Hardin’s Creek Series 2 Warehouse W, 11 Year Bourbon Review (2025)
Shelf Review
Designed to give you all the quick hit information you need when you’re standing in front of your local liquor store’s whisky shelf.
Hardin’s Creek releases aren’t exactly household names (even in the bourbon community) yet they represent some of the most interesting whiskies coming out of Jim Beam today. And while Jim Beam has been tapping into their experimental side lately with their Little Book series, the Hardin’s Creek releases seem to be flying well under the radar. And maybe that’s partly due to their very usual naming system. While previous releases referred to the various campuses of Jim Beam (Frankfort, Boston, Clermont), or iconic people within the history of the company (Jacob’s Well, etc) this second series of releases is a lot less clear - and perhaps downright confusing.
Enter Hardin’s Creek Warehouse W, 11 Year Beaver Release. At this point, I am not even sure that’s the official name – but in doing my research for this bottle, it’s the best I could come up with. As the name suggests, it’s an 11-year bourbon aged entirely in Warehouse W on the 5th floor. Reading through the materials it describes Warehouse W, “like the kind of place you might find a familiar creature, the North American Beaver, setting up a lodge built to last where the stream cuts through the forest”. And while that may seem like a stretch, the bottle features a beaver prominently on the label – so we’re going to go with it. It’s bottled at 55% ABV and has an MSRP of around $150. I haven’t seen this one around much (perhaps it’s a VERY limited release?), but I was lucky enough to grab a bottle at the Kentucky Bourbon Festival and so we are going to dive in today and see what this Beaver is all about!
Age: 11 Year
ABV: 55% ABV
Cask: New American Oak
MSRP: $150
Distillery Name: James B. Beam Distillery
Review Date: 9/26/25
Nose: Big nutty nose with red apples, brown sugar, and maple wood. It’s thick on the nose, with hints of warm dusty oak and a classic Beam bourbon profile.
Palate: Sour cherries, toasted oak, dry spices, with a candy corn sweetness on the front of the palate. As it settles, a heavy toasted oak comes through with bitter chocolate and black pepper. Mouthfeel is thick and viscous.
Finish: Long, dry finish. More warming baking spices, balanced with an earthy rich character. Slight bitterness after a few sips.
Score: 89
Would I buy again? At $150 a bottle, it’s hard to argue I will need a backup of Hardin’s Creek Warehouse W. While I enjoy its oak forward character, it leans too heavily on the savory side for my preferences. The oak is the star here, complimented by warm, dusty baking spices throughout. The nose is the most enjoyable part, providing a more rounded and balanced experience compared to the palate and finish. While the whiskey here is no doubt of a high quality – it feels like it’s designed more for the oak lovers among us. So, if that’s you – this Beaver expression of Hardin’s Creek might be your perfect fall pour.
