Jim Beam
The world's best-selling bourbon, made by the same Kentucky family for seven generations. Everything about the varieties, flavor, cocktails and the right glass to serve it in.
Seven generations of Beams from Kentucky
Jim Beam dates back to 1795, when Jacob Beam sold his first barrels of whiskey in Kentucky. The family recipe has been passed down from generation to generation ever since; the brand bears the name of James B. Beam, who rebuilt the distillery in just 120 days after Prohibition ended in 1933. Today, the seventh Beam generation is involved in production in Clermont, Kentucky.
Bourbon must meet strict requirements: at least 51% corn in the grain mixture, aged in new, charred oak barrels, and with no additives. Those charred barrels give bourbon its characteristic vanilla, caramel and wood notes. Jim Beam White Label is aged for four years and has 40% alcohol; there are also longer-aged versions and flavored varieties with honey and apple.
In short
What types of Jim Beam are there?
Jim Beam White Label
The original: aged for four years, smooth and slightly sweet with vanilla and oak. The bourbon for cola, ginger ale and classic cocktails.
Jim Beam Black
Aged longer in charred oak and bottled at 43%. Fuller and deeper, with caramel, cinnamon and a long, warm finish.
Jim Beam Double Oak
Aged in not one but two new charred oak barrels. Intense wood, caramel and toffee, yet smooth.
Jim Beam Honey
Bourbon with real honey liqueur: sweet, smooth and warm, with caramel and vanilla underneath. Delicious with ginger ale.
Jim Beam Apple
Bourbon with fresh apple liqueur. Surprisingly fresh and easy-drinking; best with tonic or apple juice and plenty of ice.
Jim Beam White 1 liter
The one-liter bottle for the home bar or a party. More economical per glass if you pour a lot of bourbon and cola.
White Label is the all-rounder; Black and Double Oak are for drinking neat.
Vanilla, caramel and charred oak
Vanilla & oak
Sweet vanilla, caramel and toasted oak, with a hint of corn and cinnamon. Instantly recognizable as bourbon.
Smooth and slightly sweet
Smooth and rounded, with caramel, vanilla and woody notes. Less sharp than many other whiskeys, making it approachable.
Warm and short
A warm, slightly spicy finish with oak and pepper. Black and Double Oak linger noticeably longer.
Flavor profile of Jim Beam White Label. Black and Double Oak score higher for spice and strength; Honey and Apple score 5/5 for sweetness.
Three ways to drink Jim Beam
Jim Beam is made for mixing. Cola or ginger ale will take you a long way; on the rocks brings out the vanilla and oak notes.
As a highball
50 ml Jim Beam with 150 ml ginger ale in an ice-filled highball glass, with a lemon slice. The ginger and bourbon's vanilla enhance each other. Works just as well with cola.
Highball recipe →On the rocks
Pour 5 cl Jim Beam Black over one large ice cube in a tumbler. The ice melts slowly and brings out the caramel and woody notes without diluting the whiskey.
Glass: tumbler →As a Whiskey Sour
Shake 50 ml Jim Beam, 25 ml lemon juice, 15 ml sugar syrup and a splash of egg white vigorously, then strain over ice. Sweet, sour and topped with foam: the best way to get to know bourbon.
Go to the recipe →The best cocktails with Jim Beam
Whiskey Sour
Bourbon, lemon, sugar and egg white. The classic introduction to bourbon.
Old Fashioned
Bourbon, sugar, Angostura and one large ice cube. At its best with the Black or Double Oak.
Mint Julep
Bourbon with mint, sugar and crushed ice. The drink of the Kentucky Derby.
Manhattan
Whiskey, sweet vermouth and bitters. Sweeter and rounder with bourbon than with rye.The right glass for Jim Beam
A heavy tumbler for drinks on the rocks and an Old Fashioned, a long drink glass for bourbon with cola or ginger ale, and a mixing glass for stirring. These are the glasses we recommend ourselves.
Everything you still wanted to know about Jim Beam
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