Jim Beam Reveals Limited-Edition Repeal Batch Bourbon

By Sam Slaughter Published September 18, 2018

For American drinkers of any era (after the 1910s), the word “repeal” should be a magical thing because it was a clarion call, a signal that alerted the masses that Prohibition — that devil of a time when alcohol was illegal — was over. Done-zo. Kaput.

Repeal Day, the day that Prohibition officially came to an end, was December 5, 1933, and has been celebrated on that day every year since. If you want to really get in the mood, you should certainly check out the Repeal Day Conference, which takes place in Tampa annually.

Jim Beam Repeal Batch Bourbon — Jim Beam

Jim Beam is helping us all get ready for Repeal Day 2018 (the 85th anniversary) with the release of its newest bourbon, Repeal Batch, inspired by the liquid that the Beam family created following the end of Prohibition. The offering is also a celebration of the fact that James A. Beam was able to rebuild his distillery in only 120 days following the repeal. The label is illustrative of what labels would’ve looked like then and an homage to Beam’s hard work and determination.

Recommended Videos

Repeal Batch, which will be a limited-edition offering, is an 86-proof Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey. The bourbon has been aged for four years (as the normal Jim Beam is) but it is non-chill filtered, giving the whiskey a much fuller body on the palate. The oak, caramel, and char flavors come through in bigger waves than in your everyday Jim Beam bottle. You’ll find bigger spice and vanilla notes on the nose as well.

“For the 85th anniversary of Repeal Day, we wanted to release a bourbon inspired by our heritage and dedicated to the hard work my great-grandfather put into rebuilding our family business after Prohibition,” Fred Noe, Jim Beam’s seventh generation master distiller, said in a statement. “Jim Beam Repeal Batch pays tribute to all the generations of Beams that came before me.”

Jim Beam Repeal Batch will be available nationwide and will retail for around $17.99. While great neat or with a rock, the brand suggests also trying Jim Beam Repeal Batch in a whiskey punch cocktail, a drink reminiscent of the cocktails that the bourbon drinkers of the 1930s might have enjoyed.

Whiskey Punch Cocktail

1.5 parts Jim Beam Repeal Batch
.5 parts Italian vermouth
.5 parts pineapple syrup
.5 parts lemon juice

Method: Shake with ice and serve.

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Sam Slaughter was the Food and Drink Editor for The Manual. Born and raised in New Jersey, he’s called the South home for…

Food & Drink

Union Horse Distilling Co. unveils limited-edition, small-batch, bottled-in-bond bourbon whiskey

Here's your chance to try this seasonal, limited release

Union Horse Bottled in Bond Bourbon

If you’re a fan of bourbon whiskey, there’s a good chance you’ve seen the phrase "bottled-in-bond" written on the label and you might not know exactly what that means. Well, it has nothing to do with a fictional British secret agent. In fact, bourbons (and other whiskeys) that are designated as bottled-in-bond have to follow a set of rules and regulations. To get this title, the whiskey must be matured for a minimum of your years, bottled at exactly 100-proof, produced by one distiller in a single season, and finally matured in a federally bonded warehouse.

In recent years, you’ve probably seen this phrase more and more, as the style of bourbon has become increasingly popular with brands releasing new bottles all the time. Union Horse Distilling Co. in Lenexa, Kansas is getting in on this trend with its soon-to-be-released Union Horse Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon.
What is this small-batch bourbon?
Distilled in 2018, this small-batch, bottled-in-bond expression will be released this week and will be a new seasonal, limited release of only 2,000 bottles. Now that’s what we call limited.

Food & Drink

Wild Turkey Releases Two New Limited Edition Whiskeys

Wild Turkey is one of those Kentucky whiskey brands that doesn't really need to expand its core lineup. After all, what it's known for is quality and affordability, two things that sometimes can be hard to find together. In other words, master distillers Eddie and Jimmy Russell can confidently rest on their laurels. But over the past few years expansion is exactly what the distillery has been doing, with the ultra premium Master's Keep series and additions to the Russell's Reserve brand. Now you can look for two more whiskeys with flags flying under the Wild Turkey banner, one from the aforementioned Master's Keep series, the other a new barrel-proof rye whiskey that is part of the Rare Breed lineup.

Master’s Keep Bottled in Bond is the fifth release under this banner of pricey, limited-release whiskeys. It's a 17-year-old bourbon, and the second Wild Turkey release to carry the BIB designation (the first was the 15-year-old American Spirit released over a decade ago, according to the brand). “With our own Master’s Keep Bottled In Bond, we took the historic process and protocol of aging for four years to the next level and allowed the liquid to rest for 17 years,” said Eddie Russell in a prepared statement. “We aged and perfected this rare, 17-year-old bourbon in Wild Turkey’s Camp Nelson rickhouses. This expression is a nod to the past, both our own heritage and the heritage of American whiskey-making as a craft.” Per the BIB rules, the whiskey is bottled at 100 proof, at least four years old, and is the product of one distilling season from one distillery. It's rich and delicious, with a creamy mouthfeel and strong notes of tannin, cherry, chocolate, and prune on the palate. This bourbon was bottled just in time -- it might have gone south after another year or two in the barrel. But as it is, it's a winner. It's not cheap at $175 for a bottle, but for those willing to spend some cash on a high-quality, older-than-usual bourbon, it's certainly worth it.

Food & Drink

Wolves recently launched its first flagship American single malt whiskey

Wolves is joining the American single malt whiskey craze

Wolves

Co-founded by streetwear designers James Bond (of UNDEFEATED) and Jon Buscemi (of Buscemi Truff), California's Wolves Whiskey is beginning to gain a following thanks to its outstanding whiskeys. Previously, the brand received acclaim for its limited-edition whiskeys.

That said, Wolves is finally ready to focus on building its collection of year-round flagship expressions. Surprisingly, the newest addition to the collection isn't a bourbon, rye whiskey, or some other style commonly associated with American whiskeys. It's a tribute to the whiskey-makers across the pond who came before us and are still crafting noteworthy single malt whiskies today. That's right, Wolves' first flagship expression is an American single malt whiskey.
Wolves American Single Malt Whiskey