We are Proud Custodians of Legacies Measured in Centuries

The Kilbeggan Irish Whiskey Distillery is established. It is reputed to be the world's oldest and longest operating distillery.

Jacob Beam sells his first jug of whiskey and lays the foundation for Jim Beam® Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey.

The Johnston’s begin distilling whisky in Islay, Scotland. Five years later, Laphroaig® Scotch whisky is born.

Felix Courvoisier establishes Courvoisier cognac in Jarnac, France.

William Teacher, young and ambitious, starts selling a whisky blended from carefully selected distilleries at his wife’s grocery shop.

T.W. Samuels builds the family’s first commercial distillery in Samuels Depot, Kentucky.

Canadian Club® Whisky is born in Windsor, Canada.

Don Cenobio Sauza founds a distillery in Tequila, Mexico and takes Sauza® tequila to market.

Shinjiro Torii opens the Torii Shoten store in Osaka, Japan and initiates production and sales of grape wine, founding what is now Suntory Holdings.

Construction of the Yamazaki Distillery, Japan’s first malt whisky distillery, begins in Yamazaki, in the outskirts of Kyoto, marking the first step towards production of Japanese whisky. Distillation will begin in 1924.

Jim Beam rebuilds the family distillery after Prohibition and establishes the James B. Beam Distilling Co.

After refinements are made to suit the discriminating Japanese market, Kakubin whisky is born.

Hornitos® Tequila, named after the “little ovens” used to roast agave, is introduced by founder Don Francisco Javier Sauza in honor of Mexican Independence Day.

Bill Samuels, Sr. purchases what is known today as the Maker’s Mark distillery and burns the 170-year old family recipe. He develops a bourbon whisky made with red winter wheat and soon after begins barreling Maker’s Mark®.

The Hakushu Distillery is established at the foot of Mt. Kaikomagatake in Japan’s Southern Alps.

Yamazaki, Suntory’s flagship single malt whisky, is released.

Booker Noe rounds out his Small Batch Bourbon Collection with the introductions of Knob Creek®, Basil Hayden’s®, and Baker’s®.

Suntory Hibiki 30 Years Old whisky becomes the first Japanese whisky to win the top prize at the International Spirits Challenge (ISC) in the United Kingdom.

Jim Beam® Bourbon fills its 10 millionth barrel.

Pioneering founders Sam Galsworthy, Fairfax Hall and Jared Brown open London’s first new gin distillery in nearly 200 years, establishing the Sipsmith® brand.

Beam Inc. invests $30 million in its visitor experience and Global Innovation Center in Clermont, KY

Suntory Holdings acquires Beam Inc. to create Beam Suntory, a world leader in premium spirits.

Maker’s Mark debuts an enhanced visitor experience and invests in its distillery to create a 50% increase in capacity over 2013 levels. This expansion is in addition to an investment to double capacity in 2012