Jim Beam Signature Craft Aged 12 Years marked a turning point for one of bourbon's most recognized names. Released in 2013 as the flagship of the new Signature Craft series, this small batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon was conceived by seventh generation master distiller Fred Noe as a showcase of extended maturation, a notable departure from the brand's historically younger core range. The Beam family has distilled in Clermont, Kentucky since Jacob Beam sold his first barrel in 1795, and Signature Craft 12 channels more than two centuries of accumulated wood and barrel management knowledge into a single expression. Fred Noe hand selected mature barrels from the vast Beam warehouses, and the result drew immediate critical acclaim, including a gold medal at a 2013 Los Angeles competition and warm praise from reviewers who considered a twelve year old bourbon at its original price something close to a bargain. The mashbill deviates slightly from the standard Beam recipe, running roughly 77 percent corn, 13 percent rye, and 10 percent malted barley, which lends a touch more sweetness while preserving the familiar Beam backbone. Matured for a full twelve years in charred new American oak, far longer than the brand's traditional output, the bourbon develops a deep coppery amber color and layers of toasted oak, soft spice, and gentle sweetness. Bottled at 86 proof, it was built for sipping neat or over ice, where its extended age reveals a balance of vanilla, caramel, cinnamon, and light fruit. Discontinued during the bourbon boom as aged stock grew scarce, Signature Craft 12 has become an increasingly sought after bottle among collectors who remember it as a genuinely long aged bourbon from an everyday icon.
ABV / Proof
| Brand |
Jim Beam |
| Distillery |
James B. Beam Distilling Co., Clermont, Kentucky |
| Producer |
Beam Suntory |
| Category |
Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey |
| Expression |
Signature Craft Small Batch |
| Age Statement |
12 Years |
| Mashbill |
Approximately 77% Corn, 13% Rye, 10% Malted Barley |
| Maturation |
Charred new American oak barrels |
| Bottling |
Small batch |
| ABV |
43% |
| Proof |
86 |
| Bottle Size |
750ml |
| Country |
United States |
| Region |
Kentucky |
Tasting Notes
Color: Deep coppery amber with polished brass highlights.
Nose: Toasted oak and leather lead, layered with sweet roasted corn, light caramel, vanilla, and a wisp of cinnamon spice.
Palate: Soft vanilla and toffee interwoven with cinnamon, dry oak, marzipan, and a hint of citrus and tropical fruit. Light bodied but complex for the proof.
Finish: Lingering hickory and cinnamon spice fading into gentle pepper and oak.
FAQ
What makes Jim Beam Signature Craft 12 Year special? It was Jim Beam's flagship extended age expression, aged a full twelve years versus the brand's much younger core range, and has since been discontinued, making it increasingly hard to find.
What is the mashbill? It runs roughly 77 percent corn, 13 percent rye, and 10 percent malted barley, a slight tweak on the standard Beam recipe with a touch more corn.
What proof is it bottled at? 86 proof, or 43 percent ABV.
How should I drink it? Master distiller Fred Noe recommended it neat or on the rocks, where the long maturation and oak character show best. It also makes a sturdy Old Fashioned or Manhattan.
Is it still in production? No. Signature Craft 12 was discontinued during the bourbon boom as aged stock became scarce, which has driven sought after status on the secondary market.
Where can I buy Jim Beam Signature Craft 12 Year online? Available here at Liquor On Broadway while stock lasts, with fast insured shipping nationwide.
