Updated October 2026
The best Jim Beam drink recipes are simple highballs and classics: Beam and Cola, the Ginger Highball, the Kentucky Mule, a Bourbon Sour, the Old Fashioned, the Kentucky Sunrise, a Rye Manhattan, and the Mint Julep. Jim Beam Original is an 80 proof (40% ABV) Kentucky straight bourbon aged 4 years, which makes it mild enough for mixers and sturdy enough for stirred drinks. The recipes below follow the proportions Jim Beam publishes on its own cocktail pages, plus the International Bartenders Association (IBA) spec for the julep.
Why Jim Beam works in mixed drinks
Bourbon has a federal standard of identity. Under 27 CFR § 5.143, bourbon whisky comes from a fermented mash of at least 51% corn, is distilled at no more than 160 proof, enters charred new oak containers at no more than 125 proof, and is bottled at no less than 80 proof. That corn-forward base gives Jim Beam the vanilla and caramel sweetness that pairs naturally with cola, ginger, citrus, and sweet vermouth.
The Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division lists Jim Beam Original at 80 proof with a 4 year age statement, and the Michigan Liquor Control Commission lists Jim Beam Black at 86 proof (43% ABV). Jim Beam Rye appears in two strengths across US retail listings, so check the label on your bottle before you mix. For more background on the brand, see our Jim Beam guide and the broader Bourbon Guide.
Jim Beam lists most recipes in parts rather than ounces. For a single drink, treating 1 part as 1 ounce keeps each cocktail close to one or two US standard drinks.
Easy Jim Beam highballs
1. Beam and Cola
- 2 parts Jim Beam bourbon
- 4 parts cola
- Lime wedge, for garnish
Fill a tall highball glass with ice, pour in the bourbon, top with cola, and stir gently. Jim Beam recommends chilling the cola first so the ice melts more slowly.
2. Ginger Highball
- 1 part Jim Beam bourbon
- 3 parts ginger ale
- Lemon wedge, for garnish
Build over ice in a highball glass, stir gently, and finish with the lemon. This is the lightest drink on the list and the best place to start if you are new to bourbon. Our Jim Beam and ginger highball recipe covers glassware and ginger ale choices in more detail.
3. Kentucky Mule
- 2 parts Jim Beam Black
- 3 parts ginger beer
- 1 splash lime juice
- Lime wheel, for garnish
Fill a glass with ice, add the bourbon, ginger beer, and lime juice, then stir. Ginger beer has more bite than ginger ale, and the slightly higher proof of Jim Beam Black stands up to it.
4. Kentucky Sunrise
- 1 part Jim Beam bourbon
- 3 parts orange juice
- 0.5 part grenadine
- Orange slice or cherry, for garnish
Pour the bourbon and orange juice over ice, then pour the grenadine slowly so it sinks. Stir just enough to create a gradient. If you are out of grenadine, our grenadine vs simple syrup guide explains why simple syrup will sweeten the drink but will not give you the color or tart pomegranate note.
Classic Jim Beam cocktails
5. Bourbon Sour
- 2 parts Jim Beam bourbon
- 1 part fresh lemon juice
- 1/2 teaspoon sugar
- 1/2 part lemon-lime soda
- Lemon wedge and cherry, for garnish
Shake the bourbon, lemon juice, and sugar hard with ice for 10 to 15 seconds, until the sugar dissolves. Strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice, top with the soda, and stir gently.
6. Old Fashioned
- 2 parts Jim Beam Original
- 1/4 part simple syrup or demerara syrup
- 3 dashes Angostura bitters
- Orange peel, for garnish
Stir the syrup, bourbon, and bitters in a mixing glass with ice, then strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice. Squeeze the orange peel over the drink to release its oils and drop it in.
7. Rye Manhattan
- 2 parts Jim Beam Rye
- 1 part sweet vermouth
- 2 dashes Angostura bitters
- Amarena cherry, for garnish
Stir with ice for about 30 seconds and strain into a chilled stemmed glass. Rye gives the drink a drier, spicier profile than bourbon. If you prefer the classic bourbon version, see our list of the best bourbon for a Manhattan.
8. Mint Julep
- 60 ml (2 oz) Jim Beam bourbon
- 4 fresh mint sprigs
- 1 teaspoon powdered sugar
- 2 teaspoons water
- Mint sprig, for garnish
This follows the IBA specification. Lightly press the mint with the sugar and water in a julep cup, fill it with crushed ice, add the bourbon, and stir until the outside of the cup frosts. For bottle options beyond Jim Beam, read our guide to the best bourbon for a mint julep.
Which Jim Beam to use
Jim Beam Original is the default for highballs, the Sunrise, and the Sour, because its lower proof keeps long drinks easy to sip. Jim Beam Black works better in the Mule and the Old Fashioned, where a little more strength and oak keep the whiskey from disappearing under ginger or sugar. Use Jim Beam Rye when you want spice, mainly in the Manhattan. If you are weighing Jim Beam against a wheated bourbon for these drinks, our Jim Beam vs Maker’s Mark comparison covers the flavor differences. For more pairing ideas, see what to mix with Jim Beam.
How strong are these drinks?
A US standard drink contains 14 grams of pure alcohol, which equals 1.5 ounces of 40% ABV spirits, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). A Beam and Cola or Old Fashioned made with 2 ounces of Jim Beam Original contains about 1.33 standard drinks (2 divided by 1.5). The same pour of 86 proof Jim Beam Black contains about 1.43 standard drinks. Mixers add volume, not alcohol, so a tall highball is no weaker than a short drink with the same pour.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most popular Jim Beam mixed drink?
Jim Beam does not publish sales by cocktail, but its own recipe pages lead with simple two-ingredient highballs such as Beam and Cola and the Ginger Highball. Both need only bourbon, a mixer, and ice.
What proof is Jim Beam Original?
Jim Beam Original is 80 proof, or 40% ABV, and carries a 4 year age statement, according to the Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division listing.
Can you use Jim Beam in a Manhattan?
Yes. Jim Beam publishes a Manhattan made with Jim Beam Rye, and the standard bourbon Manhattan also works with Jim Beam Original or Black.
Is Jim Beam a straight bourbon?
Yes. The label reads Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey, which means it meets the bourbon standard in 27 CFR § 5.143 and has been aged in new charred oak.
Sources
- Jim Beam, official cocktail recipe pages: Beam and Cola, Ginger Highball, Kentucky Mule, Bourbon Sour, Old Fashioned, Kentucky Sunrise, Jim Beam Rye Manhattan (jimbeam.com).
- International Bartenders Association, Mint Julep specification (iba-world.com).
- Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division, Jim Beam 750 ml product listing (shop.iowaabd.com).
- Michigan Liquor Control Commission, Jim Beam Black price list entry (LARA).
- Electronic Code of Federal Regulations, 27 CFR § 5.143, Whisky (ecfr.gov).
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, What Is a Standard Drink? (niaaa.nih.gov).