Heritage
Jim Beam Signature Craft Soft Red Wheat is an 11-year-old bourbon that substitutes rye with soft red winter wheat in the mashbill—an approach that changes the fermentation profile and yields a more rounded, nuanced final spirit. As part of the Signature Craft series, this limited release is distilled using Beams traditional methods and aged for over a decade in new charred American white oak barrels. The wheat used is carefully sourced for consistency and milled to Beam’s proprietary standards before being fermented with the brand’s historic yeast strain. Aged under precise environmental conditions in Beam’s Kentucky rickhouses, the whiskey is bottled at 45% ABV without chill-filtration, preserving more of the natural character from the extended aging process. This bottling reflects the brands commitment to innovation while honoring its roots in classic American bourbon-making.
Tasting Profile & Food Pairings
Taste Notes:
This wheat-forward bourbon in the Signature Craft lineup features a softer grain profile, delivering a gentle, rounded flavor. The nose opens with delicate floral notes, vanilla bean, and honey-glazed biscuit. On the palate, it’s mellow and smooth with flavors of caramel, soft baking spice, light toasted oak, and a touch of butterscotch. The wheat provides a creamy mouthfeel and minimizes spice heat, leading to a long, warm finish with hints of sugar cookie and nutmeg.
Food Pairings:
Starter: Cornbread with honey butter or smoked salmon canapé
Main Course: Herb-roasted turkey or baked ham with brown sugar glaze
Cheese: Brie or Havarti
Dessert: Bread pudding or peach cobbler
Snack: Buttered pecans or honey-roasted cashews
Craftsmanship
Jim Beam is one of the most iconic names in American bourbon, with a heritage stretching back to 1795. Based in Clermont, Kentucky, the brand has remained a cornerstone of the bourbon industry for over seven generations. Produced using a time-tested sour mash recipe and aged in new charred oak barrels, Jim Beam is synonymous with consistency, craftsmanship, and legacy. The brand is widely known for its approachability and broad appeal—offering a wide array of expressions that range from classic bourbons to creative infused and flavored variations. As part of the Beam Suntory portfolio, Jim Beam maintains its commitment to traditional distilling methods while embracing innovation to meet evolving consumer tastes. Revered both in the United States and internationally, Jim Beam continues to shape the global bourbon landscape through quality, scale, and storytelling rooted in American history.
