James B. Beam Distilling Co: Beam Made Bourbon Tour and Tasting

When I first mentioned my Kentucky trip to a few friends, my friend Amy immediately lit up and insisted I add the James B. Beam Distilling Company to my itinerary. Looking over my schedule, the only time I could fit it in was right after my tour and tasting to Buffalo Trace Distillery. Luckily – with a little time to spare – I managed to catch the last tour of the day.

The grounds were beautiful and vast.  A recent renovations within the past few years have left the buildings looking pristine and thoughtfully designed. Of all the distillery tours I’ve taken, this one stood out as one of the most well planned and visually impressive.

The tour began at the gift shop before we boarded a comfortable shuttle to the main buildings. The first stop featured a striking water installation, where we were given a brief history of the distillery. From there, we walked through the various stages of the distilling process – familiar by now, but still engaging.

 

Whiskey Tasting

The first tasting was of traditional Jim Beam Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey.

Contrasting that, was the smooth well rounded nature of Jim Beam Black Kentucky Straight Aged 7 Year Bourbon Whiskey.

Up next, we could choose between two Basil Haydens. I chose the BASIL HAYDEN MALTED RYE KENTUCKY STRAIGHT RYE MALT WHISKEY.

For our last official tasting, we were given a choice between Knob Creek and KNOB CREEK 10 YEAR RYE WHISKEY. Of course I chose the 10 year.

And for our final tasting, we were able to task cask strength Knob Creek on our fingers, as our tour guide poured it out.

Memories

At James B. Beam, the focus is on their 90 year old yeast strain, which has been continuously cultivated and “fed” for generations. I found that fascinating. The distillery also sits just below an arboretum, giving its water supply a unique chemistry compared to places like Frankfort, Kentucky.

The most memorable detail I learned was that Knob Creek bourbon takes its name from a stream near Abraham Lincoln’s childhood home, and the textured back of the bottle mimics the pebbles from that creek.

Another highlight was discovering how American white oak is used for barrels. A single tree – grown for 80 to 100 years – yields just two barrels. That longevity and sacrifice adds even more weight to the process of whiskey making.

Like many tours, this one included the playful claim that their whiskey is the world’s best. Interestingly, both Buffalo Trace and Jack Daniel’s Distillery share a version of the story that their brand “saved whiskey” during the 1980s decline, when vodka and wine had taken center stage.

 

I also enjoyed watching the Knob Creek bottling process, performed for us for those that wanted to purchase and personalize a bottle.

Overall, my tour at James B. Beam Distilling Company was equal parts history, craftsmanship, and storytelling. It was good, with distinct parts that felt personalized and fun. It was a worthy visit during my time on Kentucky’s Bourbon Trail.

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