Frankly, I have not had many opprotunities to taste white whiskeys. In Texas and though out the South, I have read about how moon shine and white dogs are popular; but I don't like the corn taste of bourbon. Bourbon was Dad's favorite whiskey: corn mash and sweet favour was not my tastes. However, Tennessee rye has always been a unique favor treat. And this week at a private screening of Capturing Oswald here in Dallas,Texas, they were serving Jim Beam Jacob's Ghost White Whiskey. I liked it.
I have been told that Jacob's Ghost (named after 18th century Jacob Beam, the patriarch of the Beam clan) is the standard Jim Beam bourbon, made with their typical mash and distilling methods; however, this light ghost gets less than a year in charred oak barrels,and then filtered to remove both coloration and harshness. So, I found it to be an easy-drinking, young whiskey.
You still taste the sweet corn with a hint of vanilla and just a whisper of wood. On the palate, the corn sweetness continues combined with a surprisingly robust body. There's just a touch of smoke, and what some might call barrel spices on the finish.
It's definitely smoother and does not have the traditional bourbon favor of Jim Beam and Jack Daniel. I see why Jim Beam is promoting this white whiskey as a cocktail mixer like other clear spirits like gin white rum and blanco tequila. At the screening it was offered with traditional Southern Sweet Tea, a classic mixer for Boubon.
Jim Beam was only $19.99 at retail and under $15 at SPECS. If you want to try a mild, smooth, inexpensive white whiskey, this should be on your list.
