Little Book Chapter 7 “In Retrospect” Review
In-Depth Review
Jim Beam is no doubt a powerhouse in the Kentucky whiskey scene. But as with any great distillery with a loyal following, it can sometimes be difficult to break away from what your customers love and try something new. Enter Freddie Noe and the Little Book line. Produced out of the smaller Fred B. Noe distillery (part of Jim Beam), Little Book is Master Distiller Freddie Noe’s opportunity to experiment with new techniques, distillates, blends, and finishing. It’s where Jim Beam gets to really let their hair down and play.
Now in it’s 7th iteration, the Little Book line has always flown a bit under the radar for everyone but the biggest whiskey nerds. This 7th chapter in the series is named “In Retrospect”, an homage to the fact 6 of the 7 of the component whiskies in this blend were used in the 6 previous Little Book releases. This has led to an incredibly complicated blend of whiskies (shown below) all brought together to create a 118.1 proof, limited release American whiskey that has a retail price of around $150. And while it was released at the end of 2023, is it worth seeking out a bottle still sitting on shelves? Let’s dive in and find out!
Age:
-18 year old Kentucky straight bourbon
-17 year old Kentucky straight bourbon
-10 year old Kentucky straight rye
-9 year old Kentucky straight bourbon
-5 year old straight malt finished in applewood smoked barrels
-4 year old Kentucky straight bourbon
-4 year old Kentucky straight rye
ABV: 118.1
MSRP: $150
Distillery Name: Jim Beam
Review Date: 3/12/24
Color: Deep, rich caramel. One of the best colors I’ve seen on a whiskey recently.
Nose: After resting in the glass for about 20 minutes, the first whiff is full of a deep, woody character mixed with heavy cream and clove. There’s cherrywood and tanned leather with a big burst of cherry cordial and only a small hint of the classic Jim Beam nuttiness. This nose is complex, inviting, and absolutely fantastic. Sit with it, and you’ll be rewarded.
Palate: The palate starts off with lots of toffee, rich caramel, tobacco, wood oils and leather. Then moves onto a big notes of vanilla bean ice cream, fruit tart, and honey roasted nuts. The mouthfeel is excellent, with a lovely syrupy quality that is accents the sweet, woody character well. The heat is actually well restrained, and it drinks easier than its 118 proof should. Just like the nose, it’s worth taking this slow and savoring it as you sip.
Finish: Long finish that cranks up the heat with red hot and cinnamon sticks. There’s nutmeg and more wood oil mixed with a heavy barrel char that can almost give it a smoked Old-Fashioned character.
Final Thoughts: Freddie Noe’s Little Book Chapter 7 is probably the best Little Book I’ve had since the line’s inception. And while the Little Book line has had some highs and lows over its previous 6 iterations, bringing elements of each together for this latest release truly is a masterpiece in blending. This is a reward whiskey – one you could easily sit and savor in silence. It’s a whiskey that revels in its age with the wood coming through beautifully without becoming too tannic. The biggest compliment I can give for this whiskey was that I simply couldn’t put the glass down. Before I knew it, I had finished my first pour, and I couldn’t help but want a bit more. A standout among 2023 whiskies, I highly recommend grabbing any of the remaining bottles you see.
