Jim Beam

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Jim Beam
The standard white Jim Beam label.
Type Bourbon whiskey
Proof 80 and 86
Manufacturer Fortune Brands
Country of origin Flag of the United States Clermont, Kentucky USA
Introduced 1795

Jim Beam, is the world's top selling brand of bourbon whiskey.[1] 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.

Contents

[edit] 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.

[edit] Types of bourbon

Jim Beam distillery as viewed from the Beam House.
Jim Beam distillery as viewed from the Beam House.

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.

[edit] 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.

[edit] 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.

[edit] 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. 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?". [Jim Beam + ice + water] is favourite cocktail of Phil Connors (Bill Murray) in movie "Groundhog Day" 1993.

  • In the TV series One on One, Arnaz's mother has a drinking problem, and whenever it's brought up, it's always said that she drinks Jim Beam.

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.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Beveragenet Reference URL last accessed April 11, 2008.

[edit] External links