Two Great Distilleries Prove Their Mastery with an Inspired Bourbon
Legent Straight Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey ($44.99)
“Just as you’d expect from Beam and Suntory bringing their great whisky heads together— incredible Kentucky bourbon in the elegant and sophisticated Japanese profile. A home-run hit with a cool concept and perfect execution.” —Andrew Whiteley, K&L NorCal Spirits Buyer
One of the most exciting projects in the whiskey world of late has been Beam Suntory looking to bring together their expertise from East and West in a single project. Legent, a Bourbon that blends the unique traditions of these two distillers, is every bit as good as one might imagine. This divine dram begins with a four year Bourbon crafted by none other than Beam’s Master Distiller, Fred Noe. A small portion of the final blend is aged in a combination of sherry and red wine casks, adding impressive range and complexity. Building on this excellent foundation, Suntory’s fifth-generation Chief Blender, Shunji Fukuyo, then adds reserves from Beam’s vast collection of older Kentucky Straight Bourbons. The result is a bottling that is as ethereal as it is delicious. Simply put, it is an all-American Bourbon with the elegance and refinement of Japanese whisky—a truly magical combination. As the staff notes below will attest, this one-of-a-kind whiskey far outperforms its modest price and constitutes one of the better buys we’ve encountered in 2019. We were fortunate to receive a solid allocation, but once word gets out just how good it is, it is destined to sell out in a flash.
Legent Straight Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey (750ml) ($44.99)
Andrew Whiteley | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: June 27, 2019
Generally “innovative” in the bourbon industry is a shield word for an experiment gone wrong. Not so in this case! Beam Suntory, one of the world’s most important drinks companies, is in a unique position through ownership of two of the most important brands in two of the hottest categories in the spirits world – bourbon and Japanese whisky. A quick coating of your glass with Legent and you’ll fill the room (or cubicle in my case) with robust cinnamon, sweet dried fruits, caramel, candied popcorn, vanilla, and a smooth sense of calm. The 47% ABV is just perfection for sipping neat. The judicious use of sherry and red wine casks on only a fraction of the whisky adds complexity without overpowering the inherent bourbon-ness of the spirit. Just as you’d expect from Beam and Suntory bringing their great whisky heads together – incredible Kentucky bourbon in the elegant and sophisticated Japanese profile. A home-run hit with a cool concept and perfect execution.
Neal Fischer | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: June 18, 2019
Generally “innovative” in the bourbon industry is a shield word for an experiment gone wrong. Not so in this case! Beam Suntory, one of the world’s most important drinks companies, is in a unique position through ownership of two of the most important brands in two of the hottest categories in the spirits world – bourbon and Japanese whisky. A quick coating of your glass with Legent and you’ll fill the room (or cubicle in my case) with robust cinnamon, sweet dried fruits, caramel, candied popcorn, vanilla, and a smooth sense of calm. The 47% ABV is just perfection for sipping neat. The judicious use of sherry and red wine casks on only a fraction of the whisky adds complexity without overpowering the inherent bourbon-ness of the spirit. Just as you’d expect from Beam and Suntory bringing their great whisky heads together – incredible Kentucky bourbon in the elegant and sophisticated Japanese profile. A home-run hit with a cool concept and perfect execution.
Jackson Lee | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: March 26, 2019
The power of suggestion can be extremely influential, so when I heard about this new Beam Suntory project, of course I had predetermined thoughts on what it might taste like. A bourbon blended by a Japanese blender, like a beautiful Venn Diagram combining the flavors of bourbon with the preferences of a Japanese palate. It’s two worlds I thought would never cross, but they did. And it works. On the nose, you get the big, expressive aspects of bourbon with red cherries, candy corn, and dried plums, but then there’s a sherry and marzipan note that kicks in and is reminiscent of an older scotch. The palate has a silky smooth texture with wood tannins drying out at the end. Notes of dried orchard fruits mingle with cocoa powder and orange blossom honey. There’s a soft elegance throughout the dram that captures (in my mind) what people want and look for in a good Japanese whisky. As a huge fan of both Japanese and American whiskies, I can say this one absolutely did not disappoint.
