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Booker’s vs Jim Beam Black
Put Booker’s next to Jim Beam Black and you have an uncut, high-rye heavyweight set against a classic, high-rye stalwart.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Booker’s | Jim Beam Black |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon, Barrel Proof | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | 7 years | 7 years |
| Proof | 125 proof (62.5% ABV) +39 proof | 86 proof (43% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$85 – $110 | ~$22 – $28 ~$73 less |
| Availability | Limited | Widely available easier to find |
- Booker’s and Jim Beam Black do not publish an official mash bill.
- US shelf prices as of 2026-08; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Booker’s
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Jim Beam Black
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Booker’s Jim Beam Black
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 10/3 heat: Booker’s 10 out of 10, Jim Beam Black 3 out of 10
spice 7/4 spice: Booker’s 7 out of 10, Jim Beam Black 4 out of 10
oak 8/6 oak: Booker’s 8 out of 10, Jim Beam Black 6 out of 10
nuttiness 8/6 nuttiness: Booker’s 8 out of 10, Jim Beam Black 6 out of 10
sweetness 7/6 sweetness: Booker’s 7 out of 10, Jim Beam Black 6 out of 10
fruit 4/3 fruit: Booker’s 4 out of 10, Jim Beam Black 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Proof and heat dominate the difference.
- Booker’s: Uncut, unfiltered Beam at batch strength, and the most concentrated expression of the house peanut-and-oak character. Enormous and hot, with a finish that goes on well past where you expect it to stop.
- Jim Beam Black: The extra-aged version of the white label and a considerable step up for a few dollars more. Softer and rounder than Knob Creek with the same family peanut note, at a proof that keeps everything gentle.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Booker’s if you want the Beam house style at full power and you have water on the table with significantly more proof behind it and with the texture that comes from skipping chill filtration.
- Go with Jim Beam Black if you want the Beam house character at its most affordable and easy-going without hunting for it.
Best enjoyed neat (Booker’s); neat, rocks, cocktails (Jim Beam Black).