Jim Beam Sunshine Blend

🌞 Jim Beam review of their Sunshine Blend @ 80 🌞 Sunshine, Seasons & Sippin’ with Jim Beam 🎩 Topsail Island Edition 🎩 Oh my, do I love when the seasons change! There’s something magical about the subtle shift in the air—the way the ocean breeze leans just a bit cooler in the morning, or how a bourbon tastes just a little different under a summer sun or a winter moon. Right now, I’m soaking in all that summertime goodness from the sandy shores of Topsail Island, North Carolina, and what better companion than a little something from our old and reliable friend—Jim Beam. Now, before we sip, let’s rewind—way, way back to 1795. That’s right, Jim Beam is a certified bourbon elder, clocking in at a staggering 230 years old this year! The man behind the magic, Jakob Beam, sold his first barrel of corn whiskey in Kentucky back when the U.S. was just a fledgling country. Fast forward through seven generations (and one rather annoying Prohibition detour), and the Beam family is still crafting bourbon the old-fashioned way—with heart, heritage, and just the right amount of heat. 🎉 Today’s Double Feature 🎉 Straight from the Beam rickhouses and into my glass, we have two limited-release seasonal sensations: ⸻ 🥃 Jim Beam Sunshine Blend    •   80 proof / 40% ABV    •   Aged 4 years    •   Mashbill: 77% corn, 13% rye, 10% malted barley    •   Special twist: This one brings a little sunshine in the form of brown rice bourbon blended with the classic base spirit. I snagged this sunny little number back in July 2024 for a breezy $17, and let me tell you—it’s perfect beach bourbon. Mellow, mixable, and made for sharing, especially with my fellow Beam-head, Gabe, who’s been my co-captain in coastal sipping all week long. Check out the video for cocktail ideas and beach-friendly pairings! ⸻ The pour starts with that unmistakable Jim Beam DNA—a mashbill of corn, rye, and malted barley—then takes a seasonal twist that makes it worth your while, whether you’re sipping under a summer sun or a casual boat day with friends. So, how do they stack up to your everyday Beam or maybe that beloved Black Label? Well, you’ll just have to join me in the tasting to find out! 😉 🎥 Head over to the video—hit like, drop a comment, and subscribe if you haven’t already. Let me know your favorite seasonal sip, or tell me if you’ve tried either of these! Until next time—wherever your bourbon adventures take you—be it beach, bonfire, or back porch… 🥃 Cheers, my fun and crazy friends! 🥃 Stay sippin’, stay smiling, and I’ll see you on the flipside. ⸻ YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/@belmontbjornsbourbonbanter?si=m4NokibGKnJf9_Dm Full video review: 🌞 Double Header seasonal Jim Beam review of their Sunshine Blend @ 80 and Winter Reserve @ 86 ❄️ https://youtu.be/fC5c8DFp2Jw Belmont Björn - BBBB -

Jim Beam Sunshine Blend A definite step up from standard issue Beam without any price difference. Less of the Peanut Note and the rice gives it a minty sweetness. Purchased this to make a batch of Bourbon Peach Tea and it did very well. A good lightweight summer sipper and mixer.

Very sweet and citrus on the nose. Orange and other citrus flavors on the palate. Very fruity on the back end with a lingering burn for low proof. Makes a great fruity old fashioned

Don't have the regular white label available for comparison but I believe the Sunshine Blend tastes a little less like oak, char and vanilla and a little more like peanut and rye whiskey with even a hint of orange popping up once mixed or when sipping after eating savory snacks that cancel out some of that peanut and cereal character. Decently balanced, might actually prefer this to original Jim Beam for mixing, although it still has the usual alcoholic burn and doesn't sip too well.

You really have to love it when you can get a new, limited release spirit that still costs less than $20, a major cheers to that. Because this particular bottle provides literally zero information on what "Sunshine Blend" is, I found from the website that this is a combination of classic Jim Beam bourbon and an experimental bourbon that's made with brown rice, then aged for 4 years. Again, for less than $20, this sounds fun and is plenty unique, and although the proof is the absolute minimum and the age isn't great either, you get what you pay for. The color is very watery and light altogether, but does boast an admirable deep copper that ticks the bare minimum box of what you'd expect from a decent bourbon. The nose is full of very typical rye bourbon notes, including sweet wood sugars from the oak, as well as some cracked cinnamon and an overall spiciness from the rye on the original blend. It's difficult for me to find any specific notes from the rice bourbon blend, since I've yet to have a rice whiskey or a rice accented bourbon. However, there is a small note of honey malt and apple that I would attribute to classic malt that isn't normally present in the classic blend. The initial flavor starts with very sweet oak, noticeably a deep char sweetness as opposed to lighter char times or other toasted or raw oak flavors. Candied cinnamon comes into play, and even though the body started as weak and watery, the spice provided here in the middle is impressive for such a low proof. There's only a slight dryness on the finish, instead going back to the cinnamon spice and oak, although it's worth noting that the spice here, although similar, is not one I have experienced from rye grain, be that by itself or in a bourbon. This is a fun and, more importantly, pretty tasty bourbon for a cheap Jim Beam direct product. Unfortunately I am too ignorant to know what to expect from the usage of the brown rice, I can say with confidence that this Sunshine Blend gives a desperately needed body to the extremely weak base product from Jim Beam. For $18 or whatever other sub-$20 tag you can find this at, it's a no brainer, and can stand in as a slightly higher quality cocktail mixer or even a decent neat pour. I would appreciate it if the label would mention the brown rice bourbon blend, and I will always prefer a cork to a cheap-looking screw cap, but these are only minor grievances. Normally I'm 100% a believer in the "you get what you pay for mantra," but it's no surprise that Jim Beam is the brand that's putting out an enjoyable, hyper-cheap new product, since they have the capital and know-how to give the people what they want without charging the craft distillery prices.