A Sip Through Time – Exploring Jim Beam Distillery, History And Bourbon

Kentucky is synonymous with bourbon, so naturally on our way from Bowling Green KY to Dearborn, we couldn’t pass up the chance to visit the famed Jim Beam Distillery – it just happens to be the home of our favourite bourbon and one of the most iconic names in the industry – so it was a must-see.

There are tons of distilleries in Kentucky, but Jim Beam is a place where they take perfectly good grain and turn it into the nectar of the gods. (Don’t forget the time change if you’re coming from the west)…

Nestled in the heart of Clermont, Kentucky, the Jim Beam Distillery stands as a living testament to the craftsmanship, tradition, and family legacy that have shaped American bourbon for more than 200 years. As one of the most well-known distilleries in the world, Jim Beam has become synonymous with high-quality bourbon, and visiting this historic site was a captivating experience.

The Distillery Tour offered us a fascinating and fantastic 70 minute tour through the rich history and craftsmanship that goes into every bottle of this beloved spirit and made us appreciate it even more than we had before. It’s like time travel, only with more alcohol.

Check out our other adventures in our “Road Trip Across America: From Houston To Detroit, We Celebrate The Interstate, Cars, Culture and History” series of articles (also published on Road-Test)…
** Please note, these links will become live once we actually publish them in the near-future – everything will be inter-connected **
Related:
* National Corvette Museum – A Car Enthusiasts’ Dream – https://wp.me/p3dbmo-2bI
* A Trip Back In Time Henry At Ford’s Greenfield Village – https://wp.me/p3dbmo-29x
* Ford Rouge Factory Tour – https://wp.me/p3dbmo-2cy
* The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation – https://wp.me/p3dbmo-29z

The Beam Family Legacy

We learned about the Beam family’s 200-year legacy and how their bourbon is meticulous crafted using traditional methods – but they do it a just a bit differently than everyone else. The tour guide emphasized how Jim Beam has not only survived but thrived through multiple significant events – including Prohibition, the Great Depression, and various shifts in American tastes. Through the generations, the Beam family has refined their bourbon-making techniques, but they’ve always stayed true to their original methods – and recipe.

Exploring the Distillery

The tour itself took us through every step of the bourbon-making process, starting with the fermentation vats, where we saw the mash bubbling as it began its transformation into bourbon – we were warned it would be hot in there… and it was. Our guide explained the careful balance of ingredients – corn, rye, malted barley and water from Kentucky’s limestone-rich springs – that go into making each batch of Jim Beam.

One of the most fascinating parts of the tour was seeing the giant copper stills, where the bourbon is distilled before being transferred into oak barrels for aging. The sweet, smoky scent of fermenting bourbon permeated the air as we walked through the aging warehouses, where thousands of barrels of Jim Beam bourbon rest for years before being bottled.

The Art of Barrel Aging

A highlight of the tour was learning about the importance of the barrels in the bourbon-making process. Jim Beam, like all bourbons, is aged in new charred oak barrels, which impart the rich caramel and vanilla flavours that bourbon is famous for. The guide explained how the barrels are carefully selected and charred to just the right level to enhance the bourbon’s flavour profile.

One interesting fact that stood out was that Kentucky’s unique climate plays a significant role in the aging process – the hot summers and cold winters cause the bourbon to expand and contract in the barrels, allowing it to absorb more of the wood’s flavours.

Bourbon Tasting Experience

The highlight, of course, was the tasting sessions on the tour and Jim Beam did not disappoint. We sampled 6 different varieties of Jim Beam’s bourbon, from the classic Jim Beam White Label to more premium offerings like the Jim Beam Black and Basil Hayden’s – each with its distinct character and flavour profile, ranging from sweet and smooth to bold and spicy flavours of Basil Hayden’s – our new favourite.

There is 2 tastings offered on the tour, but there are two of us, so we chose different ones when we had the chance and sampled 6. The experience was both educational and delicious. Even if you don’t drink, the historical and cultural aspects of the tour are fascinating.

The tasting experience was entertaining and expertly guided, with tips on how to appreciate the nuances in each sip. We learned to savor the nose, the palate, and the finish of each bourbon, gaining a deeper understanding of the craftsmanship involved in creating these iconic spirits. You’ll also get the chance to see the bottling line – watch as bottles are filled, sealed, and labeled. You even get the opportunity to create a special souvenir bottle just for you – minus 70 of your hard-earned dollars.

Why Is Everything Painted Black?

While on the tour, I asked the guide: “Why was everything painted black?” The outbuilding, telephone poles, lights etc are all black – why? Well here’s a bit of interesting info… no, they didn’t get a good deal on black paint from Home Depot…

It’s called “whiskey fungus” – this dark, sooty growth feeds on alcohol vapors from barrel-aged whisky and spreads across any surface it can find – like mold. There is no point in cleaning it off with power washers and bleach – the fungus grows back within a matter of months. So, the distillery just leaves it to do it’s ‘thing.’

Is it harmful to humans? Not to most people, but if you are or have been subject to mold issues in the past, then yes this could actually be an issue.

During Prohibition it used to be a clear signal to authorities that someone was distilling moonshine and that was a place to raid! Is it harmful if you are sensitive to mold? Depending on the size of the distillery and the amount of aging spirits will depend on how far it spreads. Most small-scale operations housing 5,000 to 10,000 barrels aren’t causing any problems, distilleries with 20,000 to 30,000 barrels can be found 100 or 200 yards (metres) away and 2 or 3 miles away for bigger distilleries with more than 1 million barrels.

Bourbon-infused Lunch

Having missed lunch, we opted to grab some lupper (lunch-supper) and were on the road for 4pm – later than we’d hoped, but the tour was way worth the extended time. The price however… was a different story. Lunch at the distillery restaurant (The Kitchen Table) was… meh.

I had the burger and fries ($18) – pretty bland and tasteless and Gail had the pulled pork sliders ($16) that were tasty but there wasn’t enough for the price (snack size we’d call it) – plus there was nothing else on the plate, not even fries?!! Removing the buns (no GF buns are available) made the plate even more stark and empty. With 2 iced teas ($3 each), we paid $40 or $95 Cdn (incl. tip) for lunch! That to us is extremely expensive and definitely not even close to being worth it, but when in Rome as they say…

Note: Closed Monday & Tuesday. Open Wednesday – Sunday: 11 am – 5 pm

What To Expect

If you are coming from the west don’t forget the time change. When we got to Jim Beam I thought it was 12:30, but it was really 1:30 – a bit of a mixed blessing because I thought we’d have to kill 90 minutes till the next tour, but in reality it was only 30 minutes – either way we were going to have a long and late drive to Dearborn.

We started our tour at 2 o’clock and finished at 3:15.

Conclusion

Visiting the Jim Beam Distillery was an immersive and enjoyable journey into the heart of Kentucky bourbon. The combination of history, craftsmanship, and tradition that goes into each bottle of Jim Beam became even more apparent after experiencing the distillery firsthand. From the fascinating tour to the bourbon tasting this was well worth the time we set aside to take the tour. If you’re a bourbon lover – or even just curious about this quintessentially American spirit, the Jim Beam Distillery is a must-visit destination that offers a unique blend of history, flavour, and Southern hospitality.

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If You Go….

Note: We’ll use What3Words to give you exact locations. The app is free and you can use it on your phone or desktop/laptop

James Beam Distillery, 568 Happy Hollow Rd. Clermont, KY 40110
Web Site
~ Entrance: ///winded.sunshine.unsuitable
~ Parking: ///foreman.miracles.stones
Google address: W8HR+GX Clermont, Kentucky, USA

Hours: Wednesday – Monday: 9 am – 5:30 pm All times are in EASTERN TIME ZONE.
CLOSED Tuesday & on the following holidays: Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Day, New Year’s Day.

Tour/Shop: ///payday.jokes.minimum
Tour Price: $30.00 x 2 adults (21+) = $60.00. Sales tax: $3.60 + Service fee: $6.04. Total: $69.64 or $96.85 Cdn
A service fee of $6.04?? I’m standing right there in front of you – what added service are you providing!!!

Tip: Book online, save the fee

Other articles in the series:
* Road Trip Across America: From Houston To Detroit. We Celebrate The Interstate, Cars, Culture and History
* A Trip Back In Time Henry At Ford’s Greenfield Village
* Ford Rouge Factory Tour
* The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation
* National Corvette Museum – A Car Enthusiasts’ Dream

** Also posted on Road-Test.org **
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About TravelBloggers…
Iain & Gail started blogging in order to inspire and motivate people to travel the world from their perspective – specializing in having the most fun while using the least amount of money…travelling on the cheap without sacrificing comfort.
** In the end you will only regret the things you didn’t do **