Two of the most popular brands of alcohol and American whiskey in the United States are Jim Beam and Jack Daniels. If you’re attending a party, sitting at a bar, or relaxing with some friends, chances are good that you’ll see one bottle or both of these labels.
However, many people believe that these two whisky beverages are one in the same, or very similar to one another. The truth is, Jim Beam and Jack Daniels are distinctly different in several ways. For example, one is a bourbon made in Kentucky, while the other is a whiskey distilled in Tennessee.
For our Jim Beam and Jack Daniels whisky comparison, we’ll dig down into what makes these two labels so successful, what they have in common, and how they differ.
Let’s get started with some of the differences between the two American whiskey brands.
The Main Differences Between Jim Beam vs Jack Daniels
The main differences between Jim Beam vs Jack Daniels are:
- Jim Beam is a bourbon which is a type of whiskey, whereas Jack Daniels is a sour mash whiskey, identified as a Tennessee whiskey.
- Jim Beam comes from Kentucky, whereas Jack Daniels is made in Tennessee
- Jim Beam is aged for 4 years, whereas Jack Daniels is aged from 4 to 12 years in order to get the same taste.
- Jim Beam is bottled at 86 proof, whereas Jack Daniels is bottled at 80 proof.
Jim Beam History
Let’s move on to Jim Beam. This Kentucky bourbon whiskey is owned and operated by Beam Suntory.
What surprises most people is that Jim Beam is the number one selling bourbon brand around the globe (note the distinction from whiskey).
Established in 1795, Jim Beam has been managed by the same family for seven generations maintaining the flavor of this good bourbon. This Kentucky bourbon has used the same formula and process since it was founded in the 18th century.
Johannes “Jacob” Boehm established the first Jim Beam distillery. Although he was of German descent, Jacob later changed his last name to the more anglo-sounding “Beam.”
It was announced in 2014 that Jim Beam, Inc. was going to be sold to a Japanese group for $13.6 billion USD. These distillers and brewers, who are part of Suntory Holdings, Ltd., are known for developing the first whisky in Japan.
When the Jim Beam and Suntory Holdings portfolios are combined, they boast an imposing lineup.
Their offerings include the following:
- Jim Beam bourbon
- Bowmore Scotch whiskey
- Canadian Club whiskey
- Courvoisier cognac
- Knob Creek bourbon
- Marker’s Mark bourbon
- Midori liqueur
- Pinnacle vodka
- Suntory’s Yamazaki and Hakushu whiskeys
You can find Jim Beam bourbon in over 200 countries and territories around the world. The countries in which Jim Beam is most popular include:
- United States
- Germany
- Australia
A 2015 addition to the Jim Beam range of flavoured bourbons, this apple version is refreshingly crisp and pairs especially well in a long drink with tonic.
Made with Jim Beam's bourbon and real golden honey. Notes of vanilla, caramel, and oak with a superb honey finish. We recommend having this slightly chilled or over ice.
Jim Beam Lineup
The Jim Beam Whiskey Bourbon lineup is extensive and offers a wide variety of options. Here’s a look at some of the more popular choices from Jim Beam:
Jim Beam Black Label
This complex yet rich whiskey includes hints of butterscotch, fudge, fruits, cereals, and sweet spice. It has a long finish and smells of oak and smoke.
Jim Beam Black, the 'triple-aged' statement refers not to three different types of cask (as that would not be allowed under bourbon regulations) but to the 6 year old age statement, which is three times the minimum maturation period for straight bourbon.
Jim Beam Devil’s Cut
Devil’s Cut has a woody and complex taste, which is dominated by oak and vanilla. If you like sweet whiskey, this is the perfect choice for you. This option from Jim Beam is infused with the whiskey from its wooden casks.
A devilish twist on Jim Beam's regular bourbon, blending their 6 year old whiskey with spirit extracted from the wood of the cask itself, where it's soaked in over the years of maturation.
Jim Beam Distiller’s Masterpiece
This offering from Jim Beam consists of sweet almonds, brown sugar, and provides hints of rye and wood aromas. Distillers Masterpiece is a well-balanced and soft whiskey, which includes notes of cooked fruits and caramelized sugar.
Jim Beam Distillers Masterpiece is one of the brand's rarest expressions, only available at the distillery itself. It's finished in ex-Pedro-Ximenez-sherry casks from Bodegas Terry for extra richness.
Jim Beam Green Label
The Green Label selection from Jim Beam is aged for five years. It is charcoal filtered and offers a smooth, smokey taste. This is the ideal choice for those who enjoy bourbon cocktails.
Aged for five years and charcoal filtered for smoothness and a delicious smoky aftertaste - this is a very popular but difficult-to-find Beam, great for bourbon cocktails.
Jim Beam Jacob’s Ghost
Jacob’s Ghost is a white whiskey that is aged in white oak barrels for one year, then filtered. The taste of this whiskey will have you thinking of sweet cereals and a day at the beach.
Jim Beam Jacob's Ghost White Whiskey is made using the same mashbill as the White Label Bourbon, but is aged for only a year in new charred American white oak barrels. 
Jim Beam Signature Craft
Signature Craft agest for over a decade (12 years to be exact) in oak casks. The sweet aromas you’ll discover with this offering from Jim Beam includes honey, vanilla, cinnamon, and smoke. The sweet taste of marzipan, vanilla, and maple are present in this bourbon, as well as an aftertaste of vanilla and smoke.
The 7th Generation Master Distiller Fred Noe is pushing the boundaries by inventing the Jim Beam Signature Craft Series bourbons by experimenting with rare mashbills and finishes. These bourbons should be savored neat or on the rocks.
Jim Beam Signature Craft Quarter Cask
The Signature Craft Quarter Cask is aged in casks that are smaller than the traditional Signature Craft. This type of aging creates intense woody aromas, along with a sweet and soft palette that gives you a pleasant taste.
Jim Beam is one of the quintessential bourbon brands, and has a well-deserved reputation for crafting exquisite whiskies. 
Jim Beam Single Barrel
Single Barrel bourbon comes in individual bottles, which are made up of aromas like caramel, vanilla, oak, toffee, and nutmeg. Some of the medium-length offerings finish with traces of oak and cocoa.
Jim Beam Single Barrel Bourbon celebrates the individuality of each barrel and the flavours that they produce. It has the caramel, vanilla and oak notes that Jim Beam are known for, alongside unique, spicy flavours.
Jim Beam White Label
Jim Beam’s White Label is the original bourbon from the 1795 distillery. This bourbon ages in oak barrels for four years, and contains the smooth hints of spice traditional drinkers are most familiar with.
Made to the same formula since 1795, this giant of the category is aged for four years in oak barrels to create a smooth, mellow taste with hints of spice.
Jim Beam Yellow Label
In 2010, Yellow Label was the winner of the “Best Rye Aged Under 10 Years” category. This bourbon will surprise you with aromas of caramel, nutmeg, cherries, and spices. You’ll discover a long aftertaste with plenty of warm flavors that will remind you of cherries, lemons, and pepper.
Jim Beam Appearance
Jim Beam is copper in color and has thin legs that create shapes like hearty, robust waves on the side of your glass. It will turn cloudy when you add ice to it.
Jim Beam Aroma
Every bottle of Jim Beam smells a bit like fresh-cut hay, a hint of sweetness, a touch of vanilla, and a whiff of cornfields.
Jim Beam Taste
The initial taste of Jim Beam is watered down and thin. However, once you’re past that, you’ll notice a taste of vanilla, corn, and a note of sourness. The sour taste is due to the fact that Jim Beam is distilled by using corn mash, which has been fermented in oak barrels.
Jim Beam has a long fermentation process which consists of distillation twice and aging for at least four years in charred American oak casks. This helps to create the flavor of wood that Jim Beams bourbons are most famous for.
Jim Beam Finish
You’ll get a long finish with a Jim Beam bourbon, with corn, watery caramel, citrus, and just a hint of oak.
Jack Daniels History
Moving on to Jack Daniels, which is a type of whiskey made in Tennessee. This popular label is produced and owned by the Brown-Foreman Corporation.
Jack Daniels whiskey goes through a specific distillation process that earns it the designation as a Tennessee whiskey.
This is a term which the federal government recognized in 1941, which was roughly 80 years after Jasper Newton Daniel began distilling the now-famous whiskey.
Those familiar with the history of the whiskey say that Daniel learned how to distilling from the good Reverend Dan Call. In 1866, Jasper purchased the land on which the distillery remains to this day.
Some distilleries claim to be the oldest in the United States, however, none can show proof of registration that dates back as far as Jack Daniels.
Fun Facts About Jack Daniels
- Nearly 250,000 people visit the distillery every year
- Frank Sinatra was rumored to drink almost an entire bottle of Jack Daniels every day
While no one knows the actual reason why Jack Daniels bottles are adorned with the No. 7 logo, there are a few rumors circulating that claim the following:
- Jasper Daniels had seven girlfriends
- One of the prized Jack Daniels barrels was lost for seven years
- Jack Daniels barrels were transported on the number 7 train
- Every warehouse can hold up to one million gallons of whiskey. The distillery has at least 87 warehouses. This means the Jack Daniels site can house nearly one billion gallons of whiskey at any given time.
- Jack Daniels lays claim as the fourth highest-selling spirit around the globe. It is the highest-selling spirit in the United States
- The Jack Daniels parent company is Brown Foreman, which also sells another popular alcoholic beverage, Finlandia Vodka.
Bourbon /40% ABV / Tennessee, United States Made from the finest corn, rye, and barley malt these choice grains are mixed with the iron-free water that flows from the Cave Spring found on the distillery grounds. Whiskey /47% ABV / Tennessee, United States Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Select is hand selected from the highest reaches of the barrel house and bottled in the smallest of batches, just one barrel at a time, at 94 proof with robust character and notes of caramel and spice. Flavored Whiskey /35% ABV / Tennessee, United States Our proprietary and unique cinnamon liqueur perfectly complements the whiskey flavors by adding warm, indulgent and spicy notes of ground cinnamon, delicate cinnamon bark, and spicy clove. 
Jack Daniels Lineup
Jack Daniels offers four different offerings as part of its Tennessee Whiskey lineup:
To create unique and individual flavors, in an effort to appeal to a wider variety of palates, Jack Daniels’ offerings go through different mellowing processes, use different ingredients, and go through various maturing methods.
Whiskey /40% ABV / Tennessee, United States Jack Daniel's Gentleman Jack is an exceptionally smooth Tennessee whiskey with a rich, rewarding taste and a gentle farewell. Crafted by combining traditional methods with a unique process that’s all its own, Gentleman Jack undergoes a second charcoal mellowing to achieve exceptional smoothness. Flavored Whiskey /35% ABV / Tennessee, United States Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Honey is a blend of Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey and a unique honey liqueur of our own making, for a taste that’s one-of-a-kind and unmistakably Jack. With hints of honey and a finish that’s naturally smooth, Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Honey is something special.
Jack Daniels Aroma
Jack Daniels has a smooth and woody smell. You’ll also notice hints of vanilla and caramel, along with notes of oak and fruit.
Jack Daniels Taste
When drinking Jack Daniels, the first thing you’ll get is a sweet taste with a light body. You’ll notice hints of perfumed wood, cinnamon, and touches of orange as well.
Jack Daniels Finish
Jack Daniels whiskey provides a quick finish. Warm caramel gives way to white pepper and walnuts.
Jim Beam vs. Jack Daniels – Which One Do You Prefer?
These two finely crafted whiskeys are among the best in the world. Though they’re manufactured through similar methods, Jack Daniels has the label of being a Tennessee liquor. That means is goes through charcoal filtration as part of its distillation process.
Jim Beam, on the other hand, is a Kentucky bourbon, which is distilled through the use of corn mash which has been fermented in wood oak barrels. If you’re looking for a good foundation to use for mixed drinks, then consider Jim Beam, although it works just as well neat in a tumbler.
Comparatively, Jack Daniels Old No. 7 is one of, if not the most recognizable whiskeys in the United States and one of the best selling in the world. No matter which offer you choose, you’re sure to have a pleasant and satisfying experience.
Choosing between Jim Beam and Jack Daniels is really simply a matter of choice. Do you want a bourbon or a whiskey? Would you like a thin, woody taste or a sweet, light-body drink? Everyone has their favorites when it comes to these two popular labels. Which one do you prefer?
Jim Beam Honey vs Jack Daniels Honey
For those who prefer their whiskey sweet, both Jim Beam and Jack Daniels offer a “honey” variety. They both tend to compete for the same shelf space, so it’s a common question I get as to which is better.
Main Differences Between Jim Beam Honey vs Jack Daniels Honey
- Jim Beam Honey is generally about 15-20% cheaper than Jack Daniels Honey in most markets
- Jim Beam Honey has a stronger wood aroma mixed with notes of mead, whereas Jack Daniels Honey has a honey raisin aroma
- On the palate Jim Beam Honey conveys a strong honey flavor with floral notes, whereas Jack Daniels Honey has a more subtle notes of chocolate, espresso and honey
My personal opinion is that Jack Daniels Honey provides a more authentic whiskey experience, while Jim Beam Honey contains more additives and flavor gimmicks. Jack Daniels Honey is more subtle on the sugar.
Because it’s a bit more subtle, Jack Daniels Honey also makes a much better mixer than Jim Beam, in my experience.
FAQs About Jim Beam vs Jack Daniels
With Jim Beam you can make some of the most popular cocktails such as Jim Beam Highball Cocktail (Jim Beam, lemon, soda, water, ice), Jim Beam Citrus Highball (Jim Beam, soda water, rosemary, lemon juice, ice), Jim Beam Cranberry Cooler (Jim Beam, cranberry juice, triple sec, lemon juice).
The most famous cocktail you can make is a good Old Fashioned (which needs Jack Daniels, sugar, angostura bitters and ice), Jack Apple Frizz (Jack Daniels Tennessee with lemon juice), or Jack’s Godfather Highball (Jack Daniels, Coca Cola, Amaretto).
These whiskeys does not mix well with fruity juices, but mix well with Cola, Ginger ale, Sparkling water, coffee, eggnog, lemon lime soda etc.
Further Reading on Jim Beam Whiskey
Further Reading on Jack Daniels Whiskey
- Best Mixers for Jack Daniels
- Jack Daniels vs Evan Williams
- Jack Daniels vs Makers Mark
- Jack Daniels vs Johnnie Walker
- Jack Daniels vs George Dickel
- Jack Daniels vs Jameson
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