{"id":220,"date":"2026-06-29T05:18:30","date_gmt":"2026-06-29T05:18:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.beamdistilling.com\/articles\/best-things-to-do-clermont"},"modified":"2026-07-28T20:20:22","modified_gmt":"2026-07-28T20:20:22","slug":"best-things-to-do-clermont","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beamdistilling.com\/articles\/best-things-to-do-clermont\/","title":{"rendered":"Best Things to Do in Clermont, Kentucky: Beam &#038; Bernheim"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><em>Last updated: July 27, 2026<\/em><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"key-takeaways\">Why Clermont, Kentucky Belongs on Your Bourbon Trip<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Clermont, Kentucky pairs the James B. Beam Distilling Co. and Bernheim Arboretum into an easy half-day or full-day bourbon-country itinerary.<\/li>\n<li>The flagship Beam Made Bourbon Tour &amp; Tasting is a 75-minute, hands-on experience capped at 24 guests that includes five tastings and barrel-filling moments.<\/li>\n<li>After the tour, visitors can bottle their own Knob Creek on the T-Line, enjoy lunch at The Kitchen Table, and shop distillery-exclusive bottles at the American Outpost.<\/li>\n<li>The distillery sits just minutes from Bernheim\u2019s Canopy Tree Walk and family-friendly Playcosystem, so you can pair bourbon education with outdoor exploration.<\/li>\n<li>Tours require advance booking and fill quickly during peak seasons such as Derby, fall foliage, and SEC football weekends.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.beamdistilling.com\/james-b-beam-distillery-tour\/book-a-tour#id=beam-made-bourbon-distillery-tour-tasting-clermont\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Reserve your Beam Made Bourbon Tour experience today.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<h2>Beam Made Bourbon Tour &amp; Tasting: Clermont\u2019s Signature Experience<\/h2>\n<p>The flagship <strong>Beam Made Bourbon Tour &amp; Tasting<\/strong> costs $30 per person and runs 75 minutes. It follows a grain-to-glass walk through a working distillery and stays hands-on from start to finish. You fill a barrel, dump a barrel, and taste five bourbons at the exact moments that explain them. You sip Jim Beam White at Jim Beam&#8217;s original Cadillac, Jim Beam Black at the mill, Basil Hayden while filling a barrel, Knob Creek at the barrel dump, and a rotating \u201csurprise and delight\u201d pour.<\/p>\n<p>That Cadillac carries a genuine story. Jim Beam used it to transport the distillery&#8217;s wild yeast strain, captured at his Bardstown home in the early 1930s, back and forth each day to keep it safe. That same signature strain still runs through nearly every Beam bourbon made today.<\/p>\n<p>On the T-Line, you can bottle your own Knob Creek ($59.99, the same as the shelf price), rinsing it, running it down the line, and pressing your thumbprint into the wax seal. Engraving is available for an additional $10. Because the tour caps at 24 guests, you have time to enjoy this hands-on bottling experience without feeling rushed. Active military visit free with valid ID, and veterans receive a discount.<\/p>\n<h2>Dining and Shopping at James B. Beam Distilling Co.<\/h2>\n<p>After the tour and T-Line, lunch at <strong>The Kitchen Table<\/strong> turns the morning into a full day out. The menu features Kentucky classics such as burgers, barbecue, and fried chicken. It also highlights a signature sourdough pizza made with the same yeast strain used in the bourbon, baked in a proper Italian pizza oven. The cocktail list leans into the family\u2019s whiskeys, and both the patio and indoor spaces work well for a relaxed midday meal or a private dinner.<\/p>\n<p>Before leaving the campus, stop at the <strong>American Outpost<\/strong> gift shop and tasting bar. Unlike distilleries that release allocated bottles through timed drops or lotteries, Beam keeps hard-to-find and distillery-exclusive bottles on the shelf and available until they are gone. You may find Lineage, the Distiller&#8217;s Share series, and a throwback bottled-in-bond version of Basil Hayden made only for the distillery.<\/p>\n<h2>Day Trip in Clermont, KY<\/h2>\n<p>This itinerary outlines a single day in Clermont, arriving from Louisville (approximately 30 minutes south via I-65) or Bardstown (approximately 20 minutes north). Kentucky Bourbon Trail visitors should book experiences well in advance, so reserving your tour slot before finalizing the rest of the day is the right first move. Here is how to structure your time:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>9:00 a.m. \u2014 Arrive at James B. Beam Distilling Co.<\/strong> The address is 568 Happy Hollow Rd., Clermont, KY 40110. Plan to arrive at least 30 minutes before your tour time, because guides cannot admit guests once a tour is underway. The grounds, gift shop, and American Outpost are accessible without a reservation.<\/li>\n<li><strong>9:30 a.m. \u2014 Beam Made Bourbon Tour &amp; Tasting (75 minutes)<\/strong> Walk the grain-to-glass process, fill and dump a barrel, enjoy five taste-as-you-go pours, and consider an optional T-Line bottling of Knob Creek. Small groups keep the experience personal even on busy weekends.<\/li>\n<li><strong>11:00 a.m. \u2014 American Outpost and gift shop<\/strong> Browse distillery-exclusive bottles and pick up your personalized Knob Creek if you bottled one on the tour. Explore the three-tier tasting bar (Vault, Legacy, and Heritage) for two additional pours from across the full portfolio, including archived expressions.<\/li>\n<li><strong>12:00 p.m. \u2014 Lunch at The Kitchen Table<\/strong> Walk-ins are welcome. Allow 60 to 75 minutes for a relaxed meal before the afternoon drive to Bernheim.<\/li>\n<li><strong>1:30 p.m. \u2014 Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest<\/strong> The entrance sits approximately five minutes from the distillery. Bernheim operates on a suggested donation model for Kentucky residents and charges a modest per-vehicle fee for out-of-state visitors. <a href=\"https:\/\/bernheim.org\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noindex nofollow\">Current entry details are available at bernheim.org<\/a>. Plan two to three hours for the afternoon.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Sunset \u2014 Optional return to the American Outpost<\/strong> The distillery is open Monday through Sunday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. EST, with Sunday opening at 9:30 a.m. Tuesdays are closed in January and February. Always confirm current hours at beamdistilling.com before your visit, because holiday schedules vary.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><strong>2026 logistics notes:<\/strong> All tastings are 21+ with valid government-issued ID, consistent with Drink Smart\u00ae responsible enjoyment standards. <a href=\"https:\/\/mybourbontrailplan.com\/bourbon-trail-transportation-guide\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noindex nofollow\">Even modest pours across multiple stops add up<\/a>, so designate a driver, arrange a rideshare from Louisville, or book a guided tour operator such as Mint Julep, Pegasus, or Kentucky Bourbon Boys, all of which serve the Clermont corridor. The distillery accommodates a range of visitor needs. Many public areas, retail spaces, The Kitchen Table, and portions of the tour are ADA accessible. Leashed pets are welcome in many outdoor areas, and service animals are welcome throughout per ADA guidelines.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Seasonal notes:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/distilleriesnearme.us\/guide\/kentucky-bourbon-trail\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noindex nofollow\">Late September through early November is widely considered the best window for Kentucky distillery visits<\/a>, with fall foliage, pleasant temperatures, and peak warehouse aromas. Derby season (late April to early May) and SEC football weekends (September to October) bring the highest Louisville-area traffic, so booking further in advance works best during those periods.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.beamdistilling.com\/james-b-beam-distillery-tour\/book-a-tour#id=beam-made-bourbon-distillery-tour-tasting-clermont\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Reserve your spot on the Beam Made Bourbon Tour to secure your place in this complete Clermont day trip.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<h2>Bernheim Forest and Arboretum Near Clermont<\/h2>\n<p>Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest sits just minutes from the distillery, so it naturally complements a morning at Beam. The <strong>Canopy Tree Walk<\/strong>, a 75-foot elevated trail through the forest canopy, is the signature attraction. It offers views across the rolling Kentucky landscape that feel especially dramatic during fall color weekends. The <strong>Playcosystem<\/strong>, a nature-inspired outdoor play area, makes Bernheim a practical stop for families traveling with children who are not participating in the 21+ tasting experiences at the distillery.<\/p>\n<p>Bernheim\u2019s calendar fills with programming through Derby season and into the fall, and the forest\u2019s proximity to I-65 makes it an easy add for visitors routing between Louisville and Bardstown. <a href=\"https:\/\/discover-louisville.com\/guides\/bourbon\/bourbon-country-weekend-guide\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noindex nofollow\">Scheduling outdoor time in the early afternoon, after a morning distillery tour, is a well-established pattern for Kentucky bourbon country day trips<\/a>. The Beam-to-Bernheim sequence follows that pattern naturally.<\/p>\n<h2>Why James B. Beam Distilling Co. Works as Your One Must-See Stop<\/h2>\n<p>The James B. Beam Distilling Co. answers the question every first-timer eventually asks about which single distillery to visit. Eight generations of one family have made bourbon here since Jacob Beam sold his first barrel in 1795. That unbroken line of craft sets the campus apart. The site is the home not just of Jim Beam but of the entire Small Batch Collection: Knob Creek, Basil Hayden, Booker\u2019s, and Baker\u2019s, along with Little Book and Hardin\u2019s Creek. Fans of any of those brands stand at the exact place where their bourbon is made and aged, with roughly 3.1 million barrels aging across the surrounding warehouses.<\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.beamdistilling.com\/about-us\/beam-made-bourbon\" target=\"_blank\">flavor of every Beam bourbon is shaped in part by Kentucky&#8217;s four-season climate and its natural limestone-filtered water<\/a>. That water is iron-free and calcium-rich, drawn from the same geology that has defined Kentucky bourbon for more than two centuries. The tour tells that story at the moments that make it stick.<\/p>\n<p>Master distillers Fred Noe (7th generation) and Freddie Noe (8th generation) are on site nearly every day, often signing bottles in the gift shop and, in Fred\u2019s case, personally hosting Whiskey Wednesday tastings. The 4.7-star rating from more than 1,400 independent guest reviews reflects what that access and that level of hands-on experience deliver. Please enjoy responsibly. All tastings are 21+ and Drink Smart\u00ae principles apply throughout every experience on campus.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.beamdistilling.com\/james-b-beam-distillery-tour\/book-a-tour#id=beam-made-bourbon-distillery-tour-tasting-clermont\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Book your tour at the home of eight generations of bourbon-making tradition.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<h2>Frequently Asked Questions<\/h2>\n<h3>What are the hours and admission details for the James B. Beam Distilling Co. in 2026?<\/h3>\n<p>The distillery is generally open Monday through Sunday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. EST, with Sunday opening at 9:30 a.m. Tuesdays are closed in January and February. The campus is closed on major holidays. The grounds, gift shop, and The Kitchen Table restaurant are accessible without a reservation. Guided tours and tastings require advance booking at beamdistilling.com. Always confirm current hours before your visit, because schedules can change around holidays and special events.<\/p>\n<h3>Do I need a reservation for the Beam Made Bourbon Tour, and how far in advance should I book?<\/h3>\n<p>Advance reservations are strongly recommended. The flagship Beam Made Bourbon Tour &amp; Tasting caps at 24 guests per group, and popular time slots, particularly weekend mornings during Derby season, SEC football weekends, and fall foliage months, fill well ahead of the visit date. Kentucky Bourbon Trail visitors should book well in advance, and peak-season slots at high-demand distilleries can sell out weeks or months ahead. Book online at beamdistilling.com and plan to arrive at least 30 minutes before your scheduled tour time, because guides cannot admit guests once a tour is underway.<\/p>\n<h3>Can I bring children or non-drinking guests to the distillery?<\/h3>\n<p>Families are welcome on the distillery grounds. Children may accompany adults on select tours, and the campus, including The Kitchen Table restaurant, the gift shop, and the American Outpost, is accessible to all ages. However, all bourbon tastings are strictly 21+ with a valid government-issued ID, consistent with Drink Smart\u00ae responsible enjoyment standards. Non-drinking guests can join the tour for the grain-to-glass storytelling and hands-on moments without participating in the tasting portions. Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest, just minutes away, includes the Playcosystem outdoor play area and works well for families with younger children.<\/p>\n<h3>What is included in the $30 Beam Made Bourbon Tour, and what extras are available?<\/h3>\n<p>The $30 per person tour (plus applicable tax and fees) includes a 75-minute guided grain-to-glass walk through the working distillery, five bourbons tasted at key moments in the production process, and hands-on barrel filling and dumping. On the T-Line, guests can bottle their own Knob Creek at shelf price, with optional engraving available. Active military visit free with valid ID, and veterans receive a discount. Beyond the flagship tour, the campus offers deeper experiences including the Maturation Matters warehouse tour, where guests thief whiskey directly from the barrel, the Fred B. Noe Craft Distillery Tour, the Kitchen Table Culinary Experience, and Whiskey Wednesday tastings hosted personally by 7th-generation master distiller Fred Noe.<\/p>\n<h3>Are pets allowed, and is the distillery ADA accessible?<\/h3>\n<p>Leashed pets are welcome in many of the distillery&#8217;s outdoor areas, though they are not permitted in production spaces or indoor facilities. Service animals are welcome throughout the campus per ADA guidelines. Many public areas, the retail spaces, The Kitchen Table restaurant, and portions of the guided tour are ADA accessible. Guests with specific accessibility needs should contact the distillery directly before their visit to confirm which experiences and areas best suit their requirements.<\/p>\n<hr data-disclaimer-divider=\"true\">\n<div data-disclaimer-footer=\"true\">\n<p data-disclaimer-id=\"28\" data-disclaimer-type=\"fixed\">This article is promotional content of James B. Beam Distilling Co. Please practice responsible drinking.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Clermont, KY&#8217;s #1 attraction is James B. Beam Distilling Co. \u2014 bourbon tours, tastings, dining &#038; exclusive bottles. Book your visit today!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":114,"featured_media":219,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-220","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-tourism"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beamdistilling.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/220","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beamdistilling.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beamdistilling.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beamdistilling.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/114"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beamdistilling.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=220"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.beamdistilling.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/220\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":309,"href":"https:\/\/www.beamdistilling.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/220\/revisions\/309"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beamdistilling.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/219"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beamdistilling.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=220"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beamdistilling.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=220"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beamdistilling.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=220"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}