James E. Pepper Bourbon
Overall Score: 7/10
Overall Value: 3.5/5
Distillery: James Pepper Distilling Co
Classification: Straight Bourbon
Company: James Pepper Distilling Co
Release Date: Ongoing
Proof: 106.6
Age: NAS
Mashbill: Blend of corn, rye, malted barley, and malted rye
Color: Hazlenut
MSRP: $65 (2025)
The Barrel Bros’ Review
The nose of this James E Pepper Bourbon starts off with a fun mix of sweetness and red fruit—strawberry, cherry, and even a red Jolly Rancher note. There’s also vanilla, caramel, and a richer layer of custard and raisins. As it opens, more depth shows up: walnut, chocolate-covered orange, and a strong oak backbone. It’s an evolving nose that keeps changing the longer it sits, which makes it one of the more engaging parts of the pour.
The palate brings in a blend of sweet and slightly funky flavors. Chocolate-covered cherry is the standout early on, followed by caramel and hints of graham cracker. Then the profile shifts, bringing in black licorice that feels a bit like a handful of Good & Plenty. A light peppery zing runs through the sip, keeping things lively. It’s sweet and leans into a classic bourbon structure with its own quirks layered on top.
The finish starts off softly sweet but quickly shifts into oak and dryness. The wood here is assertive—leaning toward that evergreen tree bark character—and it dries the palate more than some may prefer. It’s not harsh, but it is definitely more tannic than the front half of the sip would suggest.
Overall, this bottle from the James E. Pepper distillery is an interesting one. It has layers, a few unique twists, and enough classic bourbon notes to keep things grounded. Some of the atypical flavors may feel a bit funky, and the dry finish won’t be for everyone, but at its MSRP, it still offers solid value—especially if you find it on sale.
It’s a good bottle for enthusiasts who enjoy exploring different profiles, but not necessarily something you’d buy twice unless the flavor hits your personal sweet spot. The brand’s eye-catching decanter style bottle and their well-known barrel proof releases make the lineup worth keeping an eye on, even if this particular expression lands more in the “interesting experience” category than a must-have.
If you’re looking for specific notes from our Barrel Bros, read their individual reviews below!
Individual Reviews
The Rye Guy Says
Score: 6.5/10
Value: 3/5
THE NOSE:
I got a fresh box of raisins mixed with a bit of custard.
It felt very rich to me. There is also a pretty strong oak profile blended in as well.
THE TASTE:
I was getting a bit of black licorice on the palate like a handful of Good & Plenty.
It still has a sweetness to it, but finishes with a bit of oak. It does have a bit of a peppery zing to it.
THE FINISH:
The finish is a bit woody and reminded me of that evergreen tree bark that you can peel off in thin vertical strips.
Dries the mouth a bit.
BUY OR PASS?
It's definitely a funky pour. It has some really atypical flavors. I don’t find it super refined and the flavors aren’t really my favorite.
I don’t think it’s a bottle I would purchase a second time. Maybe a fun experience for enthusiasts.
The Hunter Says
Score: 7.5/10
Value: 4/5
THE NOSE:
Vanilla and red fruits jump out first—strawberry, cherry, even something like a red Jolly Rancher. Then the oak and grain start to come through.
On later noses, I found caramel, walnut, and even chocolate-covered orange.
It keeps evolving the longer it sits, which makes it a fun one to nose.
THE TASTE:
Sweet but not heavy. Chocolate-covered cherry stands out right away, followed by caramel and a hint of graham cracker.
It’s a nice balance of sweet and classic bourbon flavors.
THE FINISH:
Starts with a touch of sweetness, but oak quickly takes over and dries things out more than I like.
It’s not bad, just leans a bit too dry for my taste.
BUY OR PASS?
This is a great bottle for the price. It brings solid complexity, interesting layers, and plenty of classic bourbon flavor.
The finish isn’t my favorite, but for someone who enjoys oak, that might actually be the best part.
