Jim Beam is the best selling brand of bourbon in the entire world, and it’s the second best-selling American whiskey. That means there are a lot of Jim Beam loyalists out there, and they're going to want to visit the home of their favorite brand of bourbon.
Every distillery is unique and has its own merits. Jim Beam in Clermont is a very large commercial operation, but it is set up in such a way it feels like it has always been designed with guests in mind. There’s an enormous visitor’s center, which is relatively new compared to the 200 years and 7 generations the Beam family has been in business. One thing you’ll want to pick up at the Jim Beam American Stillhouse that you can’t get anywhere else in the world is Old Tub Bourbon.
The traditional tour operates much like all bourbon tours, taking guests through the whiskey making process in order. You’ll start off learning about the grains and the water that go in to making the mash, moving on to the yeast and the fermentation. After the fermentation you’ll learn about distillation, barreling, and maturation. Then, depending on your tour guide, you will get to visit the dump tubs and sample bourbon straight out of the barrel before visiting the bottling line to bid farewell to the many brands made by Jim Beam as they head to store shelves.
Jim Beam in Clermont also offers a “Behind the Beam” tour which includes a behind-the-scenes tour, a meal with Master Distiller Fred Noe, and a commemorative bottle. The cost is $199 per person for this once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Tours are $10, free for Active Duty Military. Click here for information on times as well as for directions. Click here for information on Jim Beam's Urban Stillhouse in Louisville.
Photos Courtesy of Maggie Kimberl
