New to whiskey? Begin with one of many greatest names within the sport.
Jim Beam is without doubt one of the best-selling bourbon manufacturers on the earth. It’s clean, inexpensive, and simple to search out. However earlier than you pour your first glass, there are some things value figuring out.
This information breaks it down in plain language. No fluff, no jargon. Simply 5 fast solutions to the most typical newbie questions on Jim Beam.
By the top, you’ll know precisely what you’re ingesting, and why it issues.
1. Is Jim Beam a bourbon or a whiskey, or each?
Jim Beam is each. It’s a bourbon whiskey. Meaning it belongs to a selected class of American whiskey made beneath strict guidelines.
All bourbon is whiskey. However not all whiskey is bourbon.
To be referred to as bourbon, a whiskey should meet authorized requirements set by the U.S. authorities. It should be:
- Made in the US
- Distilled from a mash invoice that’s at the least 51% corn
- Aged in new, charred oak barrels
- Distilled to not more than 160 proof
- Put into the barrel at 125 proof or much less
- Bottled at 80 proof or increased
- Free from added colours or flavors
Jim Beam ticks each field. It’s created from a mash invoice that’s largely corn, aged in brand-new oak barrels, and bottled at 80 proof. It’s additionally aged for at the least 4 years, which is twice the authorized minimal for straight bourbon.
You’ll see “Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey” printed clearly on the label. That’s how you already know it’s the actual deal.
Need extra element? Try Beam Suntory’s official web page on Jim Beam.
2. Is Jim Beam higher than Jack Daniel’s?
That will depend on what you want. They’re each clean, easy-drinking American whiskeys. However they’re not the identical.
Jim Beam is a Kentucky bourbon. Jack Daniel’s is a Tennessee whiskey. The distinction comes down to 1 key step. Jack Daniel’s makes use of a course of referred to as charcoal mellowing. It drips the whiskey by way of maple charcoal earlier than it goes into the barrel. That provides it a barely sweeter, smoother end.
Jim Beam skips that step. It goes straight into new charred oak barrels. The result’s a whiskey that’s a bit spicier, with stronger oak and vanilla notes.
Each are made largely from corn. Each are bottled at 80 proof. Each are common around the globe. Jack Daniel’s is technically the best-selling American whiskey. However Jim Beam is without doubt one of the best-selling bourbons globally.
So which one is best?
In case you like sweeter whiskey, begin with Jack Daniel’s. In case you want one thing drier with a bit extra spice, attempt Jim Beam. You possibly can’t go flawed with both.
For a side-by-side taste breakdown, this tasting comparability from Tasting Desk is an efficient learn.
3. Who owns Jim Beam?
Jim Beam began as a small household enterprise. It was based in 1795 by Jacob Beam, who offered his first barrels of whiskey in Kentucky. The Beam household stayed concerned for greater than 200 years, throughout seven generations.
That modified within the twenty first century.
In 2014, Jim Beam was purchased by Suntory Holdings, a Japanese firm identified for premium spirits like Hibiki and Yamazaki. The 2 companies merged to kind Beam Suntory, now one of many greatest names in international whiskey. The corporate rebranded in 2024 and is now often known as Suntory World Spirits.
The Beam household continues to be a part of the operation. Fred Noe, Jim Beam’s great-grandson, serves as Grasp Distiller.
Possession might have gone international. However the whiskey continues to be made the identical approach it’s at all times been.
4. The place is Jim Beam made?
Jim Beam is made in Clermont, Kentucky, proper within the coronary heart of bourbon nation.
The distillery known as the James B. Beam Distilling Co. There’s additionally a second manufacturing website in Boston, Kentucky, just some miles away.
The native Kentucky water is of course filtered by way of limestone. That removes iron, which may spoil taste. The local weather additionally performs a giant function. Scorching summers and chilly winters assist the bourbon broaden and contract within the barrel. That pulls taste from the charred oak over time.
Jim Beam’s rickhouses, massive picket warehouses the place barrels age, are dotted throughout the Kentucky hills. Some maintain 1000’s of barrels without delay.
If you wish to see it in individual, you possibly can. The Clermont website is open to guests and provides a full distillery tour. You will discover particulars on the Jim Beam customer expertise web page.
5. What bottles are within the Jim Beam vary?
Jim Beam makes much more than only one bottle of bourbon. The model provides all the pieces from beginner-friendly choices to daring, higher-proof expressions. There’s even a spread of flavored whiskeys if you’d like one thing sweeter or extra playful.
Right here’s a fast information to what’s on the market:
Jim Beam Core Bottles
- Jim Beam Authentic (White Label): The basic. Aged 4 years, bottled at 80 proof. Clean, candy, and simple to drink.
- Jim Beam Black: Additional-aged, round 6 to eight years. Barely richer, with deeper oak and caramel notes.
- Jim Beam Satan’s Reduce: Makes use of whiskey extracted from deep contained in the barrel staves. Daring, oaky, and 90 proof.
- Jim Beam Double Oak: Aged in two barrels. The second provides additional depth and sweetness.
- Jim Beam Single Barrel: Every bottle comes from one specifically chosen barrel. Wealthy, advanced, and a bit stronger.
Jim Beam Authentic and Jim Beam Black are common beginning factors. Try this text in case you are uncertain as to which to attempt first.
Flavored Whiskeys
- Jim Beam Honey
- Jim Beam Apple
- Jim Beam Peach
- Jim Beam Vanilla
- Jim Beam Orange
- Jim Beam Pineapple
- Jim Beam Kentucky Hearth (cinnamon)
- Pink Stag (Black Cherry)
These are decrease in alcohol, normally round 65 proof, and nice for mixing or sipping over ice.
Restricted Version & Extra
- Jim Beam Rye (Pre-Prohibition Type): A straight rye whiskey with a spicier kick. Nice in cocktails like an Previous Usual or Manhattan.
- Jim Beam Sunshine Mix: A bourbon made with brown rice and aged for 4 years,
- Jim Beam Winter Reserve: A 6-year-old bourbon completed in two toasted barrels with “notes of vanilla and cinnamon”
- Jim Beam Previous Tub: Previous Tub is nice for individuals who need to expertise the place Jim Beam started. A nostalgic nod to a 140-year-old bourbon recipe.
- Jim Beam Repeal Batch: A restricted version providing paying tribute to Jim B. Beam’s first batch made on the new distillery post-Prohibition.
Jim Beam additionally sits on the middle of a household of premium bourbons like Knob Creek, Basil Hayden’s, Booker’s, and Baker’s. These fall beneath Beam Suntory, however they’re marketed individually.
Exploring Jim Beam
In case you’re simply stepping into whiskey, Jim Beam is a superb place to start out. It’s inexpensive, simple to search out, and backed by greater than 200 years of bourbon-making custom.
This information was written for absolute rookies, so you possibly can strategy your first pour with confidence. Whether or not you attempt the basic White Label, a flavored variant, or one thing a bit bolder, there’s no flawed place to start.
So go discover. You don’t want a special day, only a glass and a bit curiosity.
