Jim Beam has launched the Beam Private Barrel Club which will give consumers access to whole casks of bourbon and rye. This is a significant shift in the company’s 229-year history.
Up until now only businesses like restaurants had access to these barrels but now - consumers like you or I can get our hands on a barrel.
“The Beam Private Barrel Club is something we’ve been working on for years–even decades now. As we celebrate the 230th year of Jacob Beam selling his first barrel, we want to commemorate this milestone by further welcoming whiskey lovers into our family offering members the ability to own a barrel, exclusively their own.” ~ Freddie Noe, eighth generation master distiller
Groups of up to eight individuals may enjoy the experience, and bottles start at $59.99. Members are required to buy the full barrel's supply from the American Outpost, and each barrel normally produces 100–175 bottles.
When making a reservation, a $1,000 non-refundable deposit is needed, which goes toward the total barrel price. Members can add up to 41 characters to their bottles' unique labels throughout the 90–120 day bottling process.
You can register at this link if you're interested in joining. A legacy ambassador will get in touch with you when you are selected to arrange a time for you to come pick a barrel at Beam's Clermont facility. You will be given a tour of both the main distillery and the more recent Fred B. Noe Distillery, which is named after Freddie's father, a seventh-generation master distiller, on the day of your visit. After that, you go to a rackhouse to sample a few single barrels of rye or bourbon, depending on your preference. After you make your choice, your barrel is extracted for later disposal and bottled with a label that you may personalize. Lastly, you have lunch at the Kitchen Table restaurant at the distillery to cap off your day.
Depending on how many bottles you choose from the barrel, the cost of this event will vary. Generally, it ranges from 100 to 175 depending on how thirsty the angels were when they took their portion. The distillery states that the rye will be bottled at 115 proof and the bourbon at 120 proof. Depending on the whiskey you choose, the price per bottle might increase from the initial $60.
Knob Creek rye and bourbon will be the only brands available at the Beam Private Barrel Club for the time being, but the distillery is considering new brands for the future. Who knows, maybe we'll be able to taste Basil Hayden at a proof higher than its typical 80—hey, a man can dream.
