5PH/Shutterstock It’s not easy being the leader, whether in the office, in sports, or even in bourbon. A visit to most liquor stores reveals a growing selection of bourbons with a wide mix of characteristics and prices. However, one bourbon brand has enjoyed its best-seller status in the world for several consecutive years: Jim Beam. According to data compiled by The Spirits Business, bourbon sold a staggering 16.7 million cases in 2025. At 12 bottles per case, that’s 200.4 million bottles. That’s well ahead of the second-best-selling bourbon, Evan Williams, with 2.9 million cases, or even the 13.4 million cases that Jack Daniel’s sold, although JD is classified as a “Tennessee whiskey.” This was enough for Jim Beam to maintain the title, even as its sales fell nearly 5% between 2024 and 2025 (from 17.5 million cases the previous year). It has been the best-selling bourbon since at least 2023, when even 17 million cases were sold worldwide. It’s unclear how long Jim Beam has held the title, although it’s probably been since before most people who drink it today could legally purchase it. There are documented references to it being a bestseller in the late 1990s, dating back to 1970, although it’s hard to say if the brand ever briefly relinquished the crown. A Brief History of Jim Beam’s Strong Distillation and Strong Sales ElenaVah/Shutterstock It’s been a long road to the top for Jim Beam. Family members have distilled and sold various brands of bourbon since 1795, making the company almost as old as the nation. James Beauregard Beam, the man whose whiskey is named after, ran the family distillery in the early 20th century. After production resumed following Prohibition, the whiskey took the name “Colonel James B. Beam Bourbon”, which was later shortened to the current “Jim Beam”. Over the centuries, the family has had plenty of time to perfect their bourbon recipe and develop generations of loyal customers in the United States and abroad. Part of its success may be due to the wide availability and moderate price of bourbon. Jim Beam (and its numerous flavored versions and other products) has maintained a presence in liquor stores and bars and can be priced as low as $17 for a 750-milliliter bottle. That puts it squarely among the cheap bourbons you should always buy. Of course, not everyone is a fan. Perhaps surprisingly, Jim Beam was the most common pick in our 2022 survey of which brand makes the worst bourbon, chosen by just over 24% of respondents. However, sales figures don’t lie. Jim Beam has been the world’s best-selling bourbon for years, with no current rival coming particularly close.
