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Liquor Review: Jim Beam

Published on January 31st, 2008 in Whiskey & Bourbon by Wade

Jim Beam Different people like to drink different types of liquors. Dirty rednecks like to drink the trashy stuff, ritzy people like to drink expensive stuff, alcoholics like to drink…well, anything. For all these types of drinkers, there are usually a few liquors that seem to cater to all of these groups. I think Jim Beam Bourbon is one of those special liquors. No matter what kind of drinker you are, you can handle Jim Beam.

Jim Beam contains all the pride of its 200-year history. Originated by Jacob Beam in 1795, it is the product of seven generations of distillers. Jim Beam starts with only the finest ingredients and cooks them at a lower temperature over longer periods of time than some other distillers. This gives Jim Beam a natural grain flavor that’s never harsh and always mellow. While other bourbons may be distilled to as much as 160-proof, Jim Beam is distilled at lower temperatures and reduced to no more than 125-proof, or 62.5% alcohol. This retains more of the whiskey’s natural, mellow flavor. Experts believe that the time bourbon spends in the barrel produces its true character, so Jim Beam is aged for a minimum of four full years (twice the federal mandate) to perfect its rich amber glow and uncommonly smooth taste.

When you first crack that new bottle of Jim, you notice a really woody, strong liquor smell. You can also distincly pick out a corn-like aroma. This is how barrel-aged liquor should smell. As for the taste, it is very similar to the smell. Jim Beam has a really woody yet sweet flavor that is strong and burns the mouth as you try to swallow down the delicious whiskey. There is a bit of flaming breath (after taking a sip, you can feel your first exhaled breath burning up from your throat and out your mouth) after each chug, but most 80-proof liquor will do that. After we stop noticing the flaming breath, we alcoholics at BoozeBasher can tell it’s really worth drinking.

As for mixing Jim Beam, I don’t really recommend it unless you are an amateur or a very casual drinker. All mixing does is really weaken the liquor. The burn of Jim Beam can be overcome, but that whiskey flavor still shines through. Unfortunately, the mixed taste is just a weaker version of the Beam flavor. I guess the mixed flavor could be called Diet Jim Beam, and we all know “diet” drinks are never as good as the real thing.

No matter how much I like the taste of Jim Beam, it couldn’t get me to the happy field of bliss I like to call being drunk. Seeing that it only cost $18 for a 750ml bottle, you will surely to be able to buy enough to get you there. Luckily, you probably won’t have too much of a hangover the next morning. I have to admit, that night I slept great and awoke the next day bright-eyed, bushy-tailed, and ready to take on the world. Whenever you wake up like that, the only thing to do is drink more. Beam allows you to do just that, and as many of our forum members already know, I went back to drinking Jim Beam as soon as I got out of bed. This time, I found myself drunk and passed out by 11:30am. Now if that doesn’t make for a good liquor, what does?

So don’t let the plain look of the bottle turn you off this one. When the bottle is this plain, the good people of Jim Beam have more time and resources for making better whiskey. Beam doesn’t cost much and won’t leave you with a horrible hangover the next day. Plus, the barrel taste is great, even when its six in the morning and you just don’t really have anything better to do. It’s never a bad time to drink, and it’s never bad to drink Jim Beam. Next time you are out, go ahead and bag a bottle.

Sipability – 6.0

Mixability – 6.0

Drunkability – 6.5

Hangover-ability – 7.5

Bang for the Buck – 10

Overall – 6.5