This review of Jim Beam Original (White Label) is a simple head-to-head tasting against Evan Williams Black Label - two bottom shelf, entry level, budget bourbons that can be found pretty much anywhere.  This head-to-head was inspired by a bar nearby... but that's a tidbit I'll discuss in my subsequent review for EW Black Label.  Let's get to the details of this bottle! Mash Bill: 75% Corn, 13% Rye, 12% Malted Barley Age: NAS (but at least 4 years) ABV: 40% Price: $9.99 ( typically $10-$17) Nose: Weak.  Vaguely sweet, watery caramel corn.  Thin vanilla, spice, and herbal notes.  The zest of underripe oranges and some musty undertones reminiscent of peanut shells.  It's so watery, I don't want to say the nose has "heat", so let's just say it has more ethanol than I'd like to detect at this proof. Palate: Anyone there?  This dram is packed with about as enthusiasm as store brand, budget vanilla ice cream or plain mashed potatoes.  Thin and watery.  The sweetness leans more towards confectioners' sugar than granulated. More watery vanilla, bits of wood, and faint herbal notes. Finish: Very short.  Watery caramel, corn, and faint oaky astringency. Verdict:  Well, I would pick this over JD.  While that may not be saying much, it costs about half of what JD costs so that's a fair bit of VFM swinging in its favor.  However, as will be detailed in my next review, I would ultimately pick EW Black over this if I had to pick a ~$10 bottle of bourbon.  2.5 ~ 72 ~ Below Average