DEERFIELD, Ill., Dec. 2 /PRNewswire/ -- Beam Global Spirits & Wine, Inc.
[Fortune Brands, Inc. (NYSE: FO)], a global leader in premium spirits, and Jim
Beam(R) Bourbon, the world's No. 1 selling bourbon, have released "The
Distillers Series" limited edition bourbon.
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20081202/AQTU556)
"The Distillers Series" celebrates more than 200 years of bourbon heritage
and craftsmanship, just in time for the holidays and the 75th anniversary of
the repeal of Prohibition. Aged seven years to 90 proof, the new recipe offers
a rich taste profile with a warm, lingering, mellow finish -- perfect for easy
sipping.
"The Distillers Series" bottle showcases key contributions from the seven
generations of the Jim Beam family. Each premium bottle features high-quality
direct printing, with photos of the distillers and a brief history of their
accomplishments. "The Distillers Series" is available a limited quantity of
750ml bottles to legal purchase age consumers, through January 2009, for a
suggested retail price of $20.99.
"As the only living distiller among the seven generations honored with
'The Distillers Series,' I work everyday to uphold the legacy we've created,"
stated Fred Noe. "These limited edition bottles are more than nice holiday
gifts; they're the stories of my great-grandfathers and uncles. They're more
than two centuries of history and tradition. And, more than anything, they're
great bottles of bourbon."
The seven generations shown on "The Distiller Series" bottle include:
-- Jacob Beam: Founder of the Jim Beam family of distillers, Jacob made a
name for himself across the country with his Old Jake Beam Sour Mash, brought
to market in 1795.
-- David Beam: Youngest son of Jacob Beam, David adapted new techniques,
including copper stills, to meet soaring demand for Old Jake Whiskey.
-- David M. Beam: Known as the steady hand during the Civil War, David
gambled 60 years of his family's legacy by dismantling the distillery formerly
located in Washington County, Kentucky and rebuilding it in Nelson County by
the Louisville and Nashville railroad. The gamble paid off, because with its
newly acquired ability to ship product both north and south, The D.M. Beam
Company gained a national following.
-- James "Jim" Beauregard Beam: Jim Beam grew the family whiskey, now
named Old Tub, to more than 10,000 barrels per year until Prohibition brought
production to a halt. Following the repeal of Prohibition, at age 70, Jim and
his son T. Jeremiah rebuilt the distillery by hand in 120 days. He shed the
Old Tub name for Colonel James B. Beam, better known as Jim Beam Kentucky
Straight Bourbon Whiskey, which is still the name today.
-- T. Jeremiah Beam: Following the repeal of Prohibition, T. Jeremiah was
determined to expand the distillery and maintain the quality standards his
family had set years before. Known throughout Kentucky as a bourbon fanatic,
T. Jeremiah's reign represents a legendary and inspirational chapter in the
Jim Beam history.
-- Booker Noe: After more than 40 years of distilling, Booker increased
production 12 times and created The Small Batch Bourbon Collection(R) straight
from the barrel.
-- Frederick "Fred" Booker Noe III: Fred is the seventh generation
distiller of Jim Beam, and is carrying forward the family legacy today. Fred
was added to the traditional Jim Beam bottle label in September 2007.
For more information on "The Distiller's Series" and Jim Beam bourbon
whiskey, please visit http://www.JimBeam.com.
About Beam Global Spirits & Wine:
Inspiring conversations around the world, Beam Global Spirits & Wine,
Inc., is building brands people want to talk about. Consumers from all corners
of the globe call for our brands, including Jim Beam(R) Bourbon, Sauza(R)
Tequila, Canadian Club(R) Whisky, Courvoisier(R) Cognac, Maker's Mark(R)
Bourbon, Laphroaig(R) Scotch Whisky, Cruzan (R) Rum, Larios(R) Gin, Whisky
DYC(R), Teacher's(R) Scotch Whisky, DeKuyper(R) Cordials and Liqueurs, Knob
Creek(R) Bourbon and Starbucks(TM) Liqueurs. Beam Global Spirits & Wine is
part of Fortune Brands, Inc. (NYSE: FO), a leading consumer brands company with
annual sales exceeding $8 billion. For more information on Beam Global Spirits
& Wine, its brands, and its commitment to social responsibility, please visit
http://www.beamglobal.com and http://www.drinksmart.com.
Jim Beam(R) Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, 45% Alc./Vol.
(C)2008 James B. Beam Distilling Co., Clermont, KY.
