Everything about Jim Beam totally explained
Jim Beam, is the world's top selling brand of
bourbon whiskey. Also included under the Jim Beam label are several other varieties of bourbon and whiskey, as well as a number of food products that include the bourbon as an ingredient. Beam is made in
Clermont, Kentucky and traces its origins back to the distillery set up in 1795 by family patriarch Jacob Beam. Although the Beam / Noe family is still very much involved, Jim Beam Bourbon 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.
Distillers
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.
Types of bourbon
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's 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.
Food
On
26 July 2004 THANASI Foods announced the release of Jim Beam Soaked Sunflower Seeds, a snack product soaked in Jim Beam and available in 3 flavors; Original, Barbeque, and Jalapeño. 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.
Motor racing
Robby Gordon drives the number 7
Jim Beam Dodge Charger as an owner/driver in the
NASCAR Sprint Cup.
Steven Johnson and
Will Davison drive the number 17 and 18
Dick Johnson Racing team
Ford Falcons in the
V8 Supercars championship, which are both sponsored by Jim Beam. Jim Beam used to sponsor the
Oran Park Raceway V8 Supercar round, which was known as the Jim Beam 400. Jim Beam is also the main sponsor of Turkish Dakar Team in 2008.
Popular culture
Jim Beam is highly prevalent in sports, film, TV, and music. It 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, as well as the main sponsor of Turkish Dakar Team in 2008. Jim Beam was also 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, and referenced as "Ol' Jimmy Beam" in the song "Coattails of a Dead Man" by
Primus (band). Jim Beam was heavily featured on the TV show
Titus whenever hard liquor was shown, and 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?".
[JimBeam + ice + water] is favourite cocktail of Phil Connors (Bill Murray) in movie "Groundhog Day" 1993.
The Jim Beam bottle itself is also prevalent in popular culture.
Lynyrd Skynyrd uses the design of the Jim Beam bottle for some of their T-shirts, and
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 1964 Christmas edition decanter decoratively painted in different colors, depending on the series season.
Further Information
Get more info on 'Jim Beam'.
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