A Stop Along the Kentucky Bourbon Trail to the Home of 'America’s Native Spirit'
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Of all the famed stops on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, one of the absolute musts on the list is James B. Beam Distilling Co.—or as you might be more familiar, Jim Beam—with a history that stretches back to the late 1780s. On a blue-sky day in October, as the leaves where just beginning to turn, I made my own pilgrimage to the distillery's Clermont location, about a half-hour outside Louisville, for a firsthand look and taste.
One of the most important things that I lea
The Kitchen Table
Of all the famed stops on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, one of the absolute musts on the list is James B. Beam Distilling Co.—or as you might be more familiar, Jim Beam—with a history stretching back to the late 1780s, when Jacob Beam moved his family to the foothills of Kentucky to grow corn and used the surplus to make a new kind of whiskey. On a blue-sky day in October, as the leaves were just beginning to turn, I made my own pilgrimage to the distillery's Clermont location, about a half-hour from Louisville, for a firsthand look and taste.
Now led by seventh-generation master distiller Fred Noe and his son, eighth-generation master distiller Freddie Noe, the Jim Beam story is a family one, with each generation moving the business forward through new innovations and ever more creative bourbons and whiskeys to delight our palates.
Freddie will tell you that each unique blend is like a person, with its own character—hence, no need to pick a favorite! That sentiment is backed up by many of the names on the bottles: Booker's, Baker's, and, of course, that trusty standard, Jim Beam, one of the Country Living editors' favorite budget bourbons. That last one, declared “America’s Native Spirit” by President Lyndon B. Johnson, is the namesake of fourth-generation master distiller James B. Beam himself, who not only transformed the distillery and the industry but also rebuilt the business at age 70 after Prohibition shut it down for 13 years.
Today, you can visit the distillery for a behind-the-scenes tour, tastings, shopping (including exclusive "distiller's share" blends that bourbon hunters won't find anywhere else), and dining at The Kitchen Table restaurant, along with other special events and experiences. Here are a few highlights from my visit.
Start at the Outpost.
A replica of a 1940s-era stillhouse added to the property in 2012, the American Outpost is your stop for Beam apparel, souvenirs, and the full array of Beam bourbons and whiskeys, including highly coveted special-edition bottles. Out front, a statue honors the legendary Jim Beam.
Tour the Distillery.
From the expansive fermentation room with its complex system of tanks to the stories-high column still, you'll see the inner workings of the distillery. But the Clermont location is also outfitted with exhibits to help visitors engage with the history and process of bourbon making.
Upon entering, you'll be greeted by a floor-t0-ceiling, wall-to-wall fountain representing Kentucky's limestone aquifers that make the local water especially good for growing corn and supporting the yeast needed for fermentation.
At the replica of a 1939 Cadillac, you can practically imagine Jim Beam driving home with a crock of his family's heirloom yeast by his side for safe keeping. The same signature yeast is still used in the Beam bourbon-making process today.
In this room, you can also hand-mill corn and learn about what makes bourbon, well, bourbon, like that all-important 51-percent minimum corn grain rule.
Peek inside the bourbon barrels.
Here, we admire barrels of two of the distillery's classic small-batch bourbons: Knob Creek and Basil Hayden. Both are creations of the late sixth-generation master distiller Booker Noe. As the son of Margaret (Jim Beam's daughter) and Frederick Booker Noe I, Booker was the first of the family's master distillers by the name Noe. He learned the craft from his uncle T. Jeremiah Beam and went on to become an early innovator in small-batch craft bourbons. His other masterpieces include his namesake barrel-strength bourbon, Booker's, which features his actual handwriting on the label, and Baker's, named in honor and styled after the bourbon preferences of his cousin Baker Beam, an expert distiller in his own right.
On the tour, you also get a look inside those handmade barrels and learn all about the charring process, which imparts bourbon's signature golden color and subtle caramelized flavor.
See where the magic happens.
The tour includes a stop by the Knob Creek bottling line. If you purchase a bottle in addition to your ticket, you also get to participate in this next part…
Personalize a bottle with your thumbprint.
Pro tip: When you press your thumb into the hot wax seal, hold it there a few beats to let it cool a bit and set. (Do not do what I did and leave your thumb there for only a millisecond, which will result in the wax sticking to your finger and not the bottle cap. The staff was kind enough to give me a redo!)
Ponder the enormity of the column still.
A true-to-size diagram of the massive column still is helpfully painted on the outside of the building to help you understand the inner workings.
Experience a Guided Tasting
The coasters atop each glass not only identify each bourbon and whiskey but also include a checklist on the back where you can check off your observations about color, aroma, taste, and finish. The "beaten biscuits" on the side are palate cleanser—they are sturdy and flat, easy for a busy distiller to tuck into a pocket for tasting on the go. My tasting experience included these spirits:
Hardins Creek: This limited-release series by Freddie, Booker's grandson, is another homage to the Kentucky water that is so important to the distillery. The name refers to the creek that filled Jacob Beam's well and powered his cornmill more than two centuries ago. (This one was my favorite!)
James B. Beam "Distiller's Share": The distillery is the only place you can find one of these truly unique blends.
Little Book: Little Book is the nickname Freddie's grandmother gave him. With this annual whiskey release, he proves that he is well-qualified to write the next chapter of Beam history, following in the footsteps of his grandfather, Booker, and his father, Fred.
Booker's: Ending with a classic, Booker Noe's namesake barrel-strength small-batch bourbon.
Don't miss this historic landmark.
The Clermont property, one of two Beam distilleries operating today, was purchased by Jeremiah Beam, Jim Beam's son and a fifth-generation master distiller. Jeremiah lived on the grounds, converting this existing old boarding house into the Beam family home.
Stop by The Kitchen Table for down-home fare inspired by Beam and Noe family favorites.
Think burgers, brisket, pork sliders, fried chicken and catfish, and an array of hearty salads. The wood-oven fired pizzas are pretty special too—the sourdough pizza crust is made from the very same family heirloom yeast used to make all of Beam's bourbons and whiskeys. My favorite: the pepperoni pizza with Calabrian chilis and hot honey.
This is also the place for bourbon flights and specialty cocktails, and if you’re not eating a meal, you’ll want to order up some appetizers for noshing. I recommend the Southern cheese spreads, including pimiento cheese and a spiced cream cheese with pepper jelly with fried bread. Also, the duck poppers with bacon, jalapeño, and cane syrup win my vote for the most outstanding bite, hands-down.
And for the dessert, you really must try the bourbon balls.
I don’t care how full you are—this boozy, chocolatey Kentucky delicacy is not to be missed.
Plan your trip.
Whether you decide to stay in Louisville (I stayed at the swanky Prohibition era–inspired Hotel Genevieve) or the historic distillers' town Bardstown (check out the recently updated and adorably retro Bardstown Motor Lodge), there are plenty of places to stay in easy driving distance of James B. Beam Distilling Co. Just be sure to book your tour in advance.
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