Jim Beam

When we say Jim Beam is a popular bourbon brand, it’s hard to explain just how popular it is. Other than just simply being the most popular bourbon brand in the world, it also boasts sales of roughly seven million cases per year, and is available in 200 “countries” across the world.

Yes, technically, there might only be 196 countries in the world, but Jim Beam’s also available in those extra territories, too. With those facts combined, you can be pretty sure that no other bourbon brand has circled the world and come back around again the same way Jim Beam has.

This crisp, woody, sweet bourbon has been run by one family for seven generations — and they show no signs of putting a halt to that anytime soon. The family has used the same yeast culture for the past 75 years and the same ratios of corn, rye, and malted barley since it relaunched after the United States’ prohibition period.

The next generation of distillers has already been prepped to take over when the time comes. Arguably one of the world’s best-kept family secrets, Jim Beam is more than just a household name in the world of bourbon, it’s a multi-century-long necessity for any self-respecting whiskey drinker.

Jim Beam price and Jim Beam bottle sizes

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Jake Beam, Old Tub, and finally Jim Beam

Jim Beam didn’t start its path of success under the name “Jim Beam”. Originally, when it was first launched by Mr Jacob Beam back in 1795, it was called Jake Beam. Rising success in the world of whiskey (and particularly bourbon) made it an obvious choice to pass down this family heirloom to the next in line, Jacob’s son, David Beam.

Seemingly unimpressed with its original name, David rebranded the bourbon to Old Tub, a name that stuck around until the end of prohibition. In 1894, James Beauregard Beam, or Jim Beam to his friends and family, took over once again from David. But along came prohibition, which put a stop to all bourbon creation for 13 years. When it finally came to an end, the brand wasted no time picking things back up.

A new distillery was created in 120 days, which came complete with a new name: Colonel James B. Beam Bourbon or, Jim Beam, for short. Pesky details like losing the rights to the original name wasn’t going to put this family off.

Not much has changed since those days, except for the exponential growth of the brand. The old saying “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” has never rung more true than with Jim Beam’s methods, which include a 219-year old mash bill, a 75-year old yeast colony and traditional methods that were used way back in the initial set up period.

Fred Noe, the seventh-generation master distiller, even keeps a jar of the yeast colony in his fridge just to be on the safe side — another tradition passed down over years.

And it’s easy to see why things tend to stay the same for this brand: it’s already a ridiculously popular choice. As well as selling bottle after bottle of the bourbon, you’ll also find endless variations of merchandise around the world. Jim Beam’s popularity surpasses mere bottles and has broken into the realms of pool tables, lighters, smokers from the brand’s barrels, dartboards, and even clothes.

If you’d rather eat your Jim Beam rather than drinking it, you can do so in the form of beef jerky, hot sauce, sunflower seeds, pancake syrup, salmon or pulled pork.

There’s a Jim Beam collectors website where fans can buy, trade, and sell branded ceramic decanters, and a large community of people who own a membership to discuss all things Jim Beam. How many other alcohol brands can say that?

How to drink Jim Beam

Nutty, sweet, floral and grassy: drinking Jim Beam is an adventure for the palate and so should best be enjoyed in a way that lets you savor the process.

Much like any decent bourbon, you’ll want to start with the correct glassware. If you’re drinking your Jim Beam neat, you’ll likely want a brandy snifter glass to allow the spirit to breathe. If you’re drinking on the rocks, you’ll prefer a rocks glass. If you’re a newbie in the world of bourbon drinking, the latter is probably a better option to begin with.

Unlike many other spirits which should be served chilled, bourbon is best enjoyed at room temperature. This means storing it somewhere cool and shaded before drinking and letting it rest in its bottle for a few moments before opening it up.

Take your first sip and let the whiskey dance around your tastebuds — there’s not much point chugging it back if you’re drinking to enjoy the spirit. If it seems a little intense or burns your throat, try adding water or chilling for a short period of time.

But that’s not to say that Jim Beam should always be enjoyed straight. The budget-friendly price of this whiskey makes it a great option for mixing into the best cocktails. For those, you’ll want to opt for whichever glassware your cocktail recipe calls for.

The best cocktails to make with Jim Beam

There are plenty of delicious Jim Beam recipes out there and the best ones are designed to emphasize this classic bourbon’s tasting notes and aromas. Opt for cocktails that complement the sweet and woody notes of the spirit for best results.

Citrus Highball

Ingredients:

• 45 ml Jim Beam White Label
• 20 ml Fresh Lemon Juice
• Soda Water
• Crushed Ice
• Slice of Lemon
• Sprig of Rosemary

Cocktail recipes: Zesty and refreshing, a Citrus Highball is the ultimate summer bourbon cocktail. Make it by pouring Jim Beam White Label over a packed glass of ice before adding the fresh lemon juice. Top with chilled soda water and stir with a long spoon. Garnish with the lemon slice and a sprig of rosemary before serving.

Bourbon Sour

Ingredients:

• 60 ml Jim Beam Bourbon
• 30 ml Lemon Juice
• 15 ml Lemon Lime Soda
• 0.5 Teaspoon Sugar
• Lemon wedge
• Cherry

Cocktail recipes: A Bourbon Sour is a staple choice for a crowd-pleasing cocktail. To make, mix Jim Beam with lemon juice, sugar and ice in a shaker and shake vigorously. When sufficiently chilled, strain into a whiskey sour glass and garnish with the lemon wedge and cherry before serving.

Berry Julep

Ingredients:

• 45ml Jim Beam Bourbon
• 15ml Raspberry Syrup
• 15ml Blueberry Syrup
• 15ml Lemon Juice

Cocktail recipes: This pretty cocktail bridges the gap between sweet and refreshing with a beautiful color contrast to round it off. It’s also a great option for mixing up a batch of, thanks to its ease of preparation. Shake all ingredients together and serve over ice. Garnish with the mint and berries before serving.

Frequently asked questions about Jim Beam