Jim Beam vs The Macallan:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Jim Beam had more branded searches than The Macallan among whisky brands worldwide. Jim Beam had about 301,000 branded searches, while The Macallan had 49,500. Jim Beam made up 20.1% of all whisky brand searches we track, and The Macallan accounted for 3.3%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about whisky brands, The Macallan appeared in three of the five answers and Jim Beam in two. The Macallan was mentioned before Jim Beam in three out of four answers that named either.
Who do people search for more?
Jim Beam, about 6 searches for every 1 for The Macallan
Who does AI mention more?
The Macallan, mentioned in 3 of 5 answers, Jim Beam in 2
Who does AI recommend more?
The Macallan, named ahead of Jim Beam in 3 of 4 answers
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Top whisky brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, The Macallan was mentioned in three out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Jim Beam was mentioned in two out of five: not in any of the three ChatGPT answers, but in both Google AI Overviews. The Macallan was listed before Jim Beam in three out of four answers that named either.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Johnnie Walker1st- Buffalo Trace2nd
Glenfiddich3rd- The Macallan4th
- Jim Beam5th
Jameson6th- Redbreast7th
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- Johnnie Walker4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Buffalo Trace4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Glenfiddich3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Jameson3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- The Macallan3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Jim Beam2 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Redbreast2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about whisky brands
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which whisky brand should I buy?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best whisky brands?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best whisky brand for gifts for adults?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“whisky brands”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“bourbon brands”
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 21, 2026.
Is Jim Beam or The Macallan more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Jim Beam and The Macallan by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all seven whisky brands we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.
Share of searches by month for Jim Beam, The Macallan. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Johnnie Walker | Glenfiddich | Jameson | Jim Beam | Buffalo Trace | The Macallan | Redbreast |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 27.7% | 22.6% | 18.5% | 18.5% | 10.1% | 1.7% | 0.91% |
| Nov 2025 | 27% | 22.1% | 18.1% | 18.1% | 12.1% | 1.6% | 1.1% |
| Dec 2025 | 25.4% | 20.7% | 17% | 25.4% | 9.3% | 1.5% | 0.84% |
| Jan 2026 | 27.6% | 22.5% | 18.4% | 18.4% | 10.1% | 2% | 0.91% |
| Feb 2026 | 25.2% | 20.6% | 16.9% | 25.2% | 9.2% | 1.9% | 1% |
| Mar 2026 | 26.4% | 21.6% | 21.6% | 17.6% | 9.7% | 1.9% | 1.3% |
| Apr 2026 | 26.4% | 21.6% | 21.6% | 17.7% | 9.7% | 1.9% | 1.1% |
| May 2026 | 26.4% | 21.6% | 21.6% | 17.7% | 9.7% | 1.9% | 1.1% |
| Jun 2026 | 30.5% | 20.4% | 20.4% | 16.7% | 9.2% | 1.8% | 1% |
| Jul 2026 | 26.4% | 21.6% | 21.6% | 17.7% | 9.7% | 1.9% | 1.1% |
| Aug 2026 | 24.2% | 24.2% | 19.8% | 19.8% | 8.9% | 2.2% | 0.97% |
| Sep 2026 | 24.5% | 20.1% | 20.1% | 20.1% | 11% | 3.3% | 0.99% |
How has the Jim Beam and The Macallan comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Jim Beam was ahead of The Macallan in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Jim Beam’s share of searches among whisky brands worldwide moved from 18.5% to 20.1%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 301K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, The Macallan’s share of searches among whisky brands worldwide moved from 1.7% to 3.3%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 27.1K to 49.5K.
How did search popularity change for whisky brands worldwide in September 2026?
2 changes
In September 2026, The Macallan gained share of searches among whisky brands worldwide, from 2.2% to 3.3%.
Jim Beam’s share of searches among whisky brands worldwide has gained ground for 3 months in a row, from 16.7% to 20.1% in September 2026.
How are branded searches counted?
2 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Jim Beam’s and The Macallan’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.
Jim Beam
1 branded search term
- jim beam
The Macallan
1 branded search term
- the macallan
Other head-to-heads among whisky brands
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