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Episode 472 December 3, 2025 · 44:14
472. Beam Me Up, Toddy: A Trek Through Jim Beam's 2025 Rarities

472. Beam Me Up, Toddy: A Trek Through Jim Beam's 2025 Rarities

Jim & Todd taste four 2025 Jim Beam limiteds: Little Book Ch. 9, Little Book Infinite 2nd Ed., Booker's Reserves tequila finish, and Knob Creek 21-Year.

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Tasting Notes

Show Notes

Beam me up, Roadies! Jim Shannon and Todd Ritter take the USS Bourbon Road on a deep-space mission through four of Jim Beam's most exciting 2025 limited releases. From Freddie Noe's ever-evolving Little Book blends to a knob-Creek age statement that boldly goes where no Knob Creek has gone before, this episode is a full-throttle tour of what the House of Beam is capable of when it's firing on all cylinders. Grab your favorite pour, set phasers to sip, and join the crew for a night of discovery.

On the Tasting Mat:

  • Little Book Chapter 9 "None for Granted": A high-proof blend of 11-year Kentucky straight bourbon, 8-year Kentucky straight rye, 8-year Kentucky straight bourbon, and two different 7-year Kentucky straight bourbons. Clocks in at 121.8 proof with an MSRP of $160. On the nose, fresh green apple mingles with vanilla and a new-oak sawdust quality. The palate opens with a buttery, silky texture before delivering roasted peanut shells, Granny Smith apple, a touch of mint, and just enough warmth to remind you it's barrel strength. (00:01:28)
  • Little Book Infinite (2nd Edition): Freddie Noe's evolving infinity-style blend brings together distillate from three generations — 22-year bourbon from Booker Noe's era, 10-year from Fred Noe, and 7-year from Freddie himself — combined with what remained of the first Infinite edition. Bottled at 120.8 proof with an MSRP around $200. The nose is layered with vanilla cream, cake icing, and a floral depth reminiscent of a well-aged Four Roses pour. The palate is remarkably balanced — silky, rich in caramel and vanilla with bright fruit, a touch of warehouse funk, and just a whisper of spice from across the whole flavor wheel. (00:09:23)
  • Booker's Reserves 2025: The first-ever Jim Beam product finished in tequila barrels — specifically ex-El Tesoro 85th Anniversary casks — for 11 weeks. Age stated at 8 years, 10 months, and 11 days; bottled at 123.3 proof with an MSRP of $130. The nose is classic and restrained: caramel, vanilla, and oak with a hint of high-proof ethanol. On the palate, expect a drier, more structured character — caramel and vanilla are present but lack their usual sweetness, replaced by earthy, herbaceous undertones and a long, lingering finish with an almost indefinable spiced complexity. A natural candidate for pairing with sweet-tipped cigars or cocktail applications. (00:17:06)
  • Knob Creek 21-Year-Old: The oldest Jim Beam release to date and the latest entry in the Knob Creek aged series, bottled at 100 proof with an MSRP of $250. The nose signals its age immediately with deep, rich oak, a light tannic note, hints of dried cherry, and just enough warehouse character to set expectations. The palate defies those expectations: velvety and surprisingly restrained in oak, delivering toasted coconut, roasted peanuts, dried cherry, a high-cacao dark chocolate note, and traces of leather and maple syrup. The finish is long, dry, and elegant. (00:26:22)

This is a stellar snapshot of what Freddie Noe and the Beam team are building right now. Whether you're chasing the generational storytelling of the Infinite, hunting a genuinely compelling extra-aged bourbon, or just curious what tequila barrels do to a Bookers-style mash, these 2025 releases make a compelling case that the House of Beam is in its finest creative era. And with Hardin's Creek warehouse expressions already on the horizon, the road ahead looks very bright indeed. Cheers, Roadies — we'll see you down the Bourbon Road.

Full Transcript

Jim Beam Little Book Chapter 9 Little Book Infinite Booker's Reserves Knob Creek 21 year Freddie Noe Booker Noe Fred Noe Kentucky straight bourbon high proof bourbon tequila finished bourbon El Tesoro barrel finished whiskey limited release bourbon aged bourbon Jim Beam limited editions bourbon blending Hardin's Creek Beam Suntory bourbon tasting