Jim Beam vs Old Tub: Bourbon Comparison

Last Updated on: 8th April 2024, 02:49 pm

J Highland

J Highland is a certified sommelier with 30 years in the liquor industry, owning a pub, a liquor store, and moonlighting as a spirits distiller.

Delve into the distinctions between Jim Beam and Old Tub through this comprehensive comparison, and make an informed choice about which Bourbon suits your taste!

Quick Note: Running a pub and liquor store provides me ample access to various spirits, in addition, I moonlight as a spirits distiller. I assess them using customer feedback, expert opinions and online research.

Written by: J Highland

Jim Beam vs Old Tub: Comparison

Jim Beam: A sweet-smelling bourbon with caramel, vanilla, and corn. Its light, thin texture, and short, warm finish make it ideal for cocktails rather than sipping.

Old Tub: Despite its higher proof, Old Tub offers a smooth sip with cinnamon, caramel, and a creamy texture. Its spicy, oaky finish and unique production process highlight its character.

Key Fact: Both bourbons are crafted at the Jim Beam Distillery using the same recipe but the Old Tub is bottled in bond and unfiltered.

Verdict: Both Jim Beam and Old Tub provide distinct experiences within the bourbon world. Jim Beam excels in mixability for those seeking a budget-friendly cocktail base, while Old Tub stands out for its smooth, enjoyable profile, suitable for sipping or cocktails, states whiskey expert Neil Coleman.

Related: Top-Rated Bourbons under $20

Jim Beam: A Budget-Friendly Mixer

Nose: Caramel, vanilla, hay, corn
Palate: Toasty oak, peanut, vanilla, black pepper, oak spice
Finish: Short-lived, caramel, oak spice
Alcohol content: 80 proof (40% ABV)
How to drink: Cocktails
Similar to: Knob Creek

Jim Beam entices the nose with a sweet aroma of corn, vanilla, and butterscotch, with a touch of alcohol. However, the taste experience takes a different turn.

Light and Not for Sipping: The texture feels thin and watery, lacking the body and depth often sought in sipping bourbons. While the initial sweetness is pleasant, it presents with notes of sweet corn, vanilla, and butterscotch, along with black pepper and a subtle, metallic note that becomes more noticeable with continued sips. The signature peanut flavor of Jim Beam is also present.

Short But Warm Finish: The finish is short but surprisingly warm for its 80-proof strength, leaving behind lingering hints of sweetness, oak spice, and black pepper.

More for Mixing: Overall, Jim Beam is a budget-friendly option that works well in cocktails, making it popular for its affordability and mixability. However, due to its thin body and prominent sweet notes, it’s not recommended for sipping.

Key Points:

Sweet aroma of corn, vanilla, and butterscotch.
Thin and watery texture lacking depth.
Sweet taste profile with notes of corn, vanilla, butterscotch, black pepper, and peanut.
Short, warm finish with lingering sweetness and spice.
Better suited for mixing in cocktails.

Additional details:

Mash bill: 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley.
Aged for four years in new charred American white oak barrels.

Old Tub: A Budget-Friendly Gem with Unique Character

Nose: Cinnamon, caramel, vanilla
Palate: Baking spice, oak, brown sugar, roasted peanuts
Finish: Rye spice, oak
Alcohol content: 100 proof (50% ABV)
How to drink: Add water
Similar to: Jim Beam

Smooth and Easy to Sip: Despite its 100-proof strength, Old Tub offers a surprisingly low ethanol aroma, giving way to inviting notes of cinnamon, vanilla, and caramel. The creamy texture on the palate provides a smooth and enjoyable experience.

Spicy and Oaky Flavor: The initial sip presents a balance of baking and rye spices, transitioning to oak, brown sugar, and roasted peanuts, a signature characteristic of Jim Beam bourbons.

Easy Finish: The finish is spicy with rye and oak notes but surprisingly low in warmth, making it an easy-to-drink bourbon.

Distinct from its Cousin: While sharing the same mash bill and proof as Knob Creek, Old Tub’s four-year age compared to Knob Creek’s nine years results in a less spicy and more oaky profile.

Unique Production: Old Tub uses a sour mash process, incorporating a portion of previously fermented mash for consistent flavor. Additionally, it is bottled in bond and unfiltered, contributing to its unique character.

Overall: Old Tub stands out as an excellent budget-friendly bourbon, enjoyable neat, on the rocks, or in cocktails. Its smoothness, unique production methods, and versatility make it a compelling option for bourbon enthusiasts.

Key Points:

Low-ethanol aroma with notes of cinnamon, vanilla, and caramel.
Creamy texture for a smooth mouthfeel.
Balanced flavor profile with baking spices, oak, brown sugar, and roasted peanuts.
Spicy and slightly oaky finish with low warmth.
Unique: Sour mash, bottled in bond, and unfiltered.
Great value for sipping or cocktails.

Additional details:

Aged for four years.
Bottled in bond.
Non-chill-filtered.
Mash bill: 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley.

What do Jim Beam and Old Tub have in common?

They are crafted at the same distillery, using the same mash, and aged for four years.

These bourbons are siblings as they have been crafted at the Jim Beam Distillery using the same 75% corn, 13% rye, and 12% malted barley and are aged for four years.

Are Jim Beam and Old Tub the same bourbon?

No, the Old Tub is bottled in bond, non-chill-filtered, and sour mash.

The Old Tub is bottled in bond (100 proof), was not chill-filtered, making it tastier, and is made through a sour mash process providing contrasting differences between these bourbons.