This week, my side-by-side comparison is two high-volume brands against each other; Jim Beam bourbon vs Jack Daniel’s Tennessee whiskey. Both are from large commercial distilleries, and between these two brands, they command quite a bit of bottle space. They are in a similar price category and are both known globally.
However, Jim Beam and Jack Daniel’s are distinctly different in several ways. Jim Beam is a straight bourbon whiskey made in Kentucky, while Jack Daniel’s is a whiskey distilled in Tennessee.
But what happens when you put them side by side in a taste test?
Jim Beam Bourbon Whiskey
Jim Beam Kentucky Straight whiskey is one of the best selling brands of bourbon in the world. In 1795 a group of German farming immigrants founded Jim Beam. Jacob Beam noticed how fertile the Kentucky region was for cereal farming, and he grew corn and grains, which he eventually used in his whiskey.
He began selling it under the name of Old Jake Beam, and in 1820 his son David began managing the distillery at just 18 years old. The distillery and brand grew from strength to strength. In 2014, Suntory Holdings bought Jim Beam to create Beam Suntory.
The Beam Suntory bourbon portfolio includes Makers Mark and Knob Creek. The whisky portfolio includes Yamazaki, Laphroaig and Bowmore and a few more.
The Jim Beam White Label bourbon is distilled at lower temperatures and aged for 4 years in newly charred American oak. The mash bill is 75% corn, 13% rye, and 12% barley. I have also done a comparison between this bourbon and the Evan Williams bourbon and you can read all about it by following the link.
Jack Daniel’s Old No 7 Tennessee whiskey
Love it or hate it, you will find Jack Daniel’s all around the world! Jasper Newton ‘Jack’ Daniel’s started the Jack Daniel’s distillery around 1875 in Moore County, Tennessee. Jack Daniel developed the Lincoln County process.
This is where the whiskey is filtrated through sugar maple charcoal before maturation. This process is of crucial importance to the finished whiskey’s character. Whiskey from the Jack Daniel’s distillery is bottled as Tennessee whiskey.
The distillery remained in Jack’s family until 1956. It was sold to Brown Forman, a Kentucky distilling company. The Jack Daniels’ brand of Tennessee whiskey has become the highest-selling American whiskey in the world.
The Jack Daniel’s Old No 7 whiskey has a mashbill of 80% corn, 8% rye, and 12% barley. After the charcoal filtration, the new spirit is aged for at least 4 years in new charred American oak.
I paired this bourbon with some KFC to see how it would work. See which bourbon paired best with the fried chicken. I have also done a side-by-side comparison between the Old No 7 and Gentleman Jack to see how big the difference is.
Jim Beam vs Jack Daniel’s Whiskey
| Jim Beam Bourbon | Jack Daniel's Old no 7 | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Bourbon Whiskey | Tennessee Whiskey |
| Mash Bill | 5% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley | 80% corn, 12% barley, and 8% rye |
| ABV | 43% | 43% |
| Colour | Golden Mahogany | Light amber |
| Nose | Subtle vanilla, spice, pine forests, toasted oak and lemon zest with hints of toffee. Sticky pudding and caramelized fruit. | Quite sweet with honey, vanilla and toasted oak with a hint of smoke. Dried red fruit and marzipan. |
| Palate | Spicy with toasted oak and mint freshness. Hints of dry paper and pepper. A faint hint of vanilla. Water brings more citrus and pepper It has a light body and is not very complex. | Oak and butterscotch sweetness. A hint of sour cherries and cereal. Bits of fruit and loads of vanilla. It is quite an oily whiskey and has a medium body. |
| Finish | Long and dry with citrus and pepper. | Medium length with some toasty oak, butterscotch and spice. |
| My Rating | Very Good | Very Good |
| Comments | A bit bland. Great inoffensive for cocktails. | Not very complex, easy-drinking and comforting. It is a very mellow and smooth whiskey. |
| Price | $15 | $20 |
The Jim Beam Kentucky bourbon whiskey has notes of pine forest, toasted oak, vanilla, and lemon pepper. It is quite spicy with not many sweet notes. It is also a bit cheaper than Jack Daniel’s whiskey. The Jim Beam makes for quite a light drinking experience, and I found it a bit bland.
The Jack Daniel’s Old No 7 whiskey has more butterscotch sweetness, vanilla notes, marzipan, and toasted oak. Again, it is not the most complex dram but more memorable than the Jim Beam. The Jack Daniel’s also has an oily note that helps to capture the sweetness.
I have a sweet palate, so Jack wins hands down. John enjoyed the more spicy notes of the Jim Beam bourbon, but in the end, the mellow note of the Jack won him over.
So in my book, the Jack Daniel’s whiskey easily takes the crown for the best between these two.
Last but not least, I did a side by side comparison between the Evan Williams and the Jack Daniels to see how they stack up against each other.
George S
I prefer Beam to Jack as it has a better finish. However, my go to bourbon is Angels Envy.
The Bourbs
At 3 times the price lol
Drew
These are both utterly vile, fit only for frat parties and other “Amateur Hour” drinking events..
Nicholas Margherita
Jack Daniel brand ‘American staple” that’s”smooth n warm”with clean finish” thats fresh n unique” as Marlboro’s Cowboy
Dave C
I prefer Jim Beam. It has a subtle coconut flavour. I don’t like most other forms of whiskey without drowning them in cola. 😉
Alan Husted
Had both,but loveeee my Jack
Joseph A Stanoski
I like true bourbon jim beam cause i aint no puss
Steve May
This article missed a few important things and I just want to comment on the attributes that make Jack Daniel’s the best whiskey in the world.
1. It starts with the water! The cave spring water that Jack is made with is incredibly pure. This water is 56 degrees year round, is full of minerals and is virtually iron free (iron is not good for whiskey, turns it black)
2. While you did mention that Jack is filtered, you neglected to say why. By charcoal mellowing every drop of Jack Daniel’s through 10 feet of charcoal made on site, it removes the fatty acids, esters and impurities inherent in the process of making any whiskey. Jack learned this from Nearest Green because back in their day, whiskey was mostly drank neat, at barrel proof, in a glass without ice or any mixer. So, it had to taste good, if not most people would shoot it in order to get past the taste. Well, Jack was sipped by most of the whiskey consumers of the day because it actually tastes great right out of the barrel.
3. Jack is bottled to taste. They have over 100 current and former employees who taste the whiskey frequently to insure that nothing in the process has changed and that it is mature and ready to be bottled.
4. Jack Daniel’s makes their own barrels. The barrel is so important in the process of making whiskey, Jack can’t leave that part up to someone else. They make their own from 100% American white oak. They only use trees that are at least 70 years old and only the hearts (center) is used to make the staves with. They are made in one of two plants; one is in Louisville, KY and the other is in Trinity, AL. Each barrel is toasted and then charred using a proprietary process to ensure that when the whiskey is added is will take on the character of the wood.
5. Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey is only made in one place, Lynchburg, TN.
6. Made by 5 generations of craftsman and craftswomen who have the best jobs in the world.
I could go on and on about why people trust Jack Daniel’s and why it is the best selling whiskey in the world, however I would rather invite you to the Distillery in Lynchburg, TN to see the entire process for yourself.
William H Canda
They both have their own unique flavor I can say Wich one I like best because I just like both of them .One day I’ll drink Jack and the next I’ll drink Jim and now telling what I’ll drink on the third day . They both get a big ole thumbs up from me .. Cheers