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Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series vs Jim Beam Black
Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series and Jim Beam Black sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: a new-wave, classically built craft style versus an old-guard, rye-forward classic.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series | Jim Beam Black |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | Not disclosed | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 7 years |
| Proof | 98.9 proof (49.5% ABV) +13 proof | 86 proof (43% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$55 – $70 | ~$22 – $28 ~$38 less |
- Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series and Jim Beam Black do not publish an official mash bill.
- US shelf prices as of 2026-08; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Jim Beam Black
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series Jim Beam Black
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
fruit 6/3 fruit: Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series 6 out of 10, Jim Beam Black 3 out of 10
nuttiness 3/6 nuttiness: Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series 3 out of 10, Jim Beam Black 6 out of 10
heat 5/3 heat: Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series 5 out of 10, Jim Beam Black 3 out of 10
sweetness 7/6 sweetness: Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series 7 out of 10, Jim Beam Black 6 out of 10
spice 5/4 spice: Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series 5 out of 10, Jim Beam Black 4 out of 10
oak 6/6 oak: Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series 6 out of 10, Jim Beam Black 6 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Fruit character is what sets these apart.
- Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series: A blend of Bardstown's own young distillate with older sourced Kentucky whiskey, which is exactly what the name describes. Polished and fruit-leaning, and a clear demonstration that the blending is the skill on show.
- Jim Beam Black: The extra-aged version of the white label and a considerable step up for a few dollars more. Softer and rounder than Knob Creek with the same family peanut note, at a proof that keeps everything gentle.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series if you want a well-built modern blend that shows what careful blending does rather than what age alone does with more proof behind it.
- Go with Jim Beam Black if you want the Beam house character at its most affordable and easy-going.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series); neat, rocks, cocktails (Jim Beam Black).