Jacob Beam sold his first barrel of bourbon in 1795, laying the foundation for an enduring family business that lasted through even the hardships of Prohibition—which led the family to try growing citrus, coal mining and even running a lime quarry. After repeal in 1933, however, the Beam family quickly returned to producing bourbon. In fact, at aged 70, James Beauregard Beam, or “Jim”—the namesake behind Jim Beam® bourbon—personally rebuilt the family’s distillery, by hand, in just 120 days. After seven generations and 30 family members of master distillers, the Jim Beam family tradition continues on today. In 2005, Frederick Booker Noe III, the great-grandson of Jim Beam, filled the 10 millionth barrel of Jim Beam, keeping the tradition of Jacob Beam alive for the next generation of bourbon drinkers.