Jim Beam History

It was in 1795, in the rolling hills of north central Kentucky, that the first Jim Beam Distillery was founded. Through the many intervening years the aim and watchwords of the Beam Company have been – quality products – “one family, one formula, one purpose.”

Over the years, the Beam Company has pioneered in the packaging field – developing outstanding containers for their products – new, different and colorful decanters. The Company’s first specialty decanter was issused in 1953, an appealing glass Cocktail Shaker. The following year the pyrex Coffee Servers, made by Corning Glass, were introduced.

Regal China Decanters

In 1955 the Beam Company issued its first Regal China bottles, heralding the beginning of a long series of china decanters, greatly varied in style and design.

Trophy Series

Collectors were thrilled with more than a dozen wild-life or “Trophy” Series decanters, from the superb “Fish” rising out of the curning waters, to the lates, lovely “Birds,” by nature-specialist Jim Lockhart. The Trophy series was begun in 1957.

Centennial Series

The “Centennial Series,” begun in 1960, recalls many significant events – for example, the great architectural triumph of the Eero Sarrinen in his massive “Arch” recreated on the city of St. Louis decanter; or the pictures of a nation at war, expressed in the scenes on the “Civil War” bottles. 

Political Series

The award for political humor in decanters unreservedly goes to the Beam Donkey & Elephant. This series, started in 1956, with two released each presidential year, two animals representing the Democratic & Republican parties.

State Series

Among the most memorable of all Beam creations are the State Bottles. Many exciting pages of history are detaled in words & pictures on each of the decanters, begining with the poignant Alaska Star (1958).

Customer Specialties Series

Numerous decanters have been designed specifically for individuals companies – Beam “Customer Specialties.” This series was initiated in 1956 with three decanters created for Foremost Liquor Stores of Chicago, the Black & Gold, Grey & Gold and Pink Speckled Beauty. The most valuable of all Beam decanters are included in this group.

Executives Series

All of the craftsmen’s skill, knowledge, and richest palette of colors are employed in the most elaborate of the Beam decanters – the Executives. Ornate in design, lavishly trimmed with 22-karat gold, the containers truly seem to belong to a king’s court. One has been issued each year, beginning in 1955 with the dark, glistening beauty of the Royal Porcelain, followed in 1956 with the glistening “all good” decanter Royal Gold Round. Each ontainer is vibrantly unique, with such names as Blue Cherub, Golden Chalice, and Flower Basket, calling to mind the superb in decanter design.

Glass Decanters

Among the most colorful of all glass containers. worldwide, are the Beam glass decanters. The Wheaton Glass Factory, in Millville, New Jersey, has developed many of these bottles under Beam’s direction, introducing many varied & beautiful colors.

Collector’s Series

Beginning in 1966, the Jim Beam Company issued the award-winning Collector’s Series of famous art masterpieces, reproduced on glass bottles. 

Continually seeking new ideas, and welcoming suggestions – always experimenting to make their decanters more colorful – ever judiciously moving from one art expression to another, the Jim Beam Company even now is planning attractive Jim Beam Decanters of the future.