Jim Beam Red Stag Black Cherry Bourbon 750ML

Jim Beam Red Stag Black Cherry Bourbon 750ML is a flavored Kentucky straight bourbon infused with natural black cherry, bottled at 32.5% ABV (65 proof). Launched in 2009, Red Stag was Jim Beam's first foray into flavored bourbon and one of the category's earliest major-brand entries, helping define a segment that has since expanded across the American whiskey landscape.

Quick Facts: ABV: 32.5% (65 Proof)  |  Origin: Clermont, Kentucky, USA  |  Flavored Bourbon  |  Distillery: Jim Beam

Production & Heritage

Jim Beam Distillery, founded in 1795 and now part of Beam Suntory, has been producing bourbon in Kentucky for over two centuries. Red Stag begins as Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey distilled from a mashbill of corn, rye, and malted barley, then undergoes a natural black cherry flavor infusion process. The result is bottled at a lower proof than standard Jim Beam White Label (which sits at 40% ABV), reflecting the sweetness-forward profile the expression is designed to deliver.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Natural black cherry leads immediately, with bourbon character lingering just behind it. Vanilla and light oak round out the nose, creating an unmistakably fruit-forward opening.

Taste: The palate opens with juicy, ripe black cherry that dominates the entry. Mid-palate brings spiced vanilla reminiscent of cinnamon and nutmeg, along with soft caramel and a touch of oak. The bourbon's underlying grain character provides enough backbone that the whiskey doesn't read as purely confectionery, though the profile is decidedly sweet.

Finish: Smooth and relatively short, with lingering cherry sweetness and gentle warmth. The oak notes that were subtle on the palate become slightly more apparent as the finish fades.

How to Drink Red Stag

Red Stag is most approachable served chilled or over ice, which tempers the sweetness slightly and lets the bourbon character come through. Its lower proof and fruit-forward nature make it a natural cocktail ingredient.

• Cherry Cola Bourbon: Red Stag with cola over ice plays directly to the cherry-vanilla backbone, creating a simple two-ingredient drink with surprising depth.
• Black Cherry Sour: Substituting Red Stag in a classic Whiskey Sour adds fruit sweetness that works with the lemon juice, reducing the need for added simple syrup.
• Cherry Old Fashioned: Using Red Stag as the base lets you skip the muddled cherry step while still delivering cherry flavor alongside bitters and orange peel.

Best For

• Introducing bourbon-curious drinkers to the whiskey category through a sweeter, more accessible entry point
• Stocking a home bar for easy, crowd-friendly mixed drinks at casual gatherings
• Building dessert-style cocktails without layering multiple liqueurs
• Gifting someone who enjoys flavored spirits and wants to explore bourbon territory

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Red Stag taste like? Red Stag is a distinctly sweet, cherry-dominant bourbon with supporting notes of vanilla, caramel, and warm baking spice. The bourbon grain and oak flavors are present but secondary to the black cherry infusion.

How does Red Stag compare to Wild Turkey American Honey? Both are flavored bourbons from established Kentucky distilleries, but they target different palates — Red Stag centers on black cherry fruit at 32.5% ABV, while American Honey is a honey-flavored bourbon liqueur bottled at 35.5% ABV with a distinctly floral-sweet profile.

Is Red Stag good for cocktails? Red Stag works well in cocktails where cherry flavor is desired without adding a separate cherry liqueur, and its lower proof makes it blend easily into mixed drinks without overwhelming other ingredients.

Where is Red Stag made? Red Stag is produced at the Jim Beam Distillery in Clermont, Kentucky, where the Beam family has been making bourbon since 1795.

What foods pair well with Red Stag? Dark chocolate desserts complement the cherry sweetness. Vanilla ice cream or cheesecake creates a dessert-and-drink combination that highlights the bourbon's vanilla notes. Smoked pork or barbecue ribs with a cherry glaze echo the flavor profile, while soft aged cheeses like brie provide a creamy counterpoint to the fruit character.

What sizes does Red Stag come in? Red Stag is widely available in the standard 750ml bottle, as well as 1L and 1.75L formats.

Is Red Stag worth the price? Red Stag positions as an entry-level flavored bourbon, priced competitively within the flavored whiskey category and accessible for casual sipping or mixing without a significant investment.

Why Red Stag?

Red Stag's place in bourbon history is specific and documentable: it was Jim Beam's first flavored expression in 2009 and one of the earliest flavored bourbons from a heritage Kentucky distillery. That pioneering move helped legitimize flavored bourbon as a category rather than a novelty. The base spirit is genuine Kentucky straight bourbon — corn, rye, and malted barley — which gives the cherry infusion a foundation that separates it from cherry-flavored spirits built on neutral grain. For drinkers who find traditional bourbon too assertive, Red Stag provides a genuine bourbon backbone softened by natural fruit character at a wallet-friendly price point.