Key Takeaways
- Clermont, Kentucky offers an easy half-day escape just 30 minutes south of Louisville with a seamless bourbon-and-nature itinerary.
- The flagship Beam Made Bourbon Tour & Tasting is a 75-minute, grain-to-glass experience with hands-on barrel activities and five guided tastings.
- Bernheim Forest sits directly next to the distillery and features the Forest Giants sculptures plus a 75-foot Canopy Tree Walk.
- The Kitchen Table restaurant on the Beam campus serves Kentucky classics with a bourbon twist, making it a natural lunch stop after touring and hiking.
- Reserve your Beam Made Bourbon Tour & Tasting early to secure your preferred time at the Home of the World’s #1 Bourbon: Jim Beam.
Morning at Beam: Start Your Clermont Day Here
The Kentucky Bourbon Trail drew 2.7 million visitors in 2025, and many of those travelers arrive with the same constraint: a single free afternoon and too many distilleries to choose from. In Clermont, the straightforward answer is James B. Beam Distilling Co. at 568 Happy Hollow Rd. The campus sits just off I-65 between Louisville and Bardstown and holds a 4.7-star rating across more than 1,400 guest reviews.
The flagship Beam Made Bourbon Tour & Tasting runs 75 minutes and costs $30 (plus tax and fees) in 2026. The tour follows the full grain-to-glass story. Guests move through limestone water and grain selection, fermentation, the 65-foot “Hardest Working Still in America,” barrel filling and dumping, and a guided tasting at the American Outpost. The tasting unfolds along the way instead of in a rushed finale. Jim Beam White is poured at Jim Beam’s original Cadillac, the car he used to transport the distillery’s wild yeast strain daily. Jim Beam Black is poured at the mill, Basil Hayden while filling a barrel, and Knob Creek at the barrel dump, with a rotating surprise pour to close.
Hands-on moments set this tour apart from a behind-glass walkthrough. Guests fill a real barrel and dump a real barrel. They can also bottle their own Knob Creek on the T-Line by rinsing the bottle, running it down the line, and pressing a thumbprint into the wax seal ($59.99, same as the shelf price; engraving $10 extra). Groups cap at 24 guests, so the experience stays personal. All tastings are 21+ with valid ID. Active military visit free with valid ID, and veterans receive a discount. The distillery is ADA accessible across many public areas, retail spaces, and portions of the tour. Advance reservations are strongly recommended because popular weekend slots fill quickly.
Clermont in Context: Bourbon, Forest, and a Short Drive
Clermont’s two anchor attractions sit within minutes of each other off I-65 and pair naturally for a half-day. James B. Beam Distilling Co. offers distillery tours, guided tastings, the American Outpost gift shop, and The Kitchen Table restaurant. Bernheim Arboretum & Research Forest, directly adjacent to the distillery campus, provides 40 miles of trails, the Forest Giants sculptures, a Canopy Tree Walk, and a 17-acre natural playground across more than 16,000 acres. Together, the two stops create a complete half-day without more than a few minutes of driving between them. Bardstown, the Bourbon Capital of the World, sits a short drive south for anyone extending the day.
Midday at Bernheim: Forest Giants and Canopy Walk
Bernheim Forest opens daily at 7 a.m. and stays open until 8 p.m., with the Visitor Center and Isaac’s Café open 10 a.m.–4 p.m. This schedule fits neatly after a morning Beam tour. Admission is a recommended $15 per car, and the grounds border the Beam distillery campus directly.
Are the trolls still at Bernheim? Yes. The Forest Giants, three large-scale sculptures by Danish artist Thomas Dambo built from repurposed wood and completed in 2019, were expected to remain at Bernheim for at least three years. They have become one of the most photographed stops in central Kentucky and appeal to both adults and families. The Canopy Tree Walk, a short boardwalk suspended 75 feet above the forest floor, delivers panoramic views across the knobs.
Elm Lick and Millennium Trails are currently closed due to heat; the Forest Giants Trail and all other trails remain open. Check current trail status at Bernheim.org before visiting. Bernheim closes on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve, and New Year’s Day.
Beam Suntory appears among Bernheim’s institutional sponsors, which reflects a longstanding connection between the two neighbors and makes the pairing feel like a planned experience rather than a coincidence.
Lunch at The Kitchen Table on the Beam Campus
After the forest, many visitors return to the Beam campus for lunch at The Kitchen Table, the full-service restaurant and cocktail bar built in 2022. The menu focuses on Kentucky classics such as burgers, barbecue, fried chicken, and sandwiches, all with a Beam twist. The signature dish is a sourdough pizza made with the same yeast strain used in the bourbon and baked in an Italian pizza oven. Cocktails highlight the family’s whiskeys, and the menu rotates seasonally. The mood stays relaxed and walk-in friendly. Indoor and outdoor seating, including Fred’s Den and The Porch, works well for both groups and couples.
Sample Half-Day Itineraries for Different Groups
For couples: Book the 9:30 a.m. or 10 a.m. Beam Made Bourbon Tour. Bottle your own Knob Creek on the T-Line, then browse the American Outpost for distillery-exclusive bottles such as Lineage, Distiller’s Share, and the throwback bottled-in-bond Basil Hayden. Head to Bernheim for the Canopy Tree Walk and finish with lunch at The Kitchen Table. Total time runs about 4–5 hours.
For families with children: Adults (21+) take the Beam Made Bourbon Tour while younger guests explore the grounds. Move to Bernheim for the Forest Giants Trail and the 17-acre Playcosystem natural playground, then return to The Kitchen Table for lunch. Tastings are 21+ only; children are welcome on the grounds and at the restaurant.
For 21+ groups: Start with the Beam Made Bourbon Tour and add the Maturation Matters warehouse experience, which lets you thief whiskey straight from a barrel of Jim Beam Black. Shop the American Outpost Tasting Bar’s three tiers of rare pours, then walk Bernheim before a group lunch. Groups larger than 24 should contact the distillery about private event options. Indoor and outdoor spaces can scale to 200 guests.
Seasonal Timing Tips for Derby, Football, and Conventions
Whiskey tourism now represents a growing share of distillery revenue, which means popular time slots disappear faster than ever. Demand peaks predictably around Kentucky’s biggest calendar events, and visitors who once booked a few days out now often need to reserve weeks in advance. That booking window shrinks even further during high-demand periods.
- Kentucky Derby (early May): Louisville fills quickly, so book the Beam tour and any Bardstown accommodations as early as possible.
- September–October (Bourbon Heritage Month and SEC football weekends): This is peak bourbon tourism season. Fall foliage at Bernheim looks its best, and tour slots at Beam often fill weeks out. Aim to book at least three to four weeks ahead.
- Louisville convention season: The city books close to a million convention hotel-nights annually, and distillery day-trips are a common add-on. Weekday morning tours are usually the easiest to secure during convention weeks.
- Winter (January–February): Crowds thin out, bookings get easier, and Bernheim feels quieter. The distillery closes on Tuesdays in January and February, so plan around that schedule.
Easy Louisville and Bardstown Add-Ons from Beam
Beam’s I-65 location makes it a natural first stop on a longer Kentucky day. From Louisville, about 30 minutes north, the distillery is the first exit on the way into bourbon country and works well for a morning start before heading south. Bardstown, about 20 minutes south, clusters several additional trail stops. Lux Row, Barton 1792, Willett, and Bardstown Bourbon Company all sit within a short drive of one another.
Maker’s Mark, a co-promoted neighbor in the same family of brands, makes a friendly second stop for anyone extending into the afternoon. Heaven Hill’s visitor center in Bardstown can round out a full-day trail itinerary for dedicated enthusiasts.
Book Your Beam Made Bourbon Tour
The Beam Made Bourbon Tour & Tasting costs $30 (plus tax and fees), runs 75 minutes, and caps at 24 guests per group. Tours depart on time, so plan to arrive at least 30 minutes early. The distillery is open Monday–Sunday, 9:00 a.m.–5:30 p.m. EST, with Sunday opening at 9:30 a.m. It closes on Tuesdays in January and February and on major holidays. Book online at beamdistilling.com.
Active military visit free with valid ID, and veterans receive a discount. All tastings are 21+ with valid ID. Please enjoy responsibly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a reservation for the Beam Made Bourbon Tour, or can I walk in?
Advance reservations are strongly recommended. The grounds, American Outpost gift shop, and The Kitchen Table restaurant welcome walk-in visitors, but guided tours and tastings should be booked online at beamdistilling.com before you arrive. Tours depart on schedule, and guests cannot join a tour already in progress, so plan to arrive at least 30 minutes before your reserved time. Weekend slots and peak-season dates such as Derby weekend and September and October football weekends often fill weeks in advance.
Are the trolls (Forest Giants) still at Bernheim Forest, and is it worth visiting after the Beam tour?
Yes, the Forest Giants are still at Bernheim and remain one of the most photographed stops in central Kentucky. These large-scale wooden sculptures, described in detail earlier, sit along the Forest Giants Trail, which is currently open. Check Bernheim.org for any trail closures before you go. Bernheim sits directly next to the Beam distillery campus, so it works as a seamless second stop after the tour. The Canopy Tree Walk, a boardwalk suspended 75 feet above the forest floor, is another highlight. Bernheim is open daily 7 a.m.–8 p.m., with a recommended $15 per car admission.
What is included in the $30 Beam Made Bourbon Tour, and how long does it take?
The Beam Made Bourbon Tour & Tasting is a 75-minute grain-to-glass experience that covers limestone water and grain selection, fermentation, distillation at the “Hardest Working Still in America,” barrel filling and dumping, and a guided tasting at the American Outpost. Guests taste five bourbons at the moments that explain them: Jim Beam White, Jim Beam Black, Basil Hayden, Knob Creek, and a rotating surprise pour. Guests can also bottle their own Knob Creek on the T-Line and seal it with a thumbprint in wax ($59.99 per bottle; engraving $10 extra).
Plan on spending two to three hours on the grounds overall if you want to include the gift shop and a meal at The Kitchen Table. All tastings are 21+ with valid ID.
Does James B. Beam Distilling Co. offer military discounts?
Active military personnel visit free with a valid military ID, and veterans receive a discounted rate. Select the appropriate ticket type, “Active Military” or “Military Veteran,” when booking online at beamdistilling.com. These discounts apply to the flagship Beam Made Bourbon Tour & Tasting. Contact the distillery directly for details on other experiences and private events.
Can families with children visit, and what is available for non-drinkers?
Families are welcome on the Beam campus. Children may accompany adults on select tours, and the grounds, American Outpost gift shop, and The Kitchen Table restaurant are open to all ages. All bourbon tastings are strictly 21+ with valid ID, and this policy applies to every tasting experience at the distillery.
Non-drinking guests can still enjoy the full tour, the hands-on barrel and bottling moments, the historic campus, and a meal at The Kitchen Table. Bernheim Forest next door offers the 17-acre Playcosystem natural playground and family-friendly trails, which makes it an ideal complement for mixed-age groups.
Conclusion: Make Clermont Your Next Half-Day Escape
Clermont, Kentucky delivers an efficient and memorable half-day: a hands-on grain-to-glass tour at the Home of the World’s #1 Bourbon, a walk among the Forest Giants at Bernheim, and a Kentucky-inspired lunch made with the same yeast that goes into the bourbon. Eight generations of the Beam family have been making whiskey here since 1795, and the distillery is designed so every guest, from first-timer to trail pilgrim, feels like part of the family.
The I-65 location means you pass the campus on the way to bourbon country regardless of your final destination, so it fits easily into almost any Kentucky itinerary. Please enjoy responsibly. All tastings are for guests 21 and older with valid ID.
This article is promotional content of James B. Beam Distilling Co. Please practice responsible drinking.
