Jim Beam Distillery
Clermont, Kentucky distillery — the largest-selling bourbon worldwide; Beam family distilling lineage dates to 1795.
Jim Beam Distillery, in Clermont, Kentucky, is the largest-selling bourbon worldwide and the flagship distillery of the Beam Suntory portfolio. The Beam family's distilling lineage dates to Jacob Beam, who sold his first barrel of bourbon in 1795 in what is now Washington County, Kentucky. The current Clermont distillery was built by James Beauregard 'Jim' Beam after Prohibition's repeal in 1933. The company also operates the Booker Noe Distillery in Boston, Kentucky, and produces the Knob Creek, Booker's, Baker's, and Basil Hayden small-batch range. Frederick Booker Noe II, Jim Beam's grandson, served as master distiller from 1965 to 1992 and led the small-batch revival.
Quick facts
- Type
- Distillery History
- Region
- Kentucky
- Era
- 1795 (Beam family) / 1934 (Clermont) – present
- Origin
- Clermont, Kentucky, United States
Seven Generations of the Beam Family
The Beam family has been distilling bourbon for seven generations dating to Jacob Beam (first barrel sold 1795). The modern company was rebuilt by James Beauregard Beam after Prohibition in 1934 at the Clermont site. Subsequent master distillers in the family line include T. Jeremiah Beam, Frederick Booker Noe II (originator of the small batch and single barrel movement), Booker Noe's son Frederick Booker Noe III, and Frederick Booker Noe IV.
Sources & further reading (1)
- encyclopedia — accessed 2026-05-15
Frequently asked questions
How long has the Beam family been distilling?
The Beam family's distilling lineage dates to 1795, when Jacob Beam sold his first barrel of bourbon in Kentucky. The current Clermont distillery was built in 1934 by James Beauregard 'Jim' Beam after the repeal of Prohibition. The family continues to provide master distillers through the seventh generation.