Jim Beam is one of the best-selling whiskeys on the face of the planet. Not everyone chooses to drink it neat, so what’s the best mixer to pair with the core release, as well as some other releases in the range?
Jim Beam White Label is a softer, sweeter style of Kentucky bourbon that doesn’t really have a heavy rye presence, but does this work well with some potent and sometimes dominant mixer profiles. Let’s dive in and find out how these all work together. We’re going to list these in reverse order, so what I view as the ‘worst’ first.
Take our quick whisk(e)y survey
#7. Jim Beam & Orange Juice
This just doesn’t work for me, apologies to anyone who’s a fan of it.
Personally, I think that whiskey and orange juice is a clash of some very dominant flavours. The tang and sweetness of the orange juice does nothing to aid the flavours in the bourbon. It washes away all of the sweetness and amplifies the rawer alcohol element. It’s like adding ice to whisky, but with additional sweetness, too.
I then tried this with some Old Grandad 114, those flavours came through much more, but the intensity of the alcohol just dominates the whole thing. Bad whisky mixer.
#6. Jim Beam & Soda Water
Is it just me that finds this whole concept very strange? You have the making of a highball, but it falls so flat, despite its fizziness.
A highball needs some other additions, in my opinion, or for the carbonated element to have some more flavour to it.
Straight up bourbon mixed with soda water isn’t the worst thing you can do, but it provides unnecessary elements.
If you want to make this better, then add in some lemon juice and a few dashes of bitters. You almost get a whiskey Collins vibe to it. Either way, avoid it if you can.
#5. Jim Beam & Apple Juice
This actually wasn’t bad. White Label Jim Beam with a lot of ice in a tall glass with chilled apple juice, I actually didn’t mind at all. The first sip is a little unusual and you have to adjust to the additional sweetness of the apple juice, after that you hit a happy medium of balance.
You can make this fancier and add in some mint of lime juice to give everything a little more depth and contrast. In all honesty, not conventional, but not bad!
#4. Jim Beam & Lemonade
We have a different definition of lemonade in the UK. It’s a clear, carbonated beverage – imagine Sprite but without the lime part.
Lemonade in the US is a more classic definition, lemon juice and sugar mixed to achieve balance. So I made my own US-style lemonade and bought some classic British stuff, too.
The British approach was fine. Not my mixer of choice, but the bourbon flavours: vanilla, caramel, etc. do compliment the lemonade quite nicely. I can easily see myself drinking this on a warm day with lots of ice and mint.
The US approach worked even better! It had more of an edge to it regarding the tartness and bitterness of lemon juice, the sugar helps to balance the flavours together. This is essentially a whisky sour without the egg white and the shaking. It’s light, tart, bitter, and refreshing. Pretty good!
#3. Jim Beam & Ginger Beer
I want to call this a modern mixer, but it really isn’t. Ginger beer and ginger ale are classic mixers that have been around for decades.
The use of ginger beer offers a heavier, slightly more robust offering as a mixer.
I tried this with both Jim Beam White Label and Old Grandad 114, both worked really well, although the 114 came out on top. Boozier, spicier, more interesting flavours and the vanilla really popped out.
The White Label was perfectly good, but with the carbonation and spice of the ginger, something boozier holds up better.
#2. Jim Beam & Ginger Ale
A lighter, fresher style of ginger mixer. This went with Jim Beam White Label really well. Ginger ale is probably my personal go-to mixer in the house. Whether you’re going with bourbon, Scotch, or Irish whiskey, it just works really well.
The caramel notes in Jim Beam White Label really complimented the lighter spices of the ginger ale and its additional sweetness, too.
#1. Jim Beam & Cola
I feel this is the standout winner. Not just because it’s already famous, but because the flavours match up really well. Most colas contain vanilla, lemongrass, angelica root, other sweet and bitter barks and herbs.
The pairing of this with something as sweet as a corn distillate that is aged in oak that supercharges that vanilla and coconut profile just works really well. I should state that not all bourbon works well with cola, but the Beam stuff really does.
What Is Your Favourite Way To Drink Jim Beam?
It’s fun to get experimental with your whiskey. Make cocktails, try different mixers, bitters, and fun things. Whiskey is a great spirit, but it isn’t something to be kept on a pedestal for only drinking once a year or on special occasions.
So, what is your favourite way to drink Jim Beam? Do you like to mix or are you more of a neat purist? Let us know in the comments below.
Read the full article at Which Mixers Work Best With Jim Beam Bourbon?
