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Jim Beam Black vs Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series
Jim Beam Black and Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, rye-forward classic versus a new-wave, classically built craft style.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Jim Beam Black | Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley | Not disclosed |
| Age | 7 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 86 proof (43% ABV) | 98.9 proof (49.5% ABV) +13 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$22 – $28 ~$38 less | ~$55 – $70 |
- Jim Beam Black and Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series do not publish an official mash bill.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
Jim Beam Black
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Jim Beam Black Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
fruit 3/6 fruit: Jim Beam Black 3 out of 10, Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series 6 out of 10
nuttiness 6/3 nuttiness: Jim Beam Black 6 out of 10, Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series 3 out of 10
heat 3/5 heat: Jim Beam Black 3 out of 10, Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series 5 out of 10
sweetness 6/7 sweetness: Jim Beam Black 6 out of 10, Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series 7 out of 10
spice 4/5 spice: Jim Beam Black 4 out of 10, Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series 5 out of 10
oak 6/6 oak: Jim Beam Black 6 out of 10, Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series 6 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Fruit character is what sets these apart.
- 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.
- 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.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Jim Beam Black if you want the Beam house character at its most affordable and easy-going.
- 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.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, cocktails (Jim Beam Black); neat, rocks (Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series).