BEAM

Beam Inc.

A maker of American bourbon and whiskey, this spirits company is best known for Jim Beam and Maker's Mark, favorites of drinkers everywhere from casual sippers to cocktail enthusiasts. Its roots trace to 1795, when Kentucky farmer Jacob Beam sold his first barrel of "Old Jake Beam Sour Mash"; the modern brand took its name from descendant Jim Beam, who rebuilt the family distillery after Prohibition. Fun fact: Maker's Mark's signature red wax cap was invented when co-founder Margie Samuels melted wax in her kitchen deep fryer to give each bottle its drippy seal.