AMERICA’S MOST FAMOUS BOURBON DYNASTY

About

The history of the James B. Beam Distillery is, in many ways, the history of American bourbon itself. Walk into any serious bourbon bar in America, and six bottles will be sitting on the back shelf, side by side. Jim Beam, Booker’s, Basil Hayden, Knob Creek and Baker’s. Different mash bills. Different proofs. Different audiences. Same Kentucky rickhouse.

These are the premium expressions of the James B. Beam Distillery, the house that’s been turning out bourbon in Clermont, Kentucky, since Jacob Beam fired his first still in 1795. Seven generations of master distillers. The same proprietary yeast strain has been passed hand to hand since Prohibition ended. Same limestone water. Same belief that bourbon should taste like something you remember.

The Beam family began distilling in 1795, when Jacob Beam sold his first barrel of “Old Jake Beam Sour Mash.” Kentucky was still a frontier, bourbon was in its infancy, and the Beam family quickly became one of the region’s most respected whiskey makers.

For over 230 years, spanning seven generations, Jim Beam has endured wars, Prohibition, economic hardship, and seismic industry change, emerging each time stronger, bigger, and more influential.

During Prohibition, the distillery was forced to close. But in 1933, immediately after repeal, James B. Beam (known as “Jim”) rebuilt the entire distillery in just 120 days, securing the family’s legacy and giving the brand the name it carries today.

And in 1992, sixth-generation master distiller Booker Noe, Jim Beam’s grandson, pulled four small-batch expressions out of the Beam warehouses and put them on shelves together, revolutionising the whiskey industry with the creation of the Small Batch category., Knob Creek, Booker’s, Basil Hayden’s, and Baker’s,  igniting the premium bourbon movement. The world had never seen anything like it. Every craft bourbon you see today is downstream of those four bottles. 

Today, Jim Beam is produced in Clermont, Kentucky, and remains one of the top-selling bourbons in the world, an enduring symbol of American craftsmanship and tradition.

Distilling Process

Jim Beam uses a classic Kentucky mash bill: 75% corn, 13% rye, and 12% malted barley, fermented with the original family yeast strain preserved since pre-Prohibition.
The whiskey is distilled at relatively low proof to retain character, then aged in new, #4 char American oak barrels, and stored across vast multi-level rickhouses, delivering Beam’s signature balance of vanilla, caramel, and toasted oak.

What Makes This Distillery Unique and Revered

Jim Beam is renowned for:

• Unbroken family lineage:  seven generations of Beams and Noes have shaped its flavour.
• A yeast strain protected for over a century.
• A perfect balance of sweetness, spice, and oak.
• Being both accessible (White Label) and premium 

Jim Beam is where heritage meets innovation, making it the backbone of the modern bourbon renaissance.

Master Distiller & Team

Jim Beam’s legacy is carried by Master Distiller Fred Noe and his son Freddie Noe, direct descendants of the Beam lineage. Their craftsmanship guides not only classic Jim Beam bourbon but also innovations like Little Book, Knob Creek limited editions, and rare, experimental barrel selections.

Signature Whiskeys

• Jim Beam Kentucky Straight Bourbon – smooth, classic, authentic.
• Jim Beam Black Extra Aged – deeper, richer, oak-forward.
• Jim Beam Single Barrel – hand-selected for exceptional flavour.
• Booker’s – barrel-proof, uncut, legendary small batch bourbon.
• Knob Creek – premium, full-flavoured, and deeply matured.
• Baker's – 7 Year Old barrel strength smal batch Bourbon
• Clermont - Brand new Single Malt 

Awards & Recognition

• Global Icon of Whisky – Distiller of the Year
• Double Gold – San Francisco World Spirits Competition
• World’s Best Bourbon – World Whiskies Awards, Bookers
• World’s Best Bourbon – World Whiskies Awards, Knob Creek

Jame's B Beam consistently earns global acclaim for its quality, heritage, and influence.

For the Bourbon Brothers Collection

James B Beam is the foundation of Kentucky bourbon — historic, iconic, and consistently brilliant. From Beam White Label to Booker’s and Knob Creek, every bottle carries the legacy of America’s most important whiskey family.

→ Shop James. B. Beam Collection at Bourbon Brother