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Washington County · Early commonwealth · 1795

Jacob Beam sells Old Jake’s first barrel

In 1795 Jacob Beam (born Johannes Jacob Boehm) sold his first barrel of “Old Jake Beam” sour-mash whiskey from a corn farm and mill on Hardin’s Creek in what was then Washington County, Kentucky.

AI illustration of Jacob Beam, Kentucky miller and distiller, about 1795
Jacob Beam AI illustration · Kentucky History Drive; no known likeness exists

The family later grew the Old Tub brand; after Prohibition Jim Beam reopened the line, and seven generations still distill from that pioneer start. One early barrel sale became the Beam house that still marks Nelson County’s map.

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Published . Last revised .

Chicago

Snowden, Shannon. "Jacob Beam sells Old Jake’s first barrel." Kentucky History Drive. Published September 24, 2026. Last revised September 24, 2026. https://kyhistorydrive.com/stories/jacob-beam-sells-old-jakes-first-barrel/.

MLA

Snowden, Shannon. "Jacob Beam sells Old Jake’s first barrel." Kentucky History Drive, published 24 Sept. 2026, last revised 24 Sept. 2026, https://kyhistorydrive.com/stories/jacob-beam-sells-old-jakes-first-barrel/.

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