If you asked me for my three favorite bourbon distilleries, I’d instantly respond with Wild Turkey and Four Roses for my top two. The third spot I might deliberate, but without putting too much thought into it, I’d likely give Jim Beam the bronze medal. Part of me is surprised that I’d consider ranking Jim Beam so high; not because I think of it as a lesser or more basic distillery (it isn’t), but because I consider them the ultimate “Jack of All Trades” bourbon distillery. In a nutshell, Jim Beam is incredibly consistent, yet they rarely release anything that prompts me to lean back and utter expletives from how incredible it is.

This isn’t necessarily a bad thing—the level of consistency the team at Jim Beam repeatedly achieves means they’re reliable. You could also argue that they’re consistent because much of the same whiskey goes into separate releases, but that’s a discussion best taken elsewhere. However, when it comes to delivering top-tier highlights, Jim Beam seems to fall short, especially in recent memory. Booker’s 25^th Anniversary and rye notwithstanding, the most impressive Jim Beam release I can remember from the last five years was Lineage. Perhaps it’s convenient then, that the whiskey we’re looking at today was released in 2019.

Freddie Noe’s Little Book line is one that many of us are likely familiar with. This annual release is much like Wild Turkey’s Master’s Keep (spearheaded by Eddie Russell) line in that it’s essentially a canvas for Freddie to explore his more adventurous side as both a blender and distiller. Although Master’s Keep is more highly regarded, Little Book is far and away the more experimental and, depending on who you ask, exciting of the two lines. While Little Book’s inaugural release from 2017, “The Easy,” didn’t leave much of a splash, its successor, “Noe Simple Task,” still holds up as one of the most unique American whiskey blends out there (8-year Kentucky rye, 13-year Canadian rye, and 40-year Canadian corn whisky). So imagine the surprise of many folks when the blend for Little Book Chapter 3: The Road Home was announced.

On paper, The Road Home already sounds like a slam dunk of a comfort zone release: a blend of Jim Beam’s established small batch brands, all uncut and unfiltered. The specific contents are as follows:

• 9-year Knob Creek
• 9-year Basil Hayden (high-rye bourbon, same as Old Grand Dad)
• 11-year Booker’s
• 12-year Baker’s

In a way, The Road Home could be considered the younger, higher proof predecessor to Hardin’s Creek Jacob’s Well, which Jim Beam introduced in 2022 and brought back (with a higher age statement) in 2023.

Out of all the Little Book releases to date, The Road Home seems to hold a special place in the hearts of many enthusiasts. It was also one of the first limited release bourbons I remember trying at a bar in 2020, and it was an absolute delight to the senses. Now it’s time to see just how well this particular Little Book holds up after a few years and several more spirits under my belt.

Nose: Immediately smells creamy with vanilla and orange custard notes before a fragrant, earthy (but also sweet) tobacco takes precedent, along with hints of peanut butter pie throughout. Bit of a heavily roasted coffee bean aroma permeates the aroma as well. After a while, dried red apple coated in brown sugar with a pinch of cinnamon sugar jumps to mind.

Palate: Explodes with tart cherry and orange zest before the apple note from the nose presents as a juicy, fresh apple before gradually returning to a dried, borderline burnt/toasted note. Great oak structure with mildly spicy barrel char preceding a nutty, slightly drying tobacco note, along with strong, creamy vanilla. Juicy cherry becomes more pronounced over time as well.

Finish: Matches the nose by returning to a warm, traditional bourbon profile and experience when compared to the palate—brown sugar, vanilla bean, and custard while retaining a good presence of oak tannins. Good length while being generally creamy and vanilla-forward, followed by caramel with repeat sips

I’m of the opinion that Jim Beam is at its best when off-profile. We’re all familiar with the drier, nutty profile the distillery often provides nowadays, so when a bottle sees that profile take a backseat in favor of something different, magic often ensues. This is where a release like Little Book Chapter 3: The Road Home shines. Although some hallmarks of a mature Jim Beam LTO are certainly present, there’s a greater level of depth and fulfillment to find here. The tried-and-true nuttiness of modern Jim Beam presents more like rich tobacco with hints of peanut butter pie. This is especially notable on the nose and finish, the latter of which is where this whiskey begins to slump just a smidge.

As for the palate? That’s where The Road Home shines for me. I was absolutely surprised by the powerful, tart cherry note that pops on the palate like I hope the AI bubble eventually does. But the experience doesn’t stop there; the fact orange zest, apple, and barrel spice join the fray, rather than allowing the cherry to dominate the experience, turns this whiskey into a true delight that handily avoids feeling one-dimensional.

The only aspect holding this Little Book release back is how, despite delivering a fantastic drinking experience, I still want more. This is a classic example of a whiskey checking nearly every box I have with one key exception: impressing me through and through. Remember how I started this review by calling Jim Beam the ultimate “Jack of All Trades” bourbon distillery? The Road Home absolutely epitomizes this. Everything about it feels crafted with sophistication while missing a bigger “wow” factor outside of the initial palate. I still love this bourbon and rank it highly as one of my all-time favorite Jim Beam releases; I just wish I felt even stronger about it.