Born Joseph Elmo in Nelson County, KY to Joseph L. Beam, Elmo would serve as the first master distiller of Maker’s Mark Distillery. His brother, C. Everett Beam was the master distiller for Michter’s. His uncle was Minor Case Beam.
Joseph L. Beam helps establish the Heaven Hill Distillery with four other investors, including two of the Shapira brothers, David and Ed. Due to financial troubles, Joseph would sell his shares of the company to the Shapira brothers, a fact that Heaven Hill disregards...
Along with his son Jere and his brother Park, Jim Beam purchases the Old Murphy Barber Distillery in Clermont, KY. At this location they would build a new plant and register it as the Jim Beam Company, Inc.
