The Process Gallery

A grain truck offloads, and the process of making the world's finest bourbon begins.

Our family yeast strain feeds on the grain mash. The bubbles are a visible indicator of fermentation. And the invisible byproduct is alcohol.

"Low wine" is produced by the first distillation in our kettle still (left). At right, 135 proof "high wine" from our column still heads to the barreling room.

Filling a new charred American oak barrel with about 53 gallons of high wine.

Barrels of aging Jim Beam® are piled high and racked deep in our hilltop rackhouses—for twice as long as the law mandates.

A four-year-old barrel of caramel-colored Jim Beam® is opened and drained. Ready for the bottle.

Hundreds of bottles await the iconic Jim Beam® bottle label.