Jim Beam
Jim Beam is the second best-selling whiskey in the USA, just behind the top dog Jack Daniel's. However, it remains the No. 1 straight bourbon whiskey. What is a straight bourbon? As a classic straight bourbon, Jim Beam is made with at least 51% corn, specifically 77% corn, 13% rye and 10% malted barley. After distillation, Jim Beam is aged in burnt American white oak barrels (Virgin Oak) for at least four years. Straight Bourbon must not be coloured and must not contain any other additives. What does Jim Beam whiskey taste like? Jim Beam is a sweet and spicy bourbon with flavours of vanilla, fresh hay and light oak. Like almost all bourbons, Jim Beam is not smoky, so don't be confused by the burnt barrels, this is a standard procedure. On the contrary, the layer of charcoal inside the barrel ensures a filtering process over the years, making the whiskey softer. Where does the name Jim Beam come from? Jim Beam actually has its roots in Germany with the emigrant Böhm family. The whiskey was named Jim Beam after James Beam, who re-established the brand in the USA after Prohibition. The Beam family is still active in the distillery today in the seventh generation. The Booker's Bourbon is even named after Master Distiller Booker Noe, who worked as Master Distiller for Jim Beam for over 40 years. Other excellent whiskeys produced by Jim Beam are Old Grand-Dad, Old Crow, Baker's, Basil Hayden's, Knob Creek and Old Overholt. As you can see, there is much more to Jim Beam than just cheap supermarket bourbon. Here you will find American whiskey history at its finest and one of the most exciting distilleries in the USA.
