JD #7 vs JB Black ....

[Mike B]

Being up in Canada, I have very little experience with bourbon, although I do liike it straight. I have an old workshop out back where I fire up a wood stove in the winter and have a drink and a cigar about once every week or so.

This winter, I started in the fall with a bottle of Jack Daniels #7, first time I tried it and I really liked it. Then when the weather got cold, the bottle stayed outside and I tried it ICE COLD (like minus 15 degrees) in a frozen cold glass and it was great, better than before and I loved it. Got through that bottle by February and then I bought a bottle of Jim Beam Black, and I like that as well. Problem is, because of my limited experience with bourbon, I have difficulty comparing the two, actually I can't really remember how the JD compares to the bottle currently out there.

So I guess my question is, how might I expect them to compare or taste relative to each other? Is one considered a "better" bourbon than the other? What sorts of flavours does each one have? As I said, I enjoy them both.

[Mike B]

Hmmm, obviouslly not much of a response, almost 100 views by now and not a single reply. So I went web hunting and found out myself ...... here's the answer, at least on one website ......


..... "Although there is a slight similarity in taste between Jim Beam and Jack Daniels, a taste for either liquor can be acquired after some period of time. There are however several notable differences between the two liquors. While Jim beam is bourbon, which is a whiskey type, not all whiskeys are bourbons. Jack Daniels on the other hand is a whiskey, sour mash for that matter. The two liquors are manufactured in a similar way although Jim Beam is Kentucky bourbon while jack Daniels is Tennessee liquor and it under goes charcoal filtration. Depending on tastes and who makes a review, reviews for either liquor can be greatly mixed, with some stating that Jim Beam is a best value in bourbon while others express their dislike of it. Most reviews though tend to give preference to Jack Daniels, although the ultimate choice will certainly rely on individual tastes.

As far as cost is concerned, Jim Beam is relatively cheaper, costing an average of 27 dollars at your typical corner bar, which is almost half the price of most black label whiskeys. For states where liquor is sold in supermarkets, you will probably get it even at a cheaper price. Jim Beam whiskey is bottled in a square shaped bottle, with a black label. At the bottom of the label is a printed signature of Colonel James. B .Beam but although that is the case, the brand is not owned by the family of the late colonel but rather its run by a big corporation called Fortune Brands.

Previously Jack Daniels was bottled at proof 86, which is the same for Jim Beam but the new one is bottled at proof 80 thus Jim beam is a higher proofed whiskey than Jack Daniels. Some drinkers find that 86 proof is slightly higher alcohol content than they can tolerate while others find it okay. The two liquors tend to have similar taste when first taken but as one develops a taste for both with time, they will discover that they actually taste quite different. However, both Jim Beam and Jack Daniels go through the same distillation of fermented corn mash kept in oak barrels for some time. Jim Beam is kept in the barrels longer than Jack Daniels, which may contribute to Jim Beam’s more woody flavor.

While Jim Beam tastes more alcoholic and fruity, Jack Daniels has a mellower and smoother flavor and tastes less alcoholic and it is believed that the charcoal filtering process it undergoes gives it more of a maple flavor. Jim Beam has a brandy flavor, as if it is mixed with brandy".

Summary: Jim Beam is classed as bourbon while Jack Daniels is a whiskey and although bourbons can be whiskeys, not all are. Jim Beam is far cheaper compared to Jack Daniels. Jim Beam tastes more alcoholic and fruity while Jack Daniels tastes mellower and smoother. Jim Beam is bottled at proof 86 whereas Jack Daniels is bottled at proof 80.

[1jacks collector]

i personaly think beam just taste cheap n nasty a bottle of heartburn lol!!

[Dale]

Mike B - Catching up on your question and forum a bit late (been on vacation to Australia and drinking Aussie & Tasmanian single malts). Anyway, there are many differences between JD & JB. JD is not a Bourbon for a few reasons. 1) Tennessee pride, 2) charcoal "mellowing", 3) by not making and labeling Bourbon, their mashbill doesn't need to be derived from the 51% corn minimum for Bourbon. To me, the JD sourmash gives JD a rougher bite than JB, making JB the softer and sweeter of the two. They are similar in mass production and being generally satisfactory - though no body should confuse them with being great whiskey. They are made for the masses, as is the case for most American whiskies. If you want to discover great Bourbons, you need to seek out some very small batch producers like Van Winkle and Black Maple Hill. Just because a Bourbon is labeled small batch doesn't mean it actually is, or is of superior quality. So, let sampling becomes your guide. If you can get it, try Old Weller as a comparison to JD. Also, Pure Kentucky XO and Willet Family Pot Still Reserve are very good for the money.