JIM BEAM
THE EARLY YEARS OF JIM BEAM
Jim Beam was created by Jacob Beam, a German-American distiller in Kentucky in 1795. Jacob Beam started distilling in 1795 using corn and traditional distilling methods. The first barrel of whiskey was originally called Old Jake Beam Sour Mash. The whiskey quickly became a local favorite and by 1810, the company began shipping barrels to New Orleans. In 1820 the company was passed down from Jacob Beam to his son David Beam who transformed it from a small family farm-based operation to a large commercial production facility. He improved the distilling method and distribution through steamboats and early railroads, allowing the bourbon to reach wider markets, and rebranded the operation as the “Old Tub Distillery,” marking its growth into a larger commercial enterprise. David's improvements led to further growth, as the distillery expanded its production and built a stronger distribution network across Kentucky and surrounding regions, helping the business reach a wider audience.
THE COMEBACK FROM PROHIBITION
The production of Jim Beam was forced to shut down and stop production from 1920 to 1933 when the manufacture and sale of alcohol were made illegal in the United States. When the amendment was repealed the company was rebuilt by Jacob Beam's great-grandson Colonel James B. Beam. He built a new distillery in Clermont, Kentucky and started distilling less than 4 months later. Colonel James B. Beam and his son Jeremiah Beam later formed partnerships with Chicago investors to buy and rebuild the defunct Murphy-Barber Distillery. Without the investors' help Jim Beam most likely would have never been made again. The brand then expanded massively and was named Jim Beam in honour of James B. Beam (Jim) who brought the company back to production. Jim Beam has since grown into the world’s best-selling bourbon, remaining family-owned until it was acquired by Suntory Holdings in 2014.
