93-515: Jim Beam is an American brand of bourbon whiskey produced in Clermont, Kentucky , by Suntory Global Spirits . It is one of the best-selling brands of bourbon in the world. Since 1795 (interrupted by Prohibition ), seven generations of the Beam family have been involved in whiskey production for the company that produces the brand. The brand name became "Jim Beam" in 1943 in honor of James B. Beam, who rebuilt
186-512: A 100-day "distillers' holiday" to replenish the medicinal stock. After the end of Prohibition at the federal level in late 1933, it continued in various places at the state , county and local level, and liquor sales are still prohibited or restricted in many jurisdictions in Kentucky, the primary bourbon-producing state (and in Tennessee as well, where Tennessee whiskey is made). Production
279-451: A Japanese food and beverage group. The combined company was known as Beam Suntory until May 2024, when it was re-branded as Suntory Global Spirits. On August 4, 2003, a fire destroyed a Jim Beam aging warehouse in Bardstown, Kentucky. It held 15,000 barrels (795,000 US gal or 3,010,000 L) of bourbon. Flames rose more than 100 feet from the structure. Burning bourbon spilled from
372-483: A cheaper alternative to French cognac . Another proposed origin of the name is the association with the geographic area known as Old Bourbon , consisting of the original Bourbon County in Virginia organized in 1785. This region included much of today's Eastern Kentucky, including 34 of the modern counties. It included the current Bourbon County in Kentucky, which became a county when Kentucky separated from Virginia as
465-516: A current major producer), Frankfort Distillery (including the George T. Stagg distillery now called the Buffalo Trace Distillery and owned by Sazerac ), James Thompson and Brothers (later called Glenmore Distillery , now owned by Sazerac), and Schenley Distillery (now owned by Guinness ). Prescriptions were required to buy medicinal whiskey. In 1928 or 1929 when stocks ran out, there was
558-474: A distinct form of whiskey is not well documented and there are many conflicting legends and claims. For example, the invention of bourbon is often attributed to Elijah Craig , a Baptist minister and distiller credited with many Kentucky firsts (e.g., fulling mill , paper mill , ropewalk ) who is said to have been the first to age the product in charred oak casks, a process that gives bourbon its brownish color and distinctive taste. In Bourbon County , across
651-443: A farmer who began producing whiskey in the style that became bourbon . Jacob Beam sold his first barrels of corn whiskey around 1795, then called Old Jake Beam Sour Mash. Beam's son David Beam (1802–1854) took on his father's responsibilities in 1820 at age 18, expanding distribution of the family's bourbon during a time of Industrial Revolution . David M. Beam (1833–1913) in 1854 moved the distillery to Nelson County to capitalize on
744-449: A large scale to extract bourbon from its used barrels, mixing the extract with a 6-year-old Beam bourbon to create a 90-proof product that it sells as "Devil's Cut". The bottling operation for bourbon is the process of filtering, mixing together straight whiskey from different barrels (sometimes from different distilleries), diluting with water, blending with other ingredients (if producing blended bourbon), and filling containers to produce
837-461: A line of bourbon flavored coffees was created. Several varieties bearing the Jim Beam name are available. Beam's " Small Batch Bourbon Collection" consists of several bourbons where the Beam name appears on the labels and marketing materials but is less prominent. Several of these offerings have performed quite well at international spirits ratings competitions. For example, Jim Beam's Black label
930-749: A major flood in January and February 1957, although that did not exceed the highest on record on North Fork (and on its tributary Troublesome Creek ), the Goose Creek tributary of South Fork, and Carr Fork, all of which had had higher local floods at that point. The 1957 flood also affected the Big Sandy River , the Cumberland River , and the Tennessee River . The total cost of damages was estimated at US$ 15,000,000 (equivalent to $ 162,725,118 in 2023) in
1023-642: A new reformatory to be built in La Grange . While the public was still dealing with the effects of the flooding, Kentucky Utilities opened the Dix Dam spillways, which added 3 feet (0.91 m) to the floodwaters. In Mercer County , the ferry to Woodford County washed away and was never replaced. A flood in 1939 rose slightly higher in Hazard than the flood in 1937. Residents of the Kentucky River watershed demanded
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#17328525627721116-545: A new state in 1792. Numerous newspaper articles reference whiskey from Bourbon County, Kentucky dating as far back as 1824. According to the whiskey writer Charles K. Cowdery, When American pioneers pushed west of the Allegheny Mountains following the American Revolution , the first counties they founded covered vast regions. One of these original, huge counties was Bourbon, established in 1785 and named after
1209-451: A particular age duration is often the goal, as over-aging bourbons can negatively affect the flavor of the bourbon (making it taste woody, bitter, or unbalanced). After maturing, bourbon is withdrawn from the barrel and is typically filtered and diluted with water. It is then bottled at no less than 80 US proof (40% abv). Although most bourbon whiskey is sold at 80 proof, bourbon can be bottled much higher. All " bottled in bond " bourbon
1302-571: A superior taste because it was shipped in barrels, using water transport wherever practical. To test this theory, Jefferson's cofounder Trey Zoeller sent two barrels of the company's signature product to New York City via barge, first down the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers and then along the Intracoastal Waterway . As a control, he brought a batch of the same whiskey that had remained in Louisville during
1395-488: A symbol of urbanization and sophistication due to a large percentage of consumers belonging to the middle- to upper-class, including business and community leaders. Bourbon was recognized in 1964 by the U.S. Congress as a "distinctive product of the United States". Bourbon sold in the U.S. must be produced within the U.S. from at least 51% corn and stored in a new container of charred oak . This distinctive American liquor
1488-508: A traditional alembic (or pot still ) or the much less expensive continuous still . Most modern bourbons are initially run off using a column still and then redistilled in a "doubler" (alternatively known as a "thumper" or "retort") that is basically a pot still. The resulting clear spirit, called "white dog", is placed in charred new oak containers for aging. In practice, these containers are generally barrels made from American white oak . The spirit gains its color and much of its flavor from
1581-467: A week before the floods, which had saturated the ground and filled streams to their median levels, and in the period from the 27th of January to the 2nd of February there was 4 to 9 inches (10 to 23 cm) of rainfall. The highest rainfall of the floods within Kentucky state was measured in the Pikeville area, with 6 to 9 inches (15 to 23 cm) over much of the flood area and 12.5 inches (32 cm) at
1674-483: Is MGP of Indiana , which primarily wholesales its spirits products to bottling companies that sell them under about 50 different brand names – in some cases, misleadingly marketed as "craft" whiskey, despite being produced at a large wholesaler's factory. To be legally sold as bourbon, the whiskey's mash bill requires a minimum of 51% corn, with the remainder being any cereal grain. A proposed change to U.S. regulations will expand allowable "grains" to include seeds of
1767-412: Is straight bourbon, which has a minimum aging requirement of two years. In addition, any bourbon aged less than four years must include an age statement on its label. Bourbon that meets the above requirements, has been aged for a minimum of two years, and does not have added coloring, flavoring, or other spirits may be – but is not required to be – called straight bourbon. Bottled in bond bourbon
1860-453: Is 100 proof. Some higher-proof bottlings are marketed as " barrel proof " or "cask strength", meaning they have not been diluted or have been only slightly diluted (less than 1% ABV dilution) after removal from the barrels. Bourbon whiskey may be sold at less than 80 proof but must be labeled as "diluted bourbon". A very small number of bourbon bottlings have been released with exceptionally high proof, sometimes exceeding 140 proof (70% ABV). In
1953-676: Is a tributary of the Ohio River in Kentucky , United States. The 260-mile (420 km) river and its tributaries drain much of eastern and central Kentucky, passing through the Eastern Coalfield , the Cumberland Mountains , and the Bluegrass region . Its watershed encompasses about 7,000 square miles (18,000 km ), and it supplies drinking water to about one-sixth of the population of
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#17328525627722046-406: Is a sub-category of straight bourbon that must be produced by a single distiller at a single distillery in a single season, aged at least four years in a bonded warehouse under federal control, and bottled at 100 proof (50% ABV). Bourbon that is labeled blended (or as a blend ) may contain added coloring, flavoring, and other spirits, such as un-aged neutral grain spirits, but at least 51% of
2139-474: Is an optional ingredient in several pie recipes traditional to American cuisine , including pumpkin pie , where it can be combined with brown sugar and pecans to make a sweet and crunchy topping for the creamy pumpkin pie filling. It can also be used as a flavoring in sauces for savory dishes like grit cakes with country ham served with bourbon mayonnaise , Kentucky bourbon chili , and grilled flank steak . Kentucky River The Kentucky River
2232-508: Is approximately 168 miles (270 km) long. At Airdale, the North Fork has a mean average discharge of approximately 863 cubic feet per second, per data collected during the period 1930–1942. The Middle Fork Kentucky River is approximately 105 miles (169 km) long. At Tallega , the Middle Fork has a mean annual discharge of 792 cubic feet per second. The South Fork Kentucky River
2325-462: Is approximately 45 miles (72 km) long. At Booneville , the South Fork has a mean annual discharge of 1,052 cubic feet per second. The Kentucky River basin is subject to regular flooding caused by high rainfall. The river's narrow valley and surrounding rocky terrain cause rainwater to run off into many ephemeral creeks rather than being absorbed into the soil. Much of the built environment in
2418-673: Is estimated that more than 700,000 people depend on the river for water. The main stem of the Kentucky River is formed near Beattyville in Lee County by the confluence of the North, Middle, and South Forks. The river flows generally northwest, in a highly meandering course through the Eastern Coalfield and the Daniel Boone National Forest before turning southwest north of Richmond and then north through Frankfort . It joins
2511-479: Is home to other major bourbon makers, although most prefer to call their product " Tennessee whiskey " instead, including giant Jack Daniel's . It is legally defined under Tennessee House Bill 1084, the North American Free Trade Agreement and at least one other international trade agreement as the recognized name for a straight bourbon whiskey produced in Tennessee. It is also required to meet
2604-595: Is joined by Elkhorn Creek , which drains much of the Inner Bluegrass region. Between Clays Ferry in Madison County and Frankfort, the river passes through the Kentucky River Palisades , a series of dramatic steep gorges approximately 100 miles (160 km) in length. The Kentucky River has three major forks: the North, Middle, and South Forks. The Middle and North Forks join near Beattyville to form
2697-417: Is prescribed – only that the product has been "stored at not more than 62.5% alcohol by volume (125 proof) in charred new oak containers". Bourbons gain more color and flavor the longer they age in wood. Changes to the spirit also occur due to evaporation and chemical processes such as oxidation . Lower-priced bourbons tend to be aged relatively briefly. Even for higher-priced bourbons, "maturity" rather than
2790-463: Is pumped into a column still where it is heated to over 200 °F (93 °C), causing the alcohol to turn to a vapor. The high wine at about 125 proof is moved to new charred American oak barrels, each of which hold about 53 US gallons (200 L) of liquid. A " bung " is used to seal the barrels before moving them to nearby hilltop rackhouses where they will age up to nine years. As the seasons change, natural weather variations expand and contract
2883-504: Is the norm. They may not be reused for bourbon, and most are sold to distilleries in Canada, Scotland, Ireland, Mexico, and the Caribbean for aging other spirits. Some are employed in the manufacture of various barrel-aged products, including amateur and professionally brewed bourbon barrel-aged beer , barbecue sauce, wine, hot sauce, and others. Since 2011, Jim Beam has employed barrel rinsing on
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2976-500: Is used as animal feed. The acid introduced when using the sour mash controls the growth of bacteria that could taint the whiskey and creates a proper pH balance for the yeast to work. Although many distilleries operated in Bourbon County historically, no distilleries operated there between 1919, when Prohibition began in Kentucky, and late 2014, when a small distillery opened – a period of 95 years. Prohibition devastated
3069-527: The Angel's share during aging. Although only the focus of special attention for bourbon since the mid-2010s, very-high-proof products are not especially novel in general, as evidenced by the well-known Bacardi 151 brand of rum , which was available on the U.S. and Canadian markets from about 1963 until 2016 and was bottled at 75.5% ABV. After processing, barrels remain saturated with up to 10 U.S. gallons (38 liters) of bourbon, although 2–3 U.S. gallons (8–11 liters)
3162-561: The French House of Bourbon , although the precise source of inspiration is uncertain; contenders include Bourbon County, Kentucky , and Bourbon Street in New Orleans , both of which are named after the House of Bourbon. The name bourbon might not have been used until the 1850s, and the association with Bourbon County was not evident until the 1870s. Although bourbon may be made anywhere in
3255-522: The French royal family . While this vast county was being carved into many smaller ones, early in the 19th century, many people continued to call the region Old Bourbon . Located within Old Bourbon was the principal port on the Ohio River , Maysville, Kentucky , from which whiskey and other products were shipped. "Old Bourbon" was stencilled on the barrels to indicate their port of origin. Old Bourbon whiskey
3348-560: The Manhattan , the Old Fashioned , the whiskey sour , and the mint julep . Bourbon is also used in cooking , and it was historically used for medicinal purposes. Bourbon can be used in a variety of confections such as a banana bourbon syrup for waffles , a flavoring for chocolate cake , and fruit-based desserts like grilled peach sundaes served with salted bourbon- caramel or brown sugar shortcake with warmed bourbon peaches . It
3441-494: The caramelized sugars and vanillins in the charred wood. Straight bourbon must be aged at least two years, and blended bourbon must contain at least 51% straight bourbon on a proof gallon basis (i.e., most of the alcohol in the blend must be from straight bourbon). The remainder of the spirits in a blended bourbon may be neutral grain spirits that are not aged at all. If a product is labeled merely as bourbon whiskey rather than straight or blended, no specific minimum aging period
3534-483: The 1883 flood washed his post away. On January 1, 1919, the waters rose ten feet in as many hours at Frankfort, causing damage to many smaller towns along the river. In November of the same year, the waters rose three feet in one hour at Frankfort. In 1920, flooding caused the sewers in Frankfort to back up. There was also major flooding in early 1924 and late December 1926. Flooding in 1927 caused widespread damage to
3627-486: The 1964 resolution did not contain such a statement; it declared bourbon to be a distinctive product identifiable with the U.S. (in a similar way that Scotch is considered identifiable with Scotland). The resolution was passed again in 2008. As of 2018 , 95% of all bourbon is produced in Kentucky, according to the Kentucky Distillers' Association. As of 2018 , there were 68 whiskey distilleries in Kentucky, this
3720-590: The Kentucky Bourbon Festival organizers who have registered the phrase as a trademark . The Kentucky Bourbon Trail is the name of a tourism promotion program organized by the Kentucky Distillers' Association that is aimed at attracting visitors to the distilleries in Kentucky, particularly Four Roses ( Lawrenceburg ), Heaven Hill ( Bardstown ), Jim Beam ( Clermont ), Maker's Mark ( Loretto ), Town Branch ( Lexington ), Wild Turkey ( Lawrenceburg ), and Woodford Reserve ( Versailles ). Tennessee
3813-479: The Kentucky River basin in communities such as Neon , Whitesburg , and Hazard . Hundreds of people were forced from their homes. The Kentucky River basin endured many floods during the Great Depression . An Ohio River flood in 1936 backed into the lower Kentucky; the crest reached 42.7 feet (13.0 m) high and flooded half of Frankfort, completely isolating the city. 12,000 square miles (31,000 km ) of
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3906-402: The Kentucky River basin, out of US$ 52,000,000 (equivalent to $ 564,113,744 in 2023) across Kentucky as a whole. It also affected south-western West Virginia, western Virginia, and north-eastern Tennessee, but Kentucky state was the hardest hit. In part this was because of the physical geography of the area, as aforementioned. There had been 1 to 2 inches (2.5 to 5.1 cm) of rainfall
3999-496: The Kentucky River, which is joined in turn just downstream of Beattyville by the South Fork. The area between the confluence of the North and Middle Forks and where the South Fork joins is known locally as The Three Forks Country . Between them, the three forks drain nearly 3 ⁄ 5 of the 4,423-square-mile (114.6 Ma) central portion of the Eastern Kentucky Coalfield area. The North Fork Kentucky River
4092-627: The Ohio River at Carrollton . Approximately 15 miles (24 km) southeast of Boonesborough , the Kentucky is joined by the Red River . Approximately 20 miles (32 km) west of Boonesborough, it is joined by Silver Creek . At High Bridge , it is joined by the Dix River . At Frankfort, it is joined by Benson Creek; this confluence was the junction of Kentucky's three original counties. At Monterey, approximately 10 miles (16 km) north of Frankfort, it
4185-526: The Ohio Valley were flooded in all. Severe flooding in 1937, exacerbated by cold weather, resulted in civil unrest. In the Kentucky State Reformatory at Frankfort, the water rose to 6 feet (1.8 m) in the walls. With the downstairs population moving up a floor, racial tensions erupted. 24 prisoners tried to escape, but after a warning shot was fired, only one man left. No clean water or food
4278-511: The U.S, it is strongly associated with the Southern United States , particularly Kentucky . One reason for this strong association is the romanticized advertising of bourbon as a product of Kentucky with rural, Southern origins in the 90s. There is a common misconception that bourbon can only be distilled in Kentucky. Even though bourbon was strongly associated with the South, it was also
4371-404: The U.S. Congress declared bourbon whiskey as a "distinctive product of the United States" by concurrent resolution. Bourbon may be produced anywhere in the U.S. where it is legal to distill spirits, but most brands are produced in Kentucky, where bourbon production has a strong historical association. The filtering of iron-free water through the high concentrations of limestone that are unique to
4464-749: The U.S. following the law of the country. However, in other countries, products labeled bourbon may not adhere to the same standards. For example, U.S.-produced products with somewhat lower alcohol content than the level required in the United States can be sold in Australia as bourbon, with Cougar Bourbon being an example of an export-only brand produced in the U.S. for the Australia market. The Federal Standards of Identity for Distilled Spirits, codified under 27 CFR §5 Subpart I states that bourbon made for U.S. consumption must be: Bourbon has no minimum specified duration for its aging period. Products aged for as little as three months are sold as bourbon. The exception
4557-492: The U.S. may be labeled bourbon or sold as bourbon inside the U.S. Various other countries have trade agreements with the U.S. to recognize bourbon as a distinctive product of the U.S., including Canada and Mexico, the United Kingdom, Chile, and Brazil. A 2016 experiment by Louisville craft distiller Jefferson's Bourbon suggests that in the era before whiskey was routinely bottled at the distillery, Kentucky bourbon developed
4650-503: The U.S., generating almost $ 2.7 billion in wholesale distillery revenue. U.S. exports of bourbon whiskey surpassed $ 1 billion for the first time in 2013; distillers hailed the rise of a "golden age of Kentucky bourbon" and predicted further growth. In 2014, it was estimated that U.S. bourbon whiskey exports surpassed $ 1 billion, making up the majority of the U.S. total of $ 1.6 billion in spirits exports. Major export markets for U.S. spirits are, in descending order: Canada,
4743-581: The United Kingdom, Germany, Australia, and France. The largest percentage increases in U.S. exports were, in descending order: Brazil, the Dominican Republic, Bahamas, Israel, and United Arab Emirates. Key elements of growth in the markets showing the largest increases have been changes of law, trade agreements, and reductions of tariffs, as well as increased consumer demand for premium-category spirits. Bourbon's legal definition varies somewhat from country to country, but many trade agreements require that
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#17328525627724836-431: The United States , in 2018 U.S. distillers derived $ 3.6 billion in revenue from bourbon and Tennessee whiskey (a closely related spirit produced in the state of Tennessee ). Distilling was most likely brought to present-day Kentucky in the late 18th century by Scots, Scots-Irish , and other settlers (including English, Irish, Welsh, German, and French) who began to farm the area in earnest. The origin of bourbon as
4929-482: The aging barrels at no higher than 125 proof (62.5% ABV), aged for a minimum of 2 years, and bottled at no less than 80 proof (40% ABV). Jim Beam starts with water filtered naturally by the limestone shelf found in Central Kentucky. A strain of yeast used since the end of Prohibition is added to a tank with the grains to create what is known as "dona yeast", used later in the fermentation process. Hammermills grind
5022-409: The area is located along the creek beds. Kentucky River flooding has been recorded since the early 1800s. Swiss immigrant and lock-keeper Frank Wurtz recorded floods from 1867 on and spoke with local farmers to learn of earlier ones in 1817, 1832, 1847, and 1854. Wurtz documented the floods of 1867, 1880, and 1883, which he claims was five feet higher than the high tide of the 1847 flood. The waters of
5115-468: The area is often touted by bourbon distillers in Kentucky as a signature step in the bourbon-making process. On August 2, 2007, the U.S. Senate passed a resolution sponsored by Senator Jim Bunning (R-KY) officially declaring September 2007 to be National Bourbon Heritage Month , commemorating the history of bourbon whiskey. Notably, the resolution claimed that Congress had declared bourbon to be "America's Native Spirit" in its 1964 resolution. However,
5208-446: The barge trip led to a dramatic improvement in smoothness and taste. Chemical analysis of the two samples revealed significant differences in molecular profiles, with the sample transported by water having a greater diversity of aromatic compounds. Bourbon is served in a variety of manners, including neat ; diluted with water; over ice ("on the rocks"); with cola or other beverages in simple mixed drinks; and in cocktails – including
5301-441: The barrel wood, allowing bourbon to seep into the barrel, and the caramelized sugars from the charred oak flavor and color the bourbon. A significant portion (known as the " angel's share ") of the bourbon escapes the barrel through evaporation, or stays trapped in the wood of the barrel. Jim Beam ages for at least four years, or twice as long as the government requires for a "straight" bourbon. Aging for at least four years also allows
5394-532: The bourbon industry. With the ratification of the 18th amendment in 1919, all distilleries were forced to stop operating. Six companies were granted permits to bottle medicinal whiskey from existing stocks: A. Ph. Stitzel Distillery (later called the Stitzel–Weller Distillery ), American Medicinal Spirits (producer of Old Crow and Old Grand-Dad , sold in 1929 to National Distillers , now owned by Suntory Global Spirits ), Brown-Forman (still
5487-501: The brand name was changed from "Old Tub" to "Jim Beam", after James Beauregard Beam, and some of the bottle labels bear the statement, "None Genuine Without My Signature" with the signature James B. Beam. In 1945, the company was purchased by Harry Blum, a Chicago spirits merchant. The Beam company was purchased by American Brands in 1968. T. Jeremiah Beam (1899–1977) started working at the Clear Springs distillery in 1913, later becoming
5580-505: The business after Prohibition ended. Previously produced by the Beam family and later owned by the Fortune Brands holding company, the brand was purchased by Suntory Holdings in 2014. During the late 18th century, members of the Böhm family, who eventually changed the spelling of their surname to "Beam", emigrated from Germany and settled in Kentucky . Johannes "Jacob" Beam (1760–1834) was
5673-446: The company's first uncut, straight-from-the-barrel bourbon, and the first of the company's " Small Batch Bourbon Collection". Fred Noe (Frederick Booker Noe III, 1957–) became the seventh generation Beam family distiller in 2007 and regularly travels for promotional purposes. In 1987, Jim Beam purchased National Distillers, acquiring brands including Old Crow , Bourbon de Luxe, Old Taylor , Old Grand-Dad , and Sunny Brook. Old Taylor
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#17328525627725766-451: The construction or study of many dams and reservoirs by the Army Corps of Engineers . Only two small lakes, Carr Fork and Buckhorn, were created in the Kentucky River watershed. The most controversial project, a Red River dam that would have flooded most of the river's gorge, was ultimately abandoned in 1975. The Kentucky River basin, including the three Forks and their tributaries, suffered
5859-537: The county line from Craig's distillery in what was then Fayette County , an early distiller named Jacob Spears has been named as the first to label his product as Bourbon whiskey. Although still popular and often repeated, the Craig legend is apocryphal . Similarly, the Spears story is a local favorite but is rarely repeated outside the county. There likely was no single "inventor" of bourbon, which developed into its present form in
5952-488: The definition of bourbon for whiskey to only include spirits produced in the U.S. In recent years, bourbon and Tennessee whiskey , which is sometimes regarded as a different type of spirit but generally meets the legal requirements to be called bourbon, have enjoyed significant growth in popularity. The industry trade group Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS) tracks sales of bourbon and Tennessee whiskey together. According to DISCUS, during 2009–2014,
6045-470: The distillery to legally dispense with an age statement on the bottle. Jim Beam is one of the best-selling brands of bourbon in the world. Outside the United States, Beam Global Spirits & Wine has had a sales and distribution alliance with The Edrington Group since 2009. Bourbon whiskey Bourbon whiskey ( / b ɜːr b ən / ) (or simply bourbon ) is a barrel-aged American whiskey made primarily from corn (maize). The name derives from
6138-417: The ecosystem. The Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet (KEEC) released a statement via their official Facebook page stating the alcohol plume had reached 23 mi (37 km) between Owenton and Carrollton . The KEEC along with local and federal agencies used aeration to increase the oxygen levels in the water to prevent additional fish kill. In 2017, White Coffee Corp partnered with Jim Beam and
6231-486: The federal government do more to control floods. Kentucky Hydro-Electric had begun pushing as early as 1925 for a 162-foot (49 m) dam 1 mile (1.6 km) above Booneville on the South Fork, but this proposal was unpopular as the dam would create a reservoir backing up the South Fork for over 28 miles (45 km). In 1939, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Flood Control Act of 1938 , which authorized
6324-441: The final product that is marketed to consumers. By itself, the phrase "bottled by" means only that. Only if the bottler operates the distillery that produced the whiskey may "distilled by" be added to the label. Labeling requirements for bourbon and other alcoholic beverages (including the requirements for what is allowed to be called bourbon under U.S. law) are defined in the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations. No whiskey made outside
6417-454: The growing network of railroad lines connecting states. Until 1880, customers would bring their own jugs to the distillery to fill them with whiskey. In 1880, the company started bottling the product and selling it nationally under the brand name "Old Tub". James Beauregard Beam (1864–1947) managed the family business before and after Prohibition , rebuilding the distillery in 1933–1934 in Clermont, Kentucky , near his Bardstown home. In 1943,
6510-644: The headwaters of Middle Fork. The highest peak river discharges then on record were measured along all three Forks of the Kentucky River. There were no early warnings of the floods, as communications were disrupted. Approximately 7,700 telephones and 103 long-distance telephone lines were taken out of service. Most people had to evacuate their homes rapidly without time to transport their possessions. Water supplies were contaminated, natural gas supplies were cut off making it difficult to cook, and food shortages occurred because of damage to food stocks on people's homes and in local stores. President Eisenhower declared
6603-493: The late 19th century. Essentially, any type of grain can be used to make whiskey, and the practice of aging whiskey and charring the barrels for better flavor had been known in Europe for centuries. The late date of the Bourbon County etymology has led historian Michael Veach to dispute its authenticity. He proposes the whiskey was named after Bourbon Street in New Orleans , a major port where shipments of Kentucky whiskey sold well as
6696-535: The legal definition of bourbon under Canadian law. Although some Tennessee whiskey makers maintain that a pre-aging filtration through chunks of maple charcoal, known as the Lincoln County Process and legally mandated since 2013, make its flavor distinct from bourbon, U.S. regulations defining bourbon neither require nor prohibit its use. Bourbon also was and is made in other U.S. states. The largest bourbon distiller outside of Kentucky and Tennessee
6789-723: The master distiller and overseeing operations at the new Clermont facility. Jeremiah Beam eventually gained full ownership and opened a second distillery near Boston, Kentucky , in 1954. Jeremiah later teamed up with childhood friend Jimberlain Joseph Quinn, to expand the enterprise. Booker Noe (Frederick Booker Noe II, 1929–2004), grandson of Jim Beam, was the Master Distiller at the Jim Beam Distillery for more than 40 years, working closely with Master Distiller Jerry Dalton. In 1987 Booker introduced his namesake bourbon, Booker's ,
6882-484: The mid-2010s, some sources began referring to these as "hazmat" bourbons, alluding to the ban in the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations on air travel passengers and crew members carrying such high-proof beverages due to their highly flammable nature. Such high proof levels are very uncommon even among "barrel proof" bourbons, as bourbon must enter the barrel at no higher than 125 proof and thus can only reach higher concentrations by disproportionate evaporation of water in
6975-421: The mix of corn, rye and barley malt to break it down for easier cooking. The mix is then moved into a large mash cooker where water and set back are added. The "set back" is a portion of the old mash from the previous distillation—the key step of the sour mash process, ensuring consistency from batch to batch. The distillery produces two different whiskeys based on two different mash bills, each used depending on
7068-431: The name "bourbon" be reserved for products made in the U.S. The U.S. regulations for labeling and advertising bourbon apply only to products made for consumption within the U.S.; they do not apply to distilled spirits made for export. Canadian law requires products labeled bourbon to be made in the U.S. and also to conform to the requirements that apply within the U.S. The European Union also requires bourbon to be made in
7161-403: The product line. From the cooker, the mash heads to the fermenter where it is cooled to 60–70 °F (16–21 °C) and yeast is added again. The yeast is fed by the sugars in the mash, producing heat, carbon dioxide and alcohol. Called "distiller's beer" or "wash", the resulting liquid (after filtering to remove solids) looks, smells and tastes like (and essentially is) a form of beer. The wash
7254-467: The product must be straight bourbon. "High rye bourbon" is not a legally defined term but usually means a bourbon with 20–35% rye in its mash bill . High-wheat or "wheated" bourbons are described as more mild and subdued compared to high-rye varieties. Bourbon that has been aged for less than three years cannot legally be referred to as whiskey (or whisky) in the European Union . On May 4, 1964,
7347-424: The pseudocereals amaranth, buckwheat, and quinoa. A mash bill that contains wheat instead of rye produces what is known as a wheated bourbon. The grain is ground and mixed with water. Usually mash from a previous distillation is added to ensure consistency across batches, creating a sour mash. Finally, yeast is added, and the mash is fermented . It is distilled to (typically) between 65% and 80% alcohol using either
7440-497: The region a disaster area. The Red Cross, one of several relief organizations that came to aid alongside the federal and state governments, reported the destruction of 597 homes, major damage to another 2,932 homes, and minor damage to a further 8,740. Nine people died. Several rural school buildings were entirely destroyed, and many others were closed either because of damage or because transportation disruption meant that people simply could not get to them. The most costly school loss
7533-480: The river. Although the Lexington area receives well over 40 inches (1,000 mm) of precipitation annually, the limestone karst geology of the area allows little natural surface water. The cities of Winchester , Beattyville , Irvine , Richmond , Lancaster , Nicholasville , Harrodsburg , Wilmore , Versailles , Lawrenceburg , and Frankfort also draw water from the river for their municipal water supplies. It
7626-422: The same period. According to Popular Mechanics writer Jacqueline Detwiler-George, who documented the test, the sample that made the waterborne journey "was mature beyond its age, richer, with new flavors of tobacco, vanilla, caramel, and honey. It was some of the best bourbon any of us had ever drunk." It was theorized that the action of gentle sloshing of the whiskey in barrels for a period of 2 to 4 weeks during
7719-400: The state. The river is no longer navigable above Lock 4 at Frankfort , as concrete bulkheads have been poured behind the upper lock gates of Locks 5–14 to strengthen the dam structures. All fourteen dams are managed by the state-run Kentucky River Authority . The primary importance of the locks today is to maintain a pool that allows the city of Lexington to draw its drinking water from
7812-430: The volume of 9-liter cases of whiskey increased by 28.5% overall. Higher-end bourbon and whiskeys experienced the greatest growth. Gross supplier revenues (including federal excise tax ) for U.S. bourbon and Tennessee whiskey increased by 46.7% over the 2009–2014 period, with the greatest growth coming from high-end products. In 2014, more than 19 million nine-liter cases of bourbon and Tennessee whiskey were sold in
7905-503: The warehouse into a nearby creek. An estimated 19,000 fish died of the bourbon in the creek and a river. On July 3, 2019, another warehouse caught ablaze which destroyed around 45,000 barrels (2,385,000 US gal or 9,030,000 L) of bourbon. The fire led to the spillage of bourbon into the Kentucky River and Glenns Creek. Learning from the 2003 fire it was decided not to use water, letting it burn itself out to reduce runoff into
7998-588: Was awarded a double gold medal at the 2009 San Francisco World Spirits Competition . Jim Beam Black also won a Gold Outstanding medal at the 2013 International Wine and Spirit Competition . Bourbon whiskey distillers must follow government standards for production. By law ( 27 CFR 5 ), any " straight " bourbon must be: produced in the United States; made of a grain mix of at least 51% corn ; distilled at no higher than 160 proof (80% ABV ); free of any additives (except water to reduce proof for aging and bottling); aged in new, charred oak barrels; entered into
8091-426: Was different because it was the first corn whiskey most people had ever tasted. In time, bourbon became the name for any corn-based whiskey. A refinement often dubiously credited to James C. Crow is the sour mash process, which conditions each new fermentation with some amount of spent mash. Spent mash is also known as spent beer, distillers' spent grain , stillage, and slop or feed mash, so named because it
8184-498: Was heavily consumed by Americans in the 1990s. In 1964, Americans consumed around 77 million gallons of bourbon. Bourbon has been distilled since the 18th century. As of 2014 , distillers' wholesale market revenue for bourbon sold within the U.S. was about $ 2.7 billion, and bourbon made up about two thirds of the $ 1.6 billion of U.S. exports of distilled spirits. According to the Distilled Spirits Council of
8277-422: Was left in the prison, so authorities moved the population of 2,900 to the "feeble-minded institute" on the hill next to the prison. Carpenters were brought in to build small, temporary housing units. The National Guard was brought in to oversee the makeshift prison. The prisoners considered to be too dangerous for the setting were sent to Lawrenceburg and Lexington. Governor Happy Chandler successfully pushed for
8370-635: Was shut down completely again in 1941 to reserve production capacity for making industrial alcohol during World War II . A concurrent resolution adopted by the United States Congress in 1964 declared bourbon to be a "distinctive product of the United States" and asked "the appropriate agencies of the United States Government ... [to] take appropriate action to prohibit importation into the United States of whiskey designated as 'Bourbon Whiskey'." A U.S. federal regulation now restricts
8463-542: Was subsequently sold to the Sazerac Company . Jim Beam was part of the holding company formerly known as Fortune Brands that was dismantled in 2011. Other parts of the remaining company were spun off as an IPO on the NYSE on the same day, as Fortune Brands Home & Security , and the liquor division of the holding company was renamed Beam, Inc. on October 4, 2011. In 2014 Beam Inc. was purchased by Suntory Holdings Ltd. ,
8556-689: Was the State Vocational School at Hazard ( US$ 37,300 (equivalent to $ 404,643 in 2023)), with the rest of Perry County having some US$ 85,000 (equivalent to $ 922,109 in 2023) worth of damage to other schools, and Floyd County having US$ 308,000 (equivalent to $ 3,341,289 in 2023) worth of damage to its schools. Highway damage made transport of relief supplies difficult, with the United States Army sending in 14 helicopters for transport of supplies, headquartered at London . Approximately 900 mines and manufacturing industries, and 90% of
8649-519: Was up 250 percent in the past ten years. At that time, the state had more than 8.1 million barrels of bourbon that were aging – a number that greatly exceeds the state's population of about 4.3 million. Bardstown, Kentucky , is home to the annual Bourbon Festival held each September. It has been called the "Bourbon Capital of the World" by the Bardstown Tourism Commission and
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