Jim Beam
The world's best-selling bourbon, made by the same Kentucky family for seven generations. Everything about the varieties, taste, cocktails and the right glass to serve it in.
Seven generations of the Beam family from Kentucky
Jim Beam dates back to 1795, when Jacob Beam sold his first whiskey barrels 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 generation of the Beam family is involved in production in Clermont, Kentucky.
Bourbon must meet strict requirements: at least 51% corn in the grain mix, aged in new, charred oak barrels, and with no additives. These 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 brief
What types of Jim Beam are there?
Jim Beam White Label
The original: aged for four years, smooth and lightly 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, warming finish.
Jim Beam Double Oak
Aged in not one but two new charred oak barrels. Intense wood, caramel and toffee, yet still smooth.
Jim Beam Honey
Bourbon with real honey liqueur: sweet, smooth and warming, with caramel and vanilla underneath. Delicious with ginger ale.
Jim Beam Apple
Bourbon with fresh apple liqueur. Surprisingly fresh and easy to drink; 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. Immediately recognizable as bourbon.
Smooth and lightly sweet
Smooth and round, with caramel, vanilla and oak notes. Less sharp than many other whiskeys, making it approachable.
Warm and short
A warm, lightly spicy finish with oak and pepper. Black and Double Oak clearly linger 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 far; on the rocks brings out the vanilla and oak more clearly.
As a highball
50 ml Jim Beam with 150 ml ginger ale in an ice-filled highball glass, garnished with a lemon slice. The ginger and bourbon's vanilla enhance each other. It 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 opens up the caramel and oak notes without diluting the whiskey.
Glass: tumbler →As a Whiskey Sour
Shake 50 ml Jim Beam, 25 ml lemon juice, 15 ml simple syrup and a dash of egg white vigorously, then strain over ice. Sweet, sour and with a layer of 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 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 on the rocks and the Old Fashioned, a highball 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
Is your question not listed? Check out our cocktail recipes or contact us.
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