Early Times 354

Early Times 354 Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whisky
40% ABV/80 Proof
$15 to $17
Widely Available

What the Distillery Says:
Experience where bourbon begins.

A little bourbon history: Early Times started out as a bourbon back in 1860, and remained so until the early 1980s.

It all started with our founder, Jack Beam (Jim’s uncle), who began working at his family’s distillery at the tender age of 15. In short order, he was running the operation and in 1860 built his own distillery at Early Times Station, Kentucky.

Beam named his whisky Early Times, both as a tribute to its place of origin and as a nod to the old-world craftsmanship that goes into making it. He believed in the early times method of whisky-making: mashing grain in small tubs, boiling the beer and whisky in copper stills over open fires. It’s an abiding belief that has stayed with the Early Times brand ever since.

By 1953 Early Times was the best-selling bourbon in the world. As the vintage advertising from that era proclaimed, Early Times is “the whisky that made Kentucky whiskies famous.” Steeped in bourbon history, Early Times Distillery’s federal permit, No. 354, is the longest held in Kentucky.

Today Early Times pays homage to its rich bourbon heritage with Early Times 354 Bourbon.

This classic, full-bodied bourbon honors that philosophy – delivering superior taste and exceptional value. In fact, Early Times 354 Bourbon was preferred by Jim Beam drinkers in a national, independent taste test.*

Crafted with pure water, select grains and proprietary yeast, carefully distilled, matured for four years in select oak barrels and bottled at 80 proof, it’s the newest (and in a way, the oldest) member of the Early Times family.

Tasting Notes

Color: Deep amber

Aroma: Spicy with sweet fruit, fresh oak and delicate corn notes underscored by a layer of vanilla and caramel

Taste: A lively entry with spice, caramel and vanilla that melt into a mixture of fresh and dried fruit notes

Finish: Warm with subtle hints of apple and corn

What Richard Says:
Nose: Caramel, vanilla, oak, a hint of pipe smoke, and fruit.
Palate: A little vanilla, and fruit but it’s pretty bland, yet harsh. More than anything it tastes young.
Finish: Oak and a little tart.
Comments: This is much better than regular Early Times. Even still, this is still a little too young. I think it makes a fine mixer or on the rocks but I’d pass on drinking this straight.
Rating: Probably Pass

We want to thank Brown Forman for providing us with a bottle for review.