Jim Beam White Label Review

Jim Beam White Label is one of the best-selling bourbons globally. It is aged 4 years and is the primary offering from Beam, which has a handful of other whiskeys as well. While some experts and enthusiasts may thumb their noses at the standard Beam offering, there has to be a reason this is stocked at every liquor store and well-received globally other than marketing and low cost, right? Well at a party this weekend I got my chance to find out. The whiskey options were Beam White Label, or Dewar's White Label. Since I wasn't in the mood for scotch or a mixed drink, I grabbed a pour of my old friend Jim to get the night started.

Jim Beam White Label Bourbon - Tasting Notes

Nose: Light vanilla and oak with some corn. Fairly straight-forward and simple.

Palate: Some corn sweetness with very light spice towards the end. A fairly thin mouth-feel with just a hint of oak.

Finish: Fairly short finish. A bit of heat is present at the start but it quickly dissipates and you are left with some light oak and vanilla.

Proof: 80 (40% ABV)
Price: ~$18

Jim Beam White Label
4 year Bourbon

Overall, most of the flavor notes are fairly timid. This bourbon doesn't have large, robust flavor that pops you in the mouth and at a mere 40% ABV, that's understandable.

JB White Label is like a solid backup catcher who will hit .250 for you without much power. He's typically underrated by the fan-base and will bounce around the league for about a dozen seasons, but there's always a team in need of his services. I know this doesn't sound like a compliment, but it is. Most baseball fans know how valuable a solid backup catcher can be over the course of a full season. And yes Jim Beam, you are the backup catcher in this baseball bourbon analogy. You are reliable, readily available, and while I wouldn't put you in the lineup every day, I don't have any reservations about penciling you in when the starters need a day off.

Jim Beam Bourbon White Label Rating: 7.2/10