Jim Beam facts for kids

Jim Beam is a well-known American brand of a special type of spirit called bourbon whiskey. It is made in Clermont, Kentucky, by a company called Beam Suntory. This brand is one of the most popular bourbons around the world.

For over 200 years, since 1795, the Beam family has been involved in making this spirit. There have been seven generations of the family working in the business. The only time they stopped was during a period called Prohibition. This was when making and selling alcohol was against the law in the United States.

The brand got its current name, "Jim Beam," in 1943. This was to honor James B. Beam, who helped rebuild the business after Prohibition ended. The company was first owned by the Beam family. Later, it was bought by a large company called Fortune Brands. In 2014, a Japanese company named Suntory Holdings bought the brand.

History of Jim Beam

Early Beginnings in Kentucky

In the late 1700s, the Böhm family moved from Germany to Kentucky. They later changed their last name to "Beam."

Johannes "Jacob" Beam (1760–1834) was a farmer. He started making a type of spirit that later became known as bourbon. Around 1795, Jacob Beam sold his first barrels of this spirit. He called it "Old Jake Beam Sour Mash."

Growing the Family Business

Jacob Beam's son, David Beam (1802–1854), took over the family business in 1820 when he was 18. He helped the family's bourbon reach more people during a time of big changes called the Industrial Revolution.

David M. Beam (1833–1913) was another family member. In 1854, he moved the place where the spirit was made to Nelson County, Kentucky. This was a good move because more and more railroad lines were connecting different states. This made it easier to send their products far away.

Before 1880, people would bring their own containers to the distillery to fill them. But in 1880, the company started putting their product into bottles. They sold it all over the country under the name "Old Tub."

After Prohibition

James Beauregard Beam (1864–1947) was in charge of the family business before and after Prohibition. When Prohibition ended, he rebuilt the distillery in 1933–1934. It was built in Clermont, Kentucky, close to his home in Bardstown.

In 1943, the brand name changed from "Old Tub" to "Jim Beam." This was named after James Beauregard Beam. Some of the bottle labels even had his signature on them. In 1945, a spirits merchant from Chicago named Harry Blum bought the company. Later, in 1968, a company called American Brands bought the Beam company.

T. Jeremiah Beam (1899–1977) started working at the Clear Springs distillery in 1913. He later became the main distiller and managed the new place in Clermont. Jeremiah Beam eventually owned the company completely. He opened a second distillery near Boston, Kentucky, in 1954.

Booker Noe (Frederick Booker Noe II, 1929–2004) was Jim Beam's grandson. He was the Master Distiller at the Jim Beam Distillery for over 40 years. He helped create new types of bourbon. In 1987, Booker introduced his own bourbon called Booker's. This was the company's first "straight-from-the-barrel" bourbon. It was also the first in their "Small Batch Bourbon Collection."

Fred Noe (Frederick Booker Noe III, 1957–) became the seventh generation of the Beam family to be a distiller in 2007. He often travels to promote the brand.

In 1987, Jim Beam bought another company called National Distillers. This allowed them to get other brands like Old Crow and Old Grand-Dad.

Warehouse Fires

On August 4, 2003, a fire destroyed a Jim Beam aging warehouse in Bardstown, Kentucky. This building held many barrels of bourbon. Flames from the fire rose over 100 feet high. Some of the burning bourbon spilled into a nearby creek. About 19,000 fish died in the creek and a river because of the spill.

Jim Beam was part of a larger company called Fortune Brands. This company was split up in 2011. The part that made spirits was renamed Beam, Inc. In January 2014, a Japanese company called Suntory Holdings Ltd. bought Beam Inc. The two companies together are now called Beam Suntory.

On July 3, 2019, another warehouse caught fire. This fire destroyed about 45,000 barrels of bourbon. The fire caused bourbon to spill into the Kentucky River and Glenns Creek. Learning from the 2003 fire, people decided not to use water to put out the fire. They let it burn itself out to reduce how much spilled into the environment. The fire cost Beam Suntory around $45 million.

The Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet (KEEC) said that the alcohol had spread 23 miles in the water. The KEEC and other groups worked to add oxygen to the water. This helped prevent more fish from dying.

Distillers

These are some of the main distillers from the Beam family:

• Freddie Noe (1988–present)
• Fred Noe (1957–present)
• Fred Booker Noe II (1929–2004)
• T. Jeremiah Beam (1899–1977)
• James B. Beam (1864–1947)
• David M. Beam (1833–1913)
• David Beam (1802–1854)
• Jacob Beam (1760–1834)

Distilleries

The Jim Beam company has several places where they make their spirits:

• James B. Beam Distilling Co. in Clermont, KY
• Jim Beam Booker Noe Plant in Boston, KY
• Jim Beam Old Grand Dad Plant in Frankfort, KY

How Bourbon is Made

Making Bourbon whiskey follows strict government rules. By law, a "straight" bourbon must be made in the United States. It must be made from a grain mix that is at least 51% corn. It cannot be distilled higher than 160 proof (80% alcohol). No extra ingredients can be added, except water to lower the strength for aging and bottling. It must be aged in new, charred white oak barrels. It must go into the barrels at no higher than 125 proof (62.5% alcohol). It must be aged for at least 2 years and bottled at no less than 80 proof (40% alcohol).

The Steps of Making Bourbon

The process starts with water that is naturally filtered by limestone in Central Kentucky. A special type of yeast, used since Prohibition ended, is added to a tank with grains. This creates "dona yeast," which is used later.

Large machines called Hammermills grind the mix of corn, rye, and barley malt. This breaks them down for cooking. The mix then goes into a large cooker. Water and "set back" are added here. The "set back" is a part of the old mash from the last batch. This step is important for the sour mash process. It helps make sure each batch tastes the same. The distillery makes two different types of spirits using different grain mixes.

From the cooker, the mash goes to a fermenter. It is cooled to about 60-70 degrees Fahrenheit, and yeast is added again. The yeast eats the sugars in the mash. This creates heat, carbon dioxide, and alcohol. The liquid that results is called "distiller's beer" or "wash." After filtering out the solid parts, it looks and smells like a type of beer.

The wash is then pumped into a column still. Here, it is heated to over 200 degrees Fahrenheit. This causes the alcohol to turn into a vapor.

Aging the Spirit

The strong spirit, at about 125 proof, is moved into new charred American oak barrels. Each barrel holds about 53 US gallons. A "bung" is used to seal the barrels. Then, they are moved to nearby buildings called rackhouses. Here, they will age for up to nine years.

As the seasons change, the weather makes the barrel wood expand and shrink. This allows the spirit to soak into the wood. The charred oak gives the spirit its flavor and color. A lot of the spirit (known as the "angel's share") escapes the barrel through evaporation. Some also stays trapped in the wood. Jim Beam spirits are aged for at least four years. This is twice as long as the government requires for a "straight" bourbon. Aging for at least four years also means the distillery does not have to put an age statement on the bottle.

Global Reach

Jim Beam is one of the most popular brands of bourbon in the world. It is sold in many countries outside the United States.

Images for kids

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  A can of Jim Beam Black mixed with Cola.

See also

In Spanish: Jim Beam para niños