Uploaded May 2023 | Updated September 2026, 2 hours ago
During the late 18th century, members of the Böhm family, who eventually changed the spelling of their surname to "Beam", emigrated from Germany and settled in Kentucky.
Johannes "Jacob" Beam (1760–1834) was a farmer who began producing whiskey in the style that became bourbon. Jacob Beam sold his first barrels of corn whiskey around 1795, then called Old Jake Beam Sour Mash.
When Fortune Brands, a subsidiary of American Brands, opened for business in Australia on April 19, 1991 it started with a bang; its first product was Jim Beam bourbon, Australia's top-selling spirits brand.
Both Jim Beam, which generated wholesale sales of $150 million in Australia in 1990-91, and Fortune Brands are owned by the Chicago-based Jim Beam Brands, a division of American Brands -- a diversified alcohol, tobacco, life insurance and office products company.
Today Jim Beam is owned by Suntory a Japanese Whiskey.
A Japanese group of brewers & distillers known for producing Japan's first whiskey.
The combined company is known as Beam Suntory.
During the late 18th century, members of the Böhm family, who eventually changed the spelling of their surname to "Beam", emigrated from Germany and settled in Kentucky.
Johannes "Jacob" Beam (1760–1834) was a farmer who began producing whiskey in the style that became bourbon. Jacob Beam sold his first barrels of corn whiskey around 1795, then called Old Jake Beam Sour Mash.
When Fortune Brands, a subsidiary of American Brands, opened for business in Australia on April 19, 1991 it started with a bang; its first product was Jim Beam bourbon, Australia's top-selling spirits brand.
Both Jim Beam, which generated wholesale sales of $150 million in Australia in 1990-91, and Fortune Brands are owned by the Chicago-based Jim Beam Brands, a division of American Brands -- a diversified alcohol, tobacco, life insurance and office products company.
Today Jim Beam is owned by Suntory a Japanese Whiskey.
A Japanese group of brewers & distillers known for producing Japan's first whiskey.
The combined company is known as Beam Suntory.
