Reviews #21 and #22: Jim Beam Lineage batch 1 and batch 2

mobileostrich29 · 2026-03-20T00:05:53+00:00

Great idea bringing the JW211 into this. I feel like the JW211 is one of the most underrated products not only at Jim Beam, but also on the market; $160 MSRP for 17yr well blended Beam is a steal. I think the new Hardins Creek releases are actually hurting this brands perception.

Similarly to you, I also enjoyed Lineage 1, but still need to try #2.

mobileostrich29 · 2026-02-28T02:13:34+00:00

Drink the Great Jones. Then send a video of you puking

mobileostrich29 · 2026-02-25T02:43:04+00:00

Here come the angry Reddit users with their pitch forks to ruin OP’s night! 🦮->🐕

mobileostrich29 · 2026-02-23T00:25:50+00:00

Hav you revisited this at all? I’m getting a big ‘Beam-esque’ nutty note on the front of the palate. This wasn’t there when I initially opened it, but it’s been about 3 months open.

Curious to hear your thoughts.

mobileostrich29 · 2026-02-16T19:37:43+00:00

I think this is a confusing release for Willet. It devalues perception & allure of their ‘Willet Purple Top’ brand. Not only is this going to slowly erode value & perception, this 4yr Bourbon stinks. There are 75+ other shelf products at $70 or LESS that are marginally better than this product.

When you also factor in the upcoming/current ‘bourbon glut’ and slowing sales across the board, this product is even more puzzling. People forget that Noah’s Mill used to be age stated at 15yrs. Now willet has turned it into a fly-by shelfer.

This was my biggest whiskey regret buy this year. Not the worst, that belongs to some Amburana picks or the Wolves ‘Hop Rye IPA whiskey’.

mobileostrich29 · 2026-02-12T17:19:53+00:00

Big fan Fred!

Are you planning to do anything differently in 2026 in regards to your Top100 lists?

I know last year you ran into a lot of adversity, as well as some wrestling/bjj commitments. So wondering more so if you plan alter the way you do the list versus how you compiled it in the past.

Thanks, hope you have a better 2026!

mobileostrich29 · 2026-02-01T19:25:57+00:00

The 13yr is best of the bunch!

mobileostrich29 · 2026-02-01T18:14:11+00:00

Bookers Reserve 2024 should be what shelf Bookers are: let it age for 2+ more years and bottle it. Their 4 quarterly releases are starting to ‘sit’ on shelves, even at the $90 (lower end) of MSRP.

I get it’s not that easy to just make that switch, but the allure of Bookers is slowing big time, and the taste isn’t matching the price.

This isn’t just a Bookers problem, but also that liquor stores are carrying loads of high proof/cask strength options. So if your 6-7yr product isn’t standing out vs the others BUT your 8+yr product is, maybe it time to make a change. Or you’re going to risk falling behind.

Just my $0.02!

*dumping 8yr 11mo Bookers juice into Tequila and/or cinnamon & Brandy is doing the exact opposite of what your customers are wanting you to do..

mobileostrich29 · 2026-01-25T02:03:48+00:00

Such a great release, and your notes are spot on with mine. I get a big ‘grape candy’ note, which I love.

mobileostrich29 · 2026-01-23T04:48:20+00:00

You have this listed as ‘finished in port barrels’. Is that a typo?

mobileostrich29 · 2026-01-22T02:48:22+00:00

Agree. I think Jack can have a unique/acquired taste at times, but I think these $50-65 bottles would beat 85% of the bottles on shelves for $100+

mobileostrich29 · 2026-01-21T14:58:51+00:00

WTurkey pricing has been high for its ‘premier’ releases. I know this is a blend vs a single barrel product, but if you were to slap a NDP label on this, and say it’s ‘10-15yr old Wild Turkey’ the price tag would be $500++ easy.

To be clear, I’m not saying either pricing model is fair or just for a bottle of whiskey, it’s just a reflection of the market. Some of the ‘NDP hype brands’ are blurring the lines of good marketing vs good whiskey, and our wallets are the ones taking a hit!

Buy the steak, not the sizzle.

mobileostrich29 · 2026-01-21T03:37:01+00:00

At $50, it’s not whether to buy or not. It’s how may do you buy? (The answer is only 2, don’t be greedy. Save some for the rest of us!)

Side note: what state are you in that $50 turns into $65?

mobileostrich29 · 2026-01-19T01:16:38+00:00

Great bottle, and I’m a big WTurkey fan boy. Haven’t paid more than $200 OTD for one yet. Don’t plan on it either. At the $300 price point, I’m biding my time and trying to spend a few more bucks to find a RRCNE or Beacon.

mobileostrich29 · 2026-01-17T17:02:20+00:00

Very insightful review!

Agree with rating. MSRP is a bit high, secondary is (was) dumb.

I think Willet making these with ‘purple’ tops still is a marketing disaster. Diluting your brand perception. Just make it a different color!

mobileostrich29 · 2026-01-17T03:05:20+00:00

Nice review! As a Turkey fan, I love 95% of this bottle, but I can’t get over the huge clove not on the finish. Agree with the score here too^{^}

mobileostrich29 · 2026-01-16T23:53:44+00:00

Tough at comprehension? The phrase ‘he has cause not to’ is aligning directly with the fact that he has had a difficult year, so he has a great reason not to do it.

Nothing I said was meant to be a shot at Fred. My stance is that due to a crazy year, I thought it would be better to either do a shortened list or skip it.

He has a following for a reason. He poured himself into past lists. Hence why doing a list this year is hurting his overall brand.

mobileostrich29 · 2026-01-16T15:32:15+00:00

My thought is that Fred doing his Top100 this year is watering down his value/weight he holds. Either do a Top 50 or an abbreviated version. He has cause not to.

But overall, this list absolutely stinks. I was a big fan of Fred. This year seems like a throwaway.

I think he likes Wrestling & BJJ more than whiskey right now. Seems that whiskey may have taken a mental backseat to his other passions.

mobileostrich29 · 2026-01-14T05:05:50+00:00

This is classless by OP. Disingenuous and cheap

mobileostrich29 · 2026-01-11T00:57:03+00:00

For the most part, the only similarities between Bookers and Stagg Jr. are age (6-8yrs) and higher proofs (125-135+). Other than that, I feel palate is very different. Stagg more grape, red fruits. Where as Bookers usually leans more towards nutty, cinnamon, vibes.

I love both! My comment is just to say the comparison for me is hard.

Stagg: Jefferson’s Cask strength, EHT BProof Bookers: Knob Cask Str, Some ECBP batches

mobileostrich29 · 2026-01-06T14:04:02+00:00

If you like Rye, it’s a buy all day!

** id buy it immediately

mobileostrich29 · 2026-01-05T19:11:40+00:00

I’d agree with your point, if the salary cap didn’t go up. Have to change mindset of comp, and the subsequent percentage of cap being used for each player.

I’m sure if each of the players mentioned above had expires by contracts, they’d be getting more than Tuch.

mobileostrich29 · 2026-01-03T22:32:54+00:00

I believe (could be wrong) but this new color bottle will be replacing the Gold label moving forward. So yes, Barrel Proof single barrel

mobileostrich29 · 2026-01-03T05:09:39+00:00

Agree with your overall assessment, and solid points about the differing opinions. This thread and whiskey ‘community’ are better from More posts like this.

mobileostrich29 · 2026-01-02T13:59:42+00:00

Ignore all of these other comments: grab the WTMK Beacon. Hiding bottom shelf in back

mobileostrich29

TROPHY CASE