Legent Review

A good friend of mine received an invitation to a virtual tasting of this whiskey, and since she couldn’t attend gave me her invitation.  It turned out to be a small intimate tasting of about a dozen Maine whiskey professionals hosted by Tim Heuisler who is the Beam / Suntory ambassador in the Americas. He hosted from his kitchen in Brooklyn, and at first I felt like a very small fish swimming in a very big pond, but as the tasting progressed I found my footing and learned a lot from this amazing event. 

This is a new bottle for me, and wasn’t really on my radar of must haves. I really only bought it for this tasting and hadn’t even opened it until the event started. Legent is produced by the Beam/Suntory Co. and has only been on the market since 2019.  It’s a special collaboration between Fred Noe (Master Distiller, Jim Beam) and Shinji Fukuyo (Chief Blender, Suntory) a true east meets west whiskey. If you love Jim Beam Black, or Suntory Toki this whiskey might just be for you. 

Legent starts out being a straight Kentucky bourbon, and once it is aged to have the taste profile Fred Noe has chosen it is then taken out of the new charred oak barrels and aged a second time in used wine and sherry casks. Making for a very complex and interesting flavor profile.

By the numbers:

Cost $40 DSRP,  but markets vary and it isn’t distributed in all parts of the US yet

Where is it Made: Jim Beam Distillery 

Proof: 94 proof (47%ABV)

Mash bill:  77% Corn, 13% Rye, 10% Barly. 

Age: No Age Statement (NAS) at least 2 years but thought to be 4-6 years.

Tasting Notes:

Color: Deep copper with hues of red from its time the wine/sherry cask. 

Nose:  This has a really complex nose, not only do you get a lot of the stereotypical Jim Beam notes, but it also offers up rich dark fruit notes with some cinnamon and a lite smokiness. 

Taste: The dark fruit and cherries definitely carry over from the nose, but are influenced by the sherry and wine finish with sweet sherry flavors, some barrel char, and deep black pepper spiciness

Finish: This has a long dry finish that coats and warms for a long hug. 

Definitely worth having on the shelf, really complex for a $40 investment.  I really enjoyed it, and look forward to my next pour.

Cheers!