Clermont Steep American Single Malt Whiskey

Clermont Steep American Single Malt Whiskey is the first single malt ever released by James B. Beam Distilling Co., the Clermont, Kentucky house known for seven-plus generations of bourbon — a 100% malted-barley whiskey built for the drinker curious how a bourbon dynasty reads the fast-growing American single malt category.

Process & Profile

Distilled entirely from American malted barley and matured five years at the Clermont campus, this expression is bottled at 47% ABV (94 proof). Rather than reach for a used bourbon barrel, Beam aged it in casks toasted first and then given only a light level-one char — a gentler wood regimen than the alligator-char barrels the distillery is famous for, and a deliberate move by seventh-generation master distiller Fred Noe to let the malt, not the char, lead.

On the nose, brown sugar, ripe banana, honey, and toasted almond sit over wheat toast, vanilla, and a whisper of light oak.

On the palate, mellow malted grain turns sweet with clover honey and raw sugar, warmed by a gentle grain spice.

The finish is soft and clean, closing on vanilla, almond, and a last note of banana bread.

The release stands apart on pedigree: it is Beam's first single malt in a distilling lineage that runs back to 1795, and an early wide-release entry as American single malt earns its own federal category. Set beside the distillery's rye-forward bourbons, it drinks lighter and maltier — closer to a honeyed Speyside than anything else in the Beam catalog.

Serve neat in a Glencairn to read the malt, or over one large cube; it pairs well with a slice of banana bread or salted toffee.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this whiskey?
A five-year, 100% malted-barley American single malt — the first single malt from Jim Beam's James B. Beam Distilling Co.

What are the specs?
American Single Malt, aged 5 years, 47% ABV / 94 proof, 750 mL, matured in toasted-then-lightly-charred casks.

What does it taste like?
Brown sugar, banana, honey, and toasted almond on nose and palate, with a soft vanilla-and-almond finish.

How should you enjoy it?
Neat in a Glencairn, or over a single large ice cube.

Why is this release notable?
It's the first American single malt from a bourbon house with roots to 1795, released as the category earns federal recognition.