Move over, bourbon. Jim Beam Distillery is making a single-malt whiskey. Where to find it

The James B. Beam Distilling Co. is now making single-malt whiskey.

The legacy distillery launched its first American single malt whiskey, called "Clermont Steep," this week.

Developed by eighth-generation master distiller Freddie Noe, the venture marks the entrance into an emerging category of spirits. Because there's little definition in the American single malt category, Noe developed his own guidelines.

Clermont Steep is a five-year-old liquid distilled and aged in Clermont, Kentucky, and matured in barrels "to deliver warm toffee sweetness on the palate without overshadowing the unique, bready taste of American barley," according to a news release.

"As a new venture, crafting Clermont Steep has been one of the toughest challenges I have ever faced in the distillery, and I am incredibly proud of where we’ve landed," Noe said in a statement. "This American single malt whiskey is smooth, sweet and incredibly balanced, and it deserves a spot on any whiskey lover’s bar cart, right alongside their bourbons and ryes."

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Noe and his team hand-selected the American malted barley for the mash and used Beam family jug yeast in the natural fermentation process. It’s the same yeast that is used in all Beam products, adding a sense of familiarity to every sip, according to the release. The single malt was then distilled on a column still and aged for five years in barrels that were toasted, then quickly charred to a char level one.

The launch of Clermont Steep marks a significant milestone in the American Whiskey landscape as James B. Beam Distilling Co., the world’s largest producer of bourbon, takes a stake in a rapidly growing segment.

"I’m always looking toward the future of American Whiskey, and the boundless runway in this category intrigued me," said Noe. "We don’t just want to participate in American single malt whiskey; we want to help define it for the future of the category."

Clermont Steep has a 47% ABV and a suggested retail price of $59.99. The whiskey will be available in select states, in-store and on Reserve Bar, beginning in June. For more information, visit clermontsteep.com.

Reach food reporter Dahlia Ghabour at dghabour@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Jim Beam launches Clermont Steep, first American single malt whiskey