably snag another of these for that.
Got a bottle of this at a sale price of 16.99. Wow… I can’t believe how good this sips.
Nice, cheers George!
Budget Knob Creek
I was head over heels after trying the twice barreled Knob Creek Rye. My first 2x barreled bottle. The store did not have any in stock tonight so I picked up Beam DO instead. $26 here. Agree with the review, but it’s no where as good as the KC Rye 2x barreled.
I do appreciate this bottle and put it in the decanter to sip on this month. The lower proof just leaves you wanting more flavor and complexity which I taste in KC2x. I applaud the industry going in the 2x barrel direction. I really enjoy the flavors!
I just got some of the Double Barreled and am looking forward to trying. Thanks for sharing, cheers!
Just picked up a bottle today on recommendation of a coworker. Under $22 here in the Buckeye state. Just finished a bottle of JB Black last night. Enjoy both very much. I’ve been a Jim Beam drinker since 1982 and never disappointed by anything from them that I’ve tried.
Nice, hope you enjoyed it!
i really like this Jim Beam product…I have never forgiven them for what they did to Old Crow…but this is by far the best i have had from them….i happen to like the 86 proof…seems to me that was what bourbon was back in the day….i use this in an oak cask to age manhattans with Punt eMes….fantastic
That does sound fantastic. Cheers!
Saw this for £20,.I came back a week later hoping it was still on offer. It was, Win! Corn was the biggest smell and taste coming away from this, I seriously enjoy having dram of this and is my drinking whiskey for the moment. Great flavours
Woah that’s cheap. Cheers!
California drinker here. Just picked up a bottle for $16.99.
Wow
Same here got it for $15.99 at Stater Bros here in San Bernardino CA. I am a newbie to whiskey but I have been enjoying it at bars and finally bought myself a bottle to keep at home. Really good flavor
My local Stater Bros. market up here in Lake Arrowhead has this for $15.99 btl most days. Killer at that price.
Wow, yeah it is!
92 to 100 proof and ncf would be great but then JB would have to add another $15-$20 to the price. I think they wanted to keep the price point lower to make this more accessible. The aroma is fantastic,especially if you let it rest in the glass about 15 minutes. For the small price difference between this.and JBWL, DO is the way to go.
I would really like to know just how long this whiskey stays in that second barrel as a second new charred oak barrel isn’t cheap and just a few months of extra aging would not seem cost effective.
I really don’t think that would necessarily increase the price that much. Non-chill filtering costs nothing, and a 10% increase in proof does not need to equate to a 50+% increase in price. Maybe $5 more, tops. But then it does start to compete with other, better, bourbons. In MN here it’s $17, but after trying it I’m not really sure it’s even worth that.
$24 in North Georgia
Nice . I’m halfway through the bottle and it’s good. Traditional bourbon flavors: brown sugar, vanilla, caramel, and oak. Not complicated, but quality flavors.
I have not had Jim Beam Black, so I can’t compare…but ive steered clear in the past because I find I prefer products 90 proof or above. Still a nice bang for the buck and a tasty nightcap.
I just got a bottle of this today and I do like it but I think I will stick to the Jim Beam Black. I don’t have any Jim Beam Black at this time so I can’t compare but just by memory I can tell it’s not that much different than the Black and you have a choice to get 1.75L with that but not with the Double Oak.
The JBDO is a very interesting bourbon. I like it alot but agree that it needs a little more oomph. My thought was it should be bottled at a higher proof versus without filtering. You could be right. Do you know what level of char was used for each stage. I think Beam is onto something but I’m not sure they’ve got it exactly right. Booker Noe was certainly a kindred spirit of mine as I love the Knob Creek Single Barrel and his Bookers.
I believe the second barrels are a level 4. It needs more time in them for sure. Cheers!
Don’t complain guys, it’s $US50 here in Australia and only 700mls.
I have to say first that Jim Beam is the best bang for the buck in the bourbon industy. The White got my attention a long time agoe and I was glad to find that quality in that price range. I looked no further forever till I tried the Black and its been a love afair since…
Then today I ran into the Double Oak and I could not drink more than two shots. It may be just me but talk about running back to Black???.
Its like the Double Oak had so much on top it couldn’t go down smooth and the edge outlasted the burn.
Black has almost no burn and so smooth”” edge dose not even apply.
Sorry but like I said it may be just me!
Ps. Thanks a million for the
Jim Beam Black
Everyone is entitled to their opinion and I enjoyed reading yours. Thanks for sharing. cheers!
Hey Josh. Your review of the original JB Black is almost identical to this review; both were rated as an 86. Maybe this is the Original 8 Yr, recycled / repackaged to develop new markets for their products? In this day and age, I wouldn’t be surprised….
It’s not out of the realm of possibility. Cheers!
Hi! Thanks for the review, how do you think this compares to the Woodford Reserve Double Oaked?
Any other recommendations for double oaked that you came across that’s worth trying? Thanks!
Hey Zong,
I like the WRDO a bit more, but it costs a whole lot more. So if I were to pick between the two on a value scale I’d go with the JBDO.
Great review. I’m buying a bottle soon as I see it on the shelf. What’s the availability of this? Is it still rolling out? Not seen it yet anywhere in California.
Thanks, like just about everything else it will take it a while to hit CA. I know it’s already available out east.
Cheers!
I just picked up a bottle at a Total Wine here in southern California for $18.99! Not on the whiskey aisle, but they built a mountain display out of cases near the front of the store. I’m guessing it’s a new arrival here.
$19 is a stellar price for this. Cheers!
Josh, thanks for giving Beam products a fair shake, unlike other reviewers. I love Beam Bonded(amongst other Beam products), I suspect I will love this as well.
After reading the review, picked up a bottle in GA for $26.99. Looking forward to opening this week…
I do have a technical question about the labeling:
Label states: “Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished In Oak”
Although you state it was finished in a new charred barrel, I read another review that was not clear on it – but if I’m correct, we can extrapolate it was finished in a new charred barrel because otherwise it could not be labeled “Straight Bourbon”? Just curious, but a little education/clarification would be appreciated.
Infographic on the Beam website states “New Freshly Charred Oak Barrels”
Yes it is a new charred oak barrel. Cheers!
Looking forward to trying this one. Thanks for the review.
The label states “we pour it into another freshly charred barrel.” The adverb newly can mean recently, again or afresh. So newly charred could mean a newly charred refill barrel. You say “put back into brand new charred oak barrels”. Nowhere does the label state the second barrel is a brand new oak barrel. Which is it?
I guess you’re right it could be a re-charred barrel, but I’m lead to believe it’s a brand new charred oak barrel.
What would happen if you tried to re-char a used Bourbon barrel?
It’s called a “rejuvenated” cask. It still can’t be used as the first fill in a bourbon, but gets used for other kinds of whisk(e)y throughout the industry. You’ll loose some of the most bourbon soaked layers of the wood by doing it, but some people do it. Balvenie in particular will rejuvenate casks in their copperage.
The manager at my local ABC Store said let me know he had this one coming in next week. I will definitely give it a shot after reading your review as long as it is indeed in the $40 range.
Just checked our state’s online site. This one is going to be $27. I will definitely give it a go for that amount!
Your review was spot on. This is my favorite Beam labeled product so far. Especially if it will stay around the $25-$30 range. Blows the Beam Black out of the water IMHO.
Cheers Ben. I need to pick up the new Beam Black. I love the old 8 Year, but haven’t yet tried the new NAS.
That’s an amazing price!
I’ll definitely give this a try since your recommendations have always been spot on. How would you compare this to the Jim Beam Black?
Cheers John. I haven’t had the new NAS JB Black, but I would say I liked the old 8 year JB Black just a bit more.