What's The Best Jim Beam Substitute? Our Ultimate List!

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Do you know Jim Beam? We’d be surprised if you didn’t!

This bourbon whiskey has been around since 1795, known as “Jim Beam Black Label” before.

Today, the Beam Suntory company owns Jim Beam, now based in Japan. The company isn’t only the major Jim Beam supplier and has other alcoholic beverages available.

Since it’s so popular, we get that it might not be easy to find during huge events like Independence Day, New Year’s, and the like.

What do you do if it’s sold out or you prefer other alcoholic options?

Short answer: 

You can try brandy, cognac, rum, and bourbon extarct as your alternative for Jim Beam

Table Of Contents

The Top Four Jim Beam Substitutes To Try
What Are Good Brands to Replace Jim Beam?
Frequently Asked Questions
Wrapping It Up

We’ve got a list of the best Jim Beam substitutes you can use for drinking or cooking.

Read on to find out what they are!

The Top Four Jim Beam Substitutes To Try

While Suntory Holdings owns Jim Beam, it’s also a distillery in Clermont, Kentucky.

The distillery produces American liquors such as bourbon, bourbon whiskey, among other flavored whiskey varieties.

Jim Beam is most famous for their drink, Jim Beam, which is what we’re talking about now.

The alcoholic beverage has been here for years now, with many loving the Kentucky Bourbon whiskey and having it as a staple in the bar.

Whatever the reason why you need a Jim Beam substitute, there are great options to try, such as:

1. Brandy

Brandy has different tastes, depending on the variety you purchase. But in general, the drink has a bit of a fruity and lemony touch, pairing well with sweets.

We recommend using this as a great substitute in cakes, creams, and pastries, along with steak sauces and lobster soups! However, note that brandy is sweeter than Jim Beam, so while you can use equal amounts, adjust the amount of sweetener in your recipe for balanced flavors.

2. Cognac

Cognac is a French liquor pairing well with Jim Beam in cocktails. The fragrance from cognac comes from aging in barrels for at least three years, while Jim Beam was only aged for a few months.

That’s why cognac has a deeper flavor compared to Jim Beam, and while cognac doesn’t have the same taste, some say that enhances it.

If you’re a fan of fancy cooking, you can flambee this drink. You can also use cognac for refining sauces and flavoring chocolate pastries.

Substitute quantity: you can replace one tablespoon of Jim Beam with one tablespoon of the Cognac in your recipe. We recommend that you should adjust the amount of sweetener in your recipe for balanced flavors.

3. Rum

Rum is a bit spicier and tastes more like molasses than Jim Beam and is also a versatile ingredient in the cocktail and culinary world.

We love using it in sweets like coffee mousse and rum balls and traditional cocktails like highballs. That and rum marinade is amazing in barbecue ribs.

While rum is sweeter than bourbon, it’s still a fantastic Jim Beam alternative to use in many recipes calling for bourbon whiskey.

Substitute quantity: you can replace one tablespoon of Jim Beam with one tablespoon of the rum in your recipe. We recommend that you should adjust the amount of sweetener in your recipe for balanced flavors.

4. Bourbon Extract (Non-Alcohol Alternative)

If you’re looking for a non-alcoholic substitute for Jim Beam for religious or other personal reasons? Or are you tired of the taste of alcohol?

Fortunately, there are bourbon extracts available so that you can create a Kentucky Sunrise or Manhattan without alcohol. Or you can also make cakes, cookies, muffins, ice cream, soups, and stews, with the spice providing a delicious flavor.

While you can use an equal ratio with brandy, cognac, and rum, you must only use a few drops of bourbon extract since it’s highly concentrated.

What Are Good Brands to Replace Jim Beam?

There are also other great alcohol brands that you can use in place of Jim Beam.

If you don’t have any Jim Beam left in the store (it can be that popular in your area), then try any of these brands, which may be available.

1. The Trace of Buffalo

Lousiana’s Sazerac Company owns this brand in New Orleans. The Buffalo Trace Distillery has been around for almost 200 years, producing award-winning bourbon whiskey, including the very popular Pappy Van Winkle Family Reserve.

We like that Buffalo Trace has more affordable alcohol, so if you’re looking for cheaper bottles, then we recommend bourbon from the Trace of Buffalo.

Most Buffalo Trace Distillery bottles have a rich combination of candied fruits, caramel, and vanilla.

2. Woodford Reserve

The Brown-Forman Corporation in Louisville, Kentucky, owns Woodford Reserve, a whiskey produced in distilleries that have been around since the Civil War.

It has such a long history since the Civil War-era distillery to the point it’s considered the Kentucky Derby official bourbon and a very popular cocktail around the USA.

Woodford Reserve is a spirit with a soft finish that’s exceptionally smooth and feels simple to sip. You can either use it in cocktails or drink it on its own if you’re a bourbon drinker.

3. Evan Williams

Heaven Hill Distilleries in Bardstown, Kentucky, owns Evan Williams bourbon. In fact, Evan Williams built their own distillery in 1783 in Ohio River, the state’s first distillery.

We recommend this bourbon if you’re on a tight budget but still want a rich and silky whiskey for cocktails or on its own. If you ask us, we enjoy Heaven Hill Distilleries’ drinks in cocktails like Kentucky Mules and Whiskey Sours.

Fact: What is the difference between Evan Williams and Jim Beam?

The difference between Evan Williams and Jim Beam is that Evan Williams is a bourbon made in Kentucky, while Jim Beam is a bourbon made in Indiana. Kentucky bourbon must be made from at least 51% corn, whereas Indiana bourbon can be made from any grain. In addition, Evan Williams is aged for at least four years, while Jim Beam is only aged for two years. Finally, Jim Beam uses a charcoal mellowing process that Evan Williams does not use.

4. Jack Daniels

Brown-Forman Corporation in Louisville, Kentucky, owns Jack Daniels, one of the most popular drinks. While it isn’t considered bourbon, it isn’t really far off.

The American whiskey has a smoothness and smokey sweetness in Jack Daniel’s mouth, so think of it as a sweeter Jim Beam’s.

Learn: Jim Beam vs Jack Daniel’s (KNOW This NOW Before You Try!)

Frequently Asked Questions

Hold up; you think we’re done here?

We’ve got a lot more info about this bourbon whiskey, so you get to learn about this beverage, whether for drinking or cooking. Check out these frequently asked questions:

Does Jim Beam come from charred oak barrels?

Yes, certain Jim Beam varieties are distilled and aged in charred oak barrels.

How do you use Jim Beam bourbon whiskey for cooking?

While we don’t recommend using Jim Beam for cooking (more on that below), cooking with bourbon, in general, is useful in the following situations:

Enhances meat’s flavor while breaking down connective tissue, making it softer.

You can make a marinade using bourbon, cinnamon, soy sauce, shallots, brown sugar, and your chosen spices.

You can rehydrate dried fruits with equal parts water and bourbon, then use the mixture to make cakes, pies, muffins, and other sweet dishes.

Use it to deglaze pots or glaze meats and seafood.

It’s popularly used for barbecue sauces.

Using Jim Beam, you can create cocktails, such as spiked lemonade, Kentucky sunrise, highballs, or ginger ale.

Note that some bourbon varieties are highly flammable, so do NOT expose it to open flame unless you plan to set your meals on fire!

Do I use Jim Beam for cooking?

While you can use Jim Beam for cooking, it’s a pricey ingredient!

We prefer using cooking bourbon or a less expensive bottle of alcohol like Wild Turkey or B. Four Roses.

We don’t want you spending so much on Jim Beam whiskey when most of its taste and alcohol disappear as you cook.

Yes, cooked food will lose alcohol content, with the majority of liquor being cooked away after about 3 hours of slow simmering. That said, it won’t be ultimately alcohol-free! (*)

Wrapping It Up

Whether you’re a bourbon drinker or need to use it for cooking, there are many alternatives to choose from. Try any of the options mentioned above if you’re in a pinch, and enjoy!