Review: Jim Beam Red Stag Black Cherry Bourbon

As stated in the Good Book, “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth and then whiskey.” I think it goes something like that. I forget the particulars, but  whiskey is a powerful and storied beverage, fueling great political leaders, revolutions and even those dark days of prohibition. And generally, it’s my favorite spirit.

So it was with some trepidation that I first tasted Jim Beam’s black cherry infused bourbon, Red Stag. As with other cherry flavored liquors, I was fearful of a syrupy medicinal sweetness overpowering the spirit.

On the nose, the natural cherry scent is most prominent with the bourbon scent lingering in the background. It tastes sweet but doesn’t completely mask the flavor and heat of the bourbon or the oak accents. I tried it straight, on the rocks, mixed with Coke and in a manhattan. Drank straight, the black cherry flavor was way too powerful and sweet for my liking; adding ice or a dash of cold water mellowed the flavor considerably. Mixed with Coke, it was still too sweet but somewhat tempered, and in a manhattan, it held up okay, but I should note that I cut the sweet vermouth with ½ part dry vermouth to balance the use of a sweet, cherry flavored spirit.

Final Thoughts
Overall, Red Stag exceeded my low expectations and fared better than many similar spirits. That said, however, on my liquor shelf it will stay toward the back. But try it for yourself. Bourbon purists will find it too sweet to drink straight, or to drink at all, but those with a sweet tooth who typically shy away from the bite of bourbon might just find Red Stag to be the gateway they need to enter the realm of whiskey drinkers.

Proof: 80 proof (40 percent Alcohol by Volume)
Price: $18-20 for a 750ml bottle