First Impressions
Jim Beam White Label — the world's best-selling bourbon, and a family legacy spanning seven generations. Jacob Beam (born Johannes Bohm, a German immigrant) sold his first barrels of corn whiskey in Kentucky around 1795. The brand was renamed 'Jim Beam' in 1943 to honour James B. Beam, who rebuilt the distillery after Prohibition.
The Bourbon
Approximately 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley. Aged a minimum of four years in new charred American oak. Bottled at 40% ABV. Now owned by Beam Suntory. This is the benchmark against which all budget bourbons are measured.
Tasting
Honey-roasted peanuts and vanilla on the nose. The palate is straightforward — caramel, vanilla, light fruit. The 40% ABV keeps it thin. The finish is short. This is a mixer's bourbon, not a sipper's.
The Verdict
Jim Beam White earns a 5.5 — honest, reliable, and universally available. It lacks the complexity for neat drinking, but that's not its purpose. Seven generations of family craft distilled down to the most accessible bourbon on earth. At £20, it's the gateway to Kentucky.
