For more than 230 years, the Beam family name has been synonymous with bourbon, rye and American whiskey. Let’s take a stroll through their two plus centuries of history and find out how they survived world wars, Prohibition, the boom years, industry slowdowns, and what they are doing now to prepare for the next 100 years.
In 1740, the Boehm family, who later shortened their German name to Beam, arrived on the shores of the 13 colonies to live out their colonial dreams. 48 years later the family moved west to Bourbon County, Virginia, a county that on June 1, 1792, became the 15th state that we now call Kentucky.
Among the family members was Jacob Beam who brought with him his father’s whiskey recipe to distill surplus corn into a new, sweeter kind of whiskey. By using his own proprietary yeast strain in conjunction with Kentucky’s natural limestone aquifers which provide mineral rich, low iron water along with seasonal temperature swings that help with maturation, the Beam’s new home was the perfect place to craft and age whiskey. It’s a craft the Beam family has been perfecting and sharing around the world since 1795.
Today, thousands of visitors flock to the James B. Beam Distilling Co. in Clermont, along the Kentucky Bourbon Trail to get an insider view of how Jim Beam bourbon, rye and American whiskey is made. And not only how its made but how it tastes as well.
To help bourbon fans get a full picture of the legacy of Jim Beam, we’ve put together this comprehensive historical timeline of Jim Beam from 1795 to today.
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The James B. Beam Distilling Co. Timeline
Old Jake Beam Sour Mash Whiskey
Jacob Beam sold his first barrel of Old Jake Beam Sour Mash in 1795 and quickly became a local favorite—no small feat considering that, by the early 1800s, Kentucky was home to about 2,000 distillers. To put that into perspective, there are just over 3,000 licensed distilleries in the entire U.S. today.
The Rise of Old Tub Bourbon Whiskey
In 1894, James Beauregard Beam—a.k.a. Jim Beam—took over the distillery. By now, Old Tub was one of the first national bourbon brands. Through the early 1900s, Old Tub and bourbon grew and developed rigorous standards for quality and production.
The U.S. Votes Itself Dry
On January 16, 1919 the United States of America voted itself dry. With a three-forth majority vote, the state of Nebraska became the 36th state to ratify the 18th Amendment making Prohibition the law of the land effective one year from this date. One year later, the Volstead Act made it official.
On December 5, 1933 Prohibition was Repealed
On December 5, 1933 the 21st Amendment ended the failed experiment and Prohibition was repealed and distilleries were soon back in business.
This Pre-Prohibition Distillery Becomes the Home to James B. Beam Distilling Co.
During Prohibition, James Beam, father of T. Jeremiah Beam, sold the Clear Spring Distillery. The family was involved briefly and unsuccessfully in the coal mining and stone crushing business during the Prohibition Era. During this period, the Murphy-Barber Company Distillery, a small complex at Clermont, was purchased by James Beam. The Murphy-Barber Distillery had operated at Clermont from 1891 to 1918. Today, this is the home to the James B. Beam Distilling Co.
After 13 Dry Years, Distilling Begins Again
With Prohibition finally over, at the age of 70, James B. Beam recreated the famous family yeast, the very one Beam bourbon uses to this day, and within 120 days he restarts distilling operations. Construction of the new distillery was led by T. Jeremiah “Jere” Beam.
Having sold off the Old Tub name and the Clear Spring Distillery, Beam changed the name of the new distillery to the James B. Distilling Company. Ironically, that name was dropped for many, many years but it was changed back in 2021.
The 1st Millionth Barrel is Filled June 2, 1965
Jim Beam Distillery filled its one millionth barrel of bourbon since the end of Prohibition in Clermont, Kentucky on June 2, 1965. The photo features Jim Beam’s son and former Master Distiller T. Jeremiah "Jere" Beam on the right and Carl Beam, Baker Beam’s father, as they fill the one millionth barrel.
Master Distiller Booker Noe
In 1965, Frederick "Booker" Noe II (1929-2004), nephew to T. Jeremiah "Jere" Beam, becomes the 6th generation Master Distiller. Jere did not have any children of his own.
The Jim Beam Small Batch Collection
Booker’s Small Batch Collection would go on to include Basil Hayden®, Knob Creek®, Booker’s® and Baker’s®. It would revolutionize the industry and make a place for Booker in the bourbon history books.
In 1998, Jim Beam Distillery filled its 8 millionth barrel of bourbon since Prohibition. This accomplishment, which only includes production since the repeal of Prohibition in 1933, is equal to more than 280 million cases of bourbon, which totals more than 115 billion drinks.
July 23, 2002
Jim Beam has attained an important milestone with the filling of its 9 millionth barrel of bourbon at the Clermont, Kentucky distillery. The barrel, aged in a Jim Beam rickhouse, will be ready to enjoy in 2006.
Jim Beam Fills its 10 Millionth Barrel of Bourbon
Jim Beam fills its 10 millionth barrel of Kentucky Bourbon in February 2005.
Jim Beam Names Fred Noe Master Distiller
Frederick “Fred” Booker Noe III, born 1957, son of Frederick Booker Noe II, becomes the 7th Generation Master Distiller for Jim Beam brands. Born 1957. After his dad, Booker, pioneered Small Batch bourbon, Fred took it to entirely new places. He introduced Knob Creek® to a global audience, led Jim Beam Black to achieve a IWSC goal medal, created Legent®, helped advance the Kentucky Bourbon Trail hospitality through redesigned James B. Beam Distilling Co. campus.
February 1, 2008
Jim Beam Bourbon, the world’s No. 1-selling bourbon, celebrated a historic milestone with the filling of the 11 millionth barrel of Jim Beam. February 1, 2008 marked the first time Jim Beam has filled one million barrels in less than three years, offering further evidence of the sustained growth in international and domestic demand for “America’s Native Spirit.”
2011 – Jim Beam Fills its 12 Millionth Barrel
Jim Beam fills its 12 millionth barrel of Kentucky Bourbon in November 2011.
Beam Inc. was acquired by Japan-based Suntory for $16 billion. The company would later go on to become Beam Suntory before rebranding to Suntory Global Spirits in 2024. The acquisition of Beam enriches Suntory’s portfolio, with the addition of iconic brands, such as Jim Beam Bourbon, Maker's Mark Bourbon, Sauza Tequila, Pinnacle Vodka and Canadian Club Whisky. The acquisition also leaves Suntory among the strongest spirits platforms in the US, the largest spirits market in the world.
2014 – Jim Beam Fills its 13 Millionth Barrel
Jim Beam fills its 13 millionth barrel of Kentucky Bourbon on April 23, 2014.
Full Coverage here: Jim Beam Distillery Makes Bourbon History, Filling the 13 Millionth Barrel of Bourbon Since the End of Prohibition.
2016 – Jim Beam Fills its 14 Millionth Barrel
Jim Beam fills its 14 millionth barrel of Kentucky Bourbon on May 2, 2016.
Full Coverage Here: Jim Beam Master Distiller Fred Noe Bungs the 14 Millionth Bourbon Barrel.
2017 – Little Book to be Limited-Edition Annual Release
Little Book™ is an annual, limited release series from 8th Generation Distiller Freddie Noe, son of Beam Master Distiller, Fred Noe. The debut of Little Book marks an exciting step forward for the next generation of Beam family whiskey makers.
Learn more here: Booker Noe’s Grandson Puts His Nose into the Beam Family Business with Introduction of Little Book Whiskey
2018 – Jim Beam Fills its 15 Millionth Barrel
Jim Beam fills its 15 millionth barrel of Kentucky Bourbon on March 12, 2018.
Get Full Coverage Here: Fred and Freddie Noe Hammer the Bung in Jim Beam’s 15 Millionth Bourbon Barrel [Video]
Beam Announces $60 Million Investment to Build Fred B. Noe Craft Distillery
2020 – Jim Beam Fills its 16 Millionth Barrel
Jim Beam fills its 16 millionth barrel of Kentucky Bourbon on February 17, 2020.
Get Full Coverage Here: A Jim Beam Family Tradition: Fred, Freddie & Booker Fill & Sign 16 Millionth Barrel of Bourbon [VIDEO]
2021 – Jim Beam Fills its 17 Millionth Barrel
Jim Beam fills its 17 millionth barrel of Kentucky Bourbon on August 5, 2021.
Get the Full Story Here: A Jim Beam Family Milestone: Master Distillers Fred and Freddie Noe Fill & Sign the 17 Millionth Barrel of Bourbon
Jim Beam Opens Full Service Restaurant
Jim Beam Distillery reopens and returns to its original James B. Beam Distilling Co. name.
Get the Full Story Here: A Day on the Trail: James B. Beam Distilling Co. Officially Reopens and Welcomes Fans to ‘The Kitchen Table’ – November 2021
Fred B. Noe Distillery
Fred B. Noe Distillery, which was unveiled in 2021 and dedicated by Freddie to his father, honors the pioneering spirit of Jim Beam by producing future innovations, as well as the James B. Beam Distilling Co.'s beloved brands, including Freddie's Little Book Whiskey annual series of blends.
The new distillery will also offer a space for continued experimentation and exploration of the future American whiskey category.
Fred Noe introduces the next Jim Beam Master Distiller
If you have ever had the pleasure of hearing 7th Generation Master Distiller Fred Noe speak you know he’s not a shy man and he’s rarely short for words, typically colorful words, but in this moment, Fred was choked up as he handed Freddie a shiny new whiskey thief hand-crafted by Vendome Copper & Brass Works to commemorate the moment. You can see the emotional father and son moment in the video below.
2023 – Jim Beam Fills its 18 Millionth Barrel
James B. Beam Distilling Co. fills its 18 millionth barrel of Kentucky Bourbon on February 6, 2023.
In the last 10 years since the acquisition Beam Suntory has been marked by massive growth going from a $2.5B company to a $5.5B global spirit’s company.
Get the Full Story Here: Goodbye Beam Suntory, Hello Suntory Global Spirits – Home to These 11 International Distilleries
2025 – Jim Beam Fills its 19 Millionth Barrel
Jim Beam fills its 19 millionth barrel of Kentucky Bourbon in August 2025.
The Slowdown in Distilled Spirits is Real
In December 2025, the James B. Beam Distilling Co. announced it will 'pause' distillation at its main distillery in Clermont, Kentucky for 2026 while they take the opportunity to invest in site enhancements. Beam will continue to distill at the Fred B. Noe Distillery in Clermont and its larger Booker Noe Distillery in Boston, Kentucky. The visitor center in Clermont and The Kitchen Table restaurant will remain open.
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Learn more about the James B. Beam Distilling Co.
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Do you have something to add or tweak on this historical Jim Beam timeline? If so, we would love to hear from you. Please send us an email at info@distillerytrail.com. Cheers!
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