Home » Upgraded James B. Beam Distilling Co. visitor experience to open summer 2021

Upgraded James B. Beam Distilling Co. visitor experience to open summer 2021

Reimagined consumer experience to feature the Fred B. Noe Craft Distillery, The Kitchen Table restaurant, American Outpost, Beam Made Bourbon visual educational experience

CLERMONT, Ky.  – The James B. Beam Distilling Co. expects to unveil an elevated consumer experience on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail in late summer 2021.

Moving forward, the James B. Beam Distilling Co. will pair its historic commitment to bourbon with an eye on the future to allow consumers to enjoy all its brands. This new experience will embody the Beam family ethos, honor and celebrate its 225-year legacy in bourbon, and showcase an ambition for the future of American whisky with a craft distillery and cutting-edge partnerships.

“We are so proud of our history and are thrilled to honor it through this new experience to best tell the stories of our family and the craft that we have such immense passion for,” said Freddie Noe, 8thgeneration Beam Distiller.

Visitors can expect an immersive experience, featuring the full Beam Distilling family of brands, from Jim Beam to small-batch icons such as Booker’s, Baker’s, Basil Hayden’s and Knob Creek, and recent innovations including Little Book and Legent. They will also be offered opportunities to better understand the “Beam Way” of making bourbon and get a glimpse at the industry’s future.

The James B. Beam Distilling Co.  has long been a leader on the Bourbon Trail, and the new experience will offer expanded educational, historical, and culinary delights, giving loyal fans more reasons to visit.

“We will be excited to re-open our doors in a post-pandemic environment. Our new visitor experience, including the craft distillery, will set us up for success in the next 225 years as we continue to be the definitive voice in bourbon, both in Kentucky and globally,” said Albert Baladi, president and CEO, Beam Suntory.

New visitor experience features will include:

The American Outpost – Replacing the American Stillhouse, this unique visitor and retail center will honor the James B. Beam Distilling Co.’s past. The original American Outpost was the first retail visitor experience in 1981, selling Jim Beam merchandise. The American Outpost will also feature new tasting rooms.

The Kitchen Table – Inspired by the Noe family kitchen table, where generations have enjoyed bourbon and shared meals, The Kitchen Table will champion local farmers and producers. Visitors can take in the stunning views and enjoy food and cocktails in this 5,000-s.f. restaurant and gathering space.

“Beam Made Bourbon” – This immersive consumer tour is a visual educational experience showcasing how to make bourbon the “Beam Way,” and a stop in the Distillate Room, highlighting each brand’s unique distillation levers that help shape its character.

Fred B. Noe Craft Distillery — The new home for small-batch and next-generation whiskies will also serve as a functional production facility to explore new fermentation and distillation techniques. Named after seventh-generation Master Distiller Fred Noe, the craft distillery will offer distillation process sessions with Freddie Noe, hands-on activities in the blending lab, a tasting bar and a state-of-the-art classroom for the James B. Beam Institute for Kentucky Spirits.

The company also plans to reimagine its consumer experience in Louisville.  While the James B. Beam Distilling Co. focuses on completion of this important work in Clermont, the Jim Beam Urban Stillhouse in Louisville will close.