The Barn Series, Day 5 - Jim Beam

We have Jim Beam Distillery as our barn showcase today. Remember yesterday we were in Loretto, Kentucky, at Maker's Mark Distillery. Today we are about 40 miles north in Clermont, Kentucky, outside Bardstown, at Jim Beam Distillery, another best selling bourbon globally.

Jim Beam hails back to 1795 (excluding the prohibition) and still reigns supreme as a top selling bourbon whiskey brand globally. Johannes Beam distilled the first bottle of Jim Beam. The original name was Bohm, but after immigrating to Kentucky from Germany, the family changed it to Beam. Johannes distilled the first bottle before prohibition and after probibition Jacob Beam started the company in 1935. The name was changed later to Jim Beam honoring James Beam, the Master Distiller for 40 years. A beautiful gray barn was built to accommodate a stillhouse where visitors can taste and purchase the Jim Beam brand.

The actual tasting done by master distillers is actually done in this barn, if my information serves me correctly. The ricking barn you see in the background is where the whiskey ages in rack after rack of barrels. A rickhouse is also called a rackhouse.

I love what the brand did to one of the silos at the distillery painting it stark white and giving it all the trappings of the brand. I love the images of the ancestors of the brand on the side.

The old barn that you can see as you drive down the highway got a new coat of white paint and many a Jim Beam logo. I love the face lift they did at Jim Beam recently. Did you know the Jim Beam Distillery is right across the street from Bernheim Arboreteum, one of my old favorite stomping grounds when I lived in Louisville.

I know what you're thinking. We are on Day 5 of The Barn Series and we haven't even gotten out of Kentucky. Amazing! That's my great home state for you. Now as I write this post I am not positive where I am taking you tomorrow or even if we will get out of the state of Kentucky, but if you come along with me, I promise another good time. See you then. ENJOY!

Linking to Metamorphosis Monday

The Barn Series- Day 4 - Maker's Mark

Every barn tells a story. This story began as Burks Distillery way back in 1953, in the tiny town of Loretto, Kentucky. However, in 1953 the story changed when a Kentucky gentleman, Bill Samuels, bought the distillery.

Five years and much ado later in 1958, the first run of bourbon was bottled at Maker's Mark Distillery, complete with the dipped red wax seal, and a star was born. Maker's Mark is a global brand renowned as one of the best bourbons bottled. Having visited Maker's Mark multiple times, I have to say the one thing I love, almost as much as the barrel laden vintage wagon that sits in the yard, has to be this stark black barn with its distinctive red shutters that lends a hand to the Maker's Mark brand.

The story doesn't end there though. My father, Joseph Mattingly, was born right up the road from Maker's Mark, before it even became the renowned distillery it is today. Furthermore, if you were to travel the back roads surrounding Loretto, Springfield or Bardstown, Kentucky, you couldn't throw a stone without hitting one of my ancestors.

As vintage barns go, the barn at Maker's Mark is definitely one of my favorites for obvious reasons. Seriously, one minute we were in the heart of the Bluegrass State and the 'Horse Capital of the World' and nary a minute later we are in the 'Bourbon Capital of the World' and we didn't leave the state of Kentucky. Amazing!

It's Day 4 of The Barn Series and we are still traveling in Kentucky. If thoroughbreds and horse barns didn't peak your interest, I hope this little splash of spirits from Maker's Mark did. Let's get back in the car and head on down the road. Hey, you suppose we'll make it out of Kentucky? ENJOY!

Linking to Metamorphosis Monday

Grounds at Maker's Mark, Loretto, Kentucky

A few weeks ago I spent a Saturday afternoon shopping in Bardstown at some of my favorite home decor shops. Then I drove the twenty minute drive to Maker's Mark. I hadn't been to the distillery in over ten years and I didn't have any of those old images. So, allow me to give you a quickie tour of this famed distillery . . .

As you make your way from the parking lot to the main grounds, you'll pass this old painted wagon filled with, what else, but bourbon barrels.


Next you'll walk over a bridge and please do notice the creek which I'm sure plays a big role in the 'making of this mark'.



Oh, look. Here we are at the distillery building where you can go in and take the tour. No, I've never done the tour, but perhaps one day.


As you make your way back to the parking lot, you'll pass this black and red painted barn which no doubt plays a role in the bourbon making process. Tomorrow, as it happens, is the last day for the annual Bourbon Festival that's been going on all week in and around Bardstown, Kentucky. There are bourbon enthusiasts from all over the globe visiting Louisville and Bardstown this week just to tour the many bourbon distilleries and participate in the festival. Have a fantastic weekend all. ENJOY!

Photographer's Note: Before I close this post, I wanted to share that at one time I played a role in the branding of Maker's Mark. Back in the beginning of my career in advertising, I worked for a major ad agency here in Louisville. I managed the typesetting department and typeset many a Maker's Mark ad and billboard. One holiday, Bill Samuels gave me a signed bottle of Maker's Mark, with my name printed on the label and the top was dipped in gold wax instead of red.

Barns, Bourbon &!

I took a quick trip over to check out Labrot and Graham's distillery the other Sunday. It's only a ten minute drive from Midway. Woodford Reserve Select is the bourbon that is produced from the barrels housed in this distillery barn. It is a small batch premium bourbon. This distillery is the oldest distillery of the nine distilleries located in Kentucky. If you haven't guessed by now or aren't familiar with Kentucky, we're not just known for fast horses, but also the best bourbon in the world. While I was checking out the distillery grounds, I also discovered this new piece of sculpture which was pretty cool. Sorry but the clouds had moved in and it became pretty overcast and was getting really late in the day when I took these photos. It's going to snow here this week. Ugh again! Spring where are you? ENJOY