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Jim Beam Bourbon
About Jim Beam Bourbon
Despite trying other products from Beam-Suntory, I still haven’t experienced anything in the Jim Bean line of whiskies. So I can’t think of a better introduction to the brand than with the whiskey that started it all: Jim Beam Bourbon.
The history of Jim Beam can be traced back to 1740, when the Boehm family, later changed to Beam, came to America and started farming corn. With help from government incentives, the family would eventually settle in Kentucky, and use their experience with corn to start producing bourbon. This successful whiskey business would continue for generations, until Prohibition forced James “Jim” Beam to close the business in the 1920’s. Jim was able to rebuilt the distillery after Prohibition was repealed in 1933 with help from his son T. Jeremiah “Jere” Beam, who would eventually inherit the business and name the bourbon “Jim Beam.” Jim Beam remained in the family until being acquired by Japanese spirit company Suntory.
Jim Beam Bourbon is aged for 4 years, and uses 77% corn in the mash bill.
Bottle Specs
❖ Spirit: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
❖ Distillery: James B. Beam Distilling Co.
❖ ABV: 40% (80 Proof)
❖ Aged 4 Years
❖ Low Price
Tasting Notes
❖ Color: Light Brown
❖ Nose: Honey, Fruit, Peanut, Cream, Bit of Heat
❖ Taste: Vanilla, Spice, Caramel, Oak
❖ Finish: Spice, Vanilla
Cocktail
Kentucky Sunrise
1 Part Bourbon
1/2 Part Grenadine
3 Parts Orange Juice
❖ Add Bourbon and Orange juice to a tall high ball glass filled with ice
❖ Float grenadine, and garnish with an orange slice or cherry
Initially, I wasn’t sure what type of cocktail I wanted to make using Jim Beam Bourbon. It has such a classic bourbon flavor that I knew it would work in a variety of classic whiskey cocktails. But, then I saw that Jim Beam had this recipe for a Kentucky Sunrise, a variation of the classic Tequila Sunrise. I probably would never have thought to replace tequila with bourbon on my own, and I was excited to see the result of this combination of flavors.
Although I might prefer the tequila version, the Kentucky Sunrise is still a refreshing cocktail that’s perfect for summer. Jim Beam’s vanilla and oak notes are the strongest overall flavors, but there is still plenty of sweet, citrus flavor from the orange juice. The grenadine was more muted than I was expecting, but it still added enough sweetness to balance the bourbon.
Bottom Line
RATING: 3/5
If you’re looking for a solid and affordable bottle of bourbon, Jim Beam Bourbon is a decent option. The vanilla, fruit, and oak notes are exactly what you expect from a bourbon but there was also some nuttiness that I quite enjoyed. And while there was a bit of heat from the alcohol, it wasn’t as harsh as others in a similar price range.
The price is also one of Jim Beam Bourbon’s biggest selling points. It’s among the lowest priced bourbon, which means that it’s great for mixing. The straightforward flavor works particularly well in cocktails, and I was particularly impressed how well the vanilla and oak notes balanced with the significant amount of orange juice in the Kentucky Sunrise. While I won’t often drink Jim Beam Bourbon neat, I will definitely use it for all my refreshing cocktails this summer.
As always, drink responsibly.
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