Jim Beam
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jim Beam is a brand of bourbon whiskey, distilled in Clermont, Kentucky. The brand and the company that makes it trace their origins back to 1795 and family patriarch Jacob Beam. The Jim Beam brand is owned by Beam Global Spirits & Wine, which is in turn owned by holding company Fortune Brands. The brand is named for James B. Beam (1864-1947), who ran his family's whiskey distillery from 1892 until 1944.
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There have been seven generations of distillers from the Beam family.
Retired Master Distiller Jerry Dalton (1998-2007) was the first non-Beam to be Master Distiller at the company. He was succeeded by Fred Noe, Jim Beam's great-grandson.
Several types of Jim Beam, also commonly known as Beam, are available:
- Jim Beam White label (Aged 4 years, 80 proof) Sold in Australia as 37.5% alcohol (75 proof)
- Jim Beam White label (Aged 7 years, 80 proof, "Premium Aged 7 Years Old" across top of label, allegedly unavailable outside of Kentucky, but can be found in many states)
- Jim Beam Green label (Aged 5 years, 80 proof, "Jim Beam's Choice" charcoal filtered)
- Jim Beam Black label (Aged 8 years, 86 proof)
- Jim Beam Yellow label (Rye whiskey, aged 4 years, 80 proof)
Jim Beam also produces four premium small-batch bourbons: Knob Creek, Basil Hayden, Baker's, and Booker's, named for Booker Noe.
On February 14, 2005 Jim Beam put its 10 millionth barrel into the rack for aging.
Jim Beam meets the requirements for being bourbon: its mash is over 51% corn, and it is stored in new charred oak barrels for longer than the national requirement of 2 years (the required maturation time to be called "straight bourbon"; "bourbon" has no required maturation time). Jim Beam uses rye and barley to fill out its grains.
Like many bourbons, Jim Beam uses a portion of a prior run to create a better environment for the yeast in the new run. This is known as "sour mash", as this process is much like how sourdough bread is made. The standard white label Jim Beam whiskey pours a light amber color.
The Jim Beam distillery is part of the American Whiskey Trail.
On 26 July 2004 Thanasi Foods LLC announced the release of Beam Soaked Sunflower Seeds, a snack product soaked in Jim Beam and available in 3 flavors; Original, Barbeque, and JalapeƱo. The products were released in August 2004. On 18 October 2004 the company announced the addition of Jim Beam Soaked Beef Jerky to the range. Jim Beam has a licensing agreement with Vita Food Products to manufacture and sell Jim Beam BBQ Sauces, Marinades, Mustards, Steak Sauces, Hot Sauce, Wing Sauce, Pancake Syrup and Glazes.
- Robby Gordon drives the number 7 Jim Beam Ford Fusion as an owner/driver in the NASCAR Nextel Cup.
- Steven Johnson and Will Davison drive the number 17 and 18 Dick Johnson Racing team Ford Falcons sponsored by Jim Beam in the V8 Supercars championship.
- Jim Beam used to sponsor Oran Park Raceway V8 Supercar round, which was known as the Jim Beam 400.
- Jim Beam is the main sponsor of Turkish Dakar Team in 2008.
- Lynyrd Skynyrd uses the design for the bottle for some of their T-shirts.
- GG Allin had a bottle of Jim Beam placed beside him in his casket.
- Jeannie's bottle from the television series I Dream of Jeannie was in fact a Jim Beam decanter decoratively painted in different colors, depending on the series season.
- Is a major sponsor of the lower grade, (Australian) New South Wales Rugby League competition played in Sydney, New South Wales, The NSWRL Jim Beam Cup.
- Jim Beam is the main sponsor of Turkish Dakar Team in 2008.
jim beam is great to all the world who are drinkers "alcaholics" so drink up and enjoy
- Jim Beam was shown in the John Wayne film, The Green Berets.
- According to the book Heavier Than Heaven by Charles R. Cross, Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain was drunk on half a bottle of Jim Beam during the shooting of the video for Smells Like Teen Spirit.
- The beverage is referenced as "Jimmy Beam" in the song "I Drink Alone" by George Thorogood.
- The drink is referenced as "Ol' Jimmy Beam" in the song "Coattails of a Dead Man" by Primus (band).
- Was heavily featured on the TV show Titus whenever hard liquor was shown.
- Jim Beam is mentioned by Adam Sandler in the comedy sketch "The Goat" on the CD "What the Hell Happened to Me?" as old man's drink of choice and also in "The Goat Song" from the CD "What's Your Name?".
- Jim Beam official website
- Jim Beam Decanter Collecting History, Features & Message Board
- Jim Beam Brands Small Batch Bourbon Collection
- Hidden Horsham Photos and history of Prewetts Mill which now houses the UK headquarters of Beam Global