Jim Beam owns lots of bourbon brands, and we did the hard work for you by ranking each of them. Just like Buffalo Trace, Jim Beam owns lots of brands of bourbons. But which one is the best?
Jim Beam is one of the most popular and iconic bourbon brands in the world. It has history that dates back to 1795, making it one of the oldest bourbon brands in America. But like Buffalo Trace, Jim Beam is not just one bourbon. It is a family of brands that offer a variety of styles, flavors, and expressions for different tastes and occasions.
In this post, we’ll give you the ranking of the Jim Beam bourbon brands based on their quality, reputation, and value. We will then sort them as “Bottom Shelf”, “Mid Tier”, and “Premium”.
List of Jim Beam Bourbon Brands
Jim Beam Bottom Shelf Brands
12. Old Crow
At the bottom of our Jim Bean ranking is Old Crow.
Old Crow is a low-priced brand of Kentucky-made straight bourbon whiskey distilled by Beam Suntory. The current Old Crow product uses the same mash bill and yeast as Jim Beam, but is aged for a shorter period of time. Think of it basically as non-aged Jim Beam. We honestly wouldn’t really recommend Old Crow for anything. It’s gnarly and old-school, and doesn’t contain any kind of depth. But is also reasonably priced, with a suggested retail price of $10.
One to try: Don’t. But if you do, there’s one option: Old Crow. This is the only expression of Old Crow available. People that like it say that it is a simple and sweet bourbon that has notes of honey, candy corn, vanilla, and pepper, with a smooth and mellow finish.
11. Old Tub
Old Tub is a historic Jim Beam brand that dates back to the late 1800s, when customers would fill their jugs from a tub of whiskey at the distillery. It is a bottled in bond, non-filtered bourbon that is aged for at least 4 years in new charred oak barrels, and bottled at 100 proof. Old Tub is also one of the most affordable Jim Beam bourbon brands, with a suggested retail price of $23.
One to try: Just like with Old Crow, there’s only one option here: Old Tub. This is the only expression of Old Tub available, and it is a remarkable bourbon that has notes of oak, corn, vanilla, spice, and smoke, with a long and warm finish.
10. Jim Beam
Jim Beam is the flagship brand of Beam Suntory, and the world’s best-selling bourbon whiskey. It is a Kentucky straight bourbon that is aged for at least 4 years in new charred oak barrels, and bottled at 80 proof. It is a smooth, sweet, and versatile bourbon that has a classic flavor profile of vanilla, caramel, oak, and spice. Jim Beam is a great bourbon for everyday occasions, and it can be enjoyed neat, on the rocks, or in cocktails. It is also reasonably priced, with a suggested retail price of $17.92.
One to try: Jim Beam Single Barrel. This is a premium expression of Jim Beam, bottled from a single barrel selected by the master distiller. It is bottled at 95 proof, and it has notes of toffee, oak, vanilla, and pepper, with a smooth and rich finish.
9. Old Overholt
This bourbon’s spot at number 9 in our Jim Bream ranking might rub some as controversial
Old Overholt is the oldest enduring American rye whiskey in the United States, established in 1810 by Abraham Overholt, a pioneer in the field of whiskey making. It is a straight rye whiskey that is aged for at least 4 years in new charred oak barrels, and bottled at 86 proof. When you pour a dram, you’ll discover a full-bodied, balanced, and very flavorful rye whiskey that has a complex, layered, and balanced flavor that showcases the best of both worlds. It is also moderately priced, with a suggested retail price of $19.
One to try: Old Overholt Bottled in Bond. This is a higher proof version of Old Overholt, bottled at 100 proof. It has notes of brown sugar, honey, malt, spice, and oak, with a long and spicy finish.
8. Old Grand-Dad
Old Grand-Dad is a high-rye bourbon that is part of the small batch collection that Booker Noe created in the 1990s. It is named after Basil Hayden Sr., a pioneer and distiller who was one of the first to use a high-rye mash bill in Kentucky. Old Grand-Dad is a light-bodied and smooth bourbon that is aged for 8 years in new charred oak barrels, and bottled at 80 proof. It is a mild, sweet, and easy-drinking bourbon that has a spicy and peppery kick from the rye. Old Grand-Dad is a great bourbon for beginners or for those who prefer a lighter style. It is also reasonably priced, with a suggested retail price of $19.99.
One to try: Old Grand-Dad 114. This is a higher proof version of Old Grand-Dad, bottled at 114 proof. It has notes of caramel, vanilla, oak, cinnamon, nutmeg, and pepper, with a smooth and mellow finish. It’s delicious, and puts many of the more premium bourbons to shame.
Jim Beam Mid Tier Brands
7. Legent
Legent is a unique and innovative product that combines American and Japanese whiskey traditions. It is a collaboration between Fred Noe, the seventh-generation master distiller of Jim Beam, and Shinji Fukuyo, the chief blender of Suntory, the Japanese whiskey giant. Legent is a blend of Kentucky straight bourbon that is aged for at least 4 years in new charred oak barrels, and then finished in wine and sherry casks. It is bottled at 94 proof, and it has a complex, layered, and balanced flavor that showcases the best of both worlds. This bottle tastes, looks, and sips different than most other standard Kentucky bourbons. It’s worth a try. It is also moderately priced, with a suggested retail price of $34.99.
One to try: The namesake Legent bottle is a remarkable blend of bourbon, wine, and sherry flavors. It has notes of caramel, vanilla, oak, cherry, plum, raisin, and spice, with a smooth and long finish. The other variety, Legent Yamazaki, generates rave reviews, and is aged in barrels from a fantastic Japanese whiskey brand. Get your hands on this if you can find a bottle.
6. Knob Creek
Know Creek is smack-dab in the middle of our ranking of Jim Beam Bourbon brands.
Knob Creek’s flagship bottle is a high-rye bourbon that is aged for 9 years in heavily charred oak barrels, giving it a rich, robust, and spicy flavor. It is bottled at 100 proof, which is the traditional proof of pre-Prohibition bourbon. Knob Creek is a versatile and balanced bourbon that can be enjoyed neat, on the rocks, or in cocktails. It comes with a suggested retail price of $34.99.
One to try: Knob Creek 12 Year. This is a limited edition release that celebrates the 25th anniversary of Knob Creek. It is aged for 12 years, which is 3 years longer than the standard Knob Creek, and bottled at 100 proof. It has notes of caramel, brown sugar, oak, nutmeg, and pepper, with a smooth and satisfying finish.
5. Basil Hayden’s
This bourbon is named after Basil Hayden Sr., a pioneer and distiller who was one of the first to use a high-rye mash bill in Kentucky. Basil Hayden’s is a light-bodied and smooth bourbon that is aged for 8 years in new charred oak barrels, and bottled at 80 proof. It is a mild, sweet, and easy-drinking bourbon that has a spicy and peppery kick from the rye. Basil Hayden’s is a great bourbon for beginners or for those who prefer a lighter style. It is also reasonably priced, with a suggested retail price of $39.99.
One to try: Basil Hayden’s 10 Year. This is a limited edition release that is aged for 10 years, which is 2 years longer than the standard Basil Hayden’s, and bottled at 80 proof. It has notes of caramel, vanilla, oak, cinnamon, nutmeg, and pepper, with a smooth and mellow finish.
4. Clermont Steep
Clermont Steep is a blend of Kentucky straight malt whiskey that is aged for at least 5 years in new charred oak barrels, and then finished in wine and sherry casks. It is bottled at 94 proof, and it has a complex, layered, and balanced flavor that showcases the best of both worlds. Clermont Steep is a modern and sophisticated whiskey that is perfect for whiskey enthusiasts who want to try something different. It is priced at a suggested retail price of $60.
One to try: This is the only expression of Clermont Steep available, and it is a remarkable blend of malt, wine, and sherry flavors. It has notes of toffee, vanilla, oak, honey, orange, and spice, with a smooth and long finish.
Jim Beam Premium Brands
3. Baker’s
Baker’s is part of Jim Beam’s small batch collection. It is named after Baker Beam, the grandnephew of Jim Beam and a former distillery manager. Baker’s is a single barrel bourbon that is aged for at least 7 years in new charred oak barrels, and bottled at 107 proof. It is a smooth, rich, and flavorful bourbon that has a distinctive yeast strain that gives it a fruity and floral character. Baker’s is a premium and elegant bourbon that is best enjoyed neat or with a splash of water. It is slightly more expensive than Knob Creek, with a suggested retail price of $59.99.
One to try: Baker’s 13 Year. Baker’s 13 is a special edition release that is aged for 13 years, which is almost twice as long as the standard Baker’s, and bottled at 107 proof. It has notes of vanilla, caramel, oak, honey, orange, and spice, with a long and complex finish.
2. Hardin’s Creek
Hardin’s Creek is a series of limited releases featuring some of the rarest and most unique whiskeys from Beam Suntory. It is grounded in 227 years of rich experience and distilling expertise.
Hardin’ Creek launched in 2022 with its inaugural expressions, Jacob’s Well and Colonel James B. Beam. They followed these by releasing The Kentucky Series in 2023.
The Kentucky Series consists of three expressions of 17-year-old bourbon, aged at one of three Beam Suntory campuses in Kentucky: Clermont, Frankfort, and Boston. All three liquids were laid down with the same mash bill at the same time seventeen years ago but aged at different campus locations. The price varies for Hardin’s Creek, and it’s a difficult bourbon to buy, but you will usually see it retail for around $150.
One to try: Hardin’s Creek Kentucky Series: Clermont. This is the first release of The Kentucky Series, and it is aged at the Jim Beam Distillery in Clermont, Kentucky, in Warehouse E, which is located at the center of the campus. It is bottled at 110 proof, and it has notes of caramel, vanilla, oak, cherry, plum, raisin, and spice, with a smooth and long finish.
1. Booker’s
Justifiably so, Booker’s has earned the top-spot in our ranking of Jim Beam bourbons.
Booker’s is an uncut, unfiltered, barrel-strength bourbon that is hand-selected by the master distiller from the center-cut of the warehouse. It is named after Booker Noe, the grandson of Jim Beam and the sixth-generation master distiller, who created this bourbon as his personal stash. Booker’s is a bold, complex, and full-bodied bourbon that showcases the true character of the whiskey. It is not for the faint of heart, as it can range from 120 to 130 proof, depending on the batch. Booker’s commands a premium price and is often allocated, with a suggested retail price of $89.99 (if you’re lucky enough to find it).
One to try: Booker’s 2021-01 “Donohoe’s Batch”. This is the first release of 2021, and it pays tribute to Mike Donohoe, a longtime friend and colleague of Booker Noe, who helped shape the Booker’s brand. It is aged for 6 years and 11 months, and bottled at 127.3 proof. It has notes of caramel, vanilla, oak, spice, and smoke, with a long and warm finish.
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