Jim Beam Honey Liqueur Review
By Richard Thomas
Rating: C-
(Credit: Jim Beam)
Before flavored whiskeys like Fireball and Bird Dog caught on, the bourbon honey liqueurs started coming back. Wild Turkey is the grandfather in this category, having had a fine honey liqueur in production since 1978, only lately rebranded “American Honey.” Yet these days it seems every big whiskey brand has a honey liqueur of some sort, including Jack Daniels, Bushmills, and Jim Beam.
Part of what drove the rise of honey liqueur is the same factor that sucked rye whiskey off the shelves a few years ago, namely the demand of creative bartenders working their cocktail magic. So for a whiskey drinker, the question about honey liqueurs is whether they are good on their own or with a little ice, or are they strictly mixology material?
The answer for Wild Turkey’s American Honey is yes, it’s great neat or on ice, but that cannot be said for all of them. Alas, Jim Beam Honey falls into the “mixology material” end of the spectrum.
The Liqueur
As a liqueur, Jim Beam Honey falls below the whiskey-minimum 80 proof line, with an abv of 35% (70 proof). In the glass, the liquid has that solid gold coloring that is the standard for drinks of this category.
The nose is very simple: it has that corn husk scent I expect to find only in corn whiskey and very young bourbon, plus a spoonful of honey. Those two smells have a good old country feel to them, so it’s not unpleasant, but it speaks to a youthful sort of whiskey product.
The liqueur has a thick mouthfeel, matching the type of honey flavor in the liqueur: dark honey. Most Americans are unfamiliar with deep brown honey, so if nothing else Jim Beam Honey might acquaint them with it just a little. Pollen and cookies spice are in there too, but except for just a hint of young corn spirit, the whiskey aspect of the liqueur is noticeable in its absence. The finish was rich, leaving a lingering, thickly honeyed aftertaste, so much so that it was just on the right side of cloying.
In terms of drinking on its own, Jim Beam Honey is too much honey and not enough whiskey. However, I can see where that powerful and rich honey aspect would make it very useful for mixing drinks, and that might be why Jim Beam has so many mixer suggestions. The other day I was commenting how having a maple bourbon on hand cuts the ingredients for a Maple Bourbon Sour down to two. Having Jim Beam Honey on hand cuts the ingredients for a Bourbon Hot Toddy down to three as well.
The Price
The upside of Jim Beam Honey is that it is cheaper than some other liqueurs. A fifth (750 ml) goes for $16 (£22 in the UK), and a liter can be had for the same price as a fifth of Wild Turkey American Honey.
So you say Wild Turkey Honey is more of an on ice drink, and Jim Beam Honey is more for mixing? Wow, I genuinely find the opposite to be true. I always wanted the higher proof, stronger liqueur in my mix drinks, and the more mellow, less intense liqueur on ice. To each thier own I suppose.
And that is never something I’d argue with — if it works for you, that is good enough.
I have to agree with Deepsouth as well. I’ve been drinking Wild Turkey Honey for yrs. I typically drink it on the rocks or with water. I recently tried Jim Beam Honey, in my opinion its a little smoother than turkey when drinking it straight. Plus I enjoy the after taste more.
I always mix my honey (whether Beam, Jack, Evan, etc) with some bourbon over ice… otherwise it’s just too sweet….
Sometimes I find the BeamHoney a bit too sweet so I mix it with Beam Double Oak and that cannot be surpassed either straight or on the rocks.
It makes me think of a Super Mead.
Nifty idea!
Where can I find the total “carbs” in one ounce of Jim Beam Honey.
Thank you.
I LOVE it – by itself, on the rocks, or with mixers 🙂
For being a ex beer drinker, I like beam or Turkey neat and I chase it with water 2 shots at a sitting , no more seems to be working well with my diet.
Through I’m not a heavy drinker of spirits, I find that JB Honey is a excellent blend of bourbon whiskey and honey. I mix a shot in two cups of coffee with peppermint mocha for a delightful beverage. I, also enjoy it straight in a small cocktail glass. I’m also willing to try it as a astringent mixing it with horehound tea for a sore throat. I find the price to be affordable, the taste excellent, the color of a good bourbon compared to other top shelf liquors
I enjoy him honey with a shot or two in my coffee with a quarter stick of butter. And two egg yokes. It just mixes in good with the creamy yikes and butter wile complimenting the coffee taste
If it’s not 80 proof it’s not whiskey let alone bourbon, they should be sued, yet Royal Crown isn’t allowed to you use the word Bourbon on their 80-100 proof 64% corn whiskey. PS corn/bourbon is already too sweet, no need for honey, i like the light sweetness of barely like Irish n Scotch
I just had a bottle of Jim Beam Honey, I made a fire at 7:30 in the evening and before I knew it, the bottle and time had gone! It was 4 am!
I am far from a heavy or even capable drinker, and in China Jim Beam sells for 7 USD a bottle. The Honey is cheaper and the locals hate Jim Beam because it’s full of taste and not enough proof.
It’s considered to alcohol at 106-107 proof and never sipped. It’s in shots of 15-35ml. Where everyone at the table gives three “wise, laconic stories” and then offers the gift of health and happiness. A normal table is 6 people. That’s 18 shots of 106+ proof.
So when I can, I drink bourbon when I’m alone and I’m teaching locals how to buy and drink true American Bourbon. They love the knowledge of how and process but still find it too weak.
I finally got some 1920 from Old Forester home, and that was the only time I saw the look of a million words! Now I’m going to ask everyone that comes to visit me bring any bourbon at 110 proof!
To be honest, I’ve never had a BAD bourbon, but with such proof the complexity and depth of each pour is incredible to me. Yet I’m only the type to drink 4 drinks tops!