Madrid, Spain, October 9, 2014 – Beam Suntory Inc., one of the world’s leading spirits companies, has appointed David Wilson as Managing Director of Global Travel Retail. Wilson took up his new position Oct. 1, reporting to Albert Baladi, president of Beam Suntory’s Europe/Middle East/Africa (EMEA) region.

The announcement follows a strategic review of the global travel retail market segment by Beam Suntory leadership, which has resulted in a sharpened focus on developing and growing this dynamic and strategically important channel.

“Beam Suntory is now the No. 3 spirits company in the world, with an advantaged portfolio in key categories and an unmatched global premium whiskeys portfolio,” Baladi said. “We are committed to investing and growing our brands in the strategic travel retail channel. David brings proven leadership skills and expertise in premium brand building on a global stage, which will add real value to developing our vision.”

Wilson has held a number of senior marketing and commercial roles within the spirits industry during his career, most recently as Sales and Marketing Director of Morrison Bowmore Distillers (MBD), now part of the Beam Suntory family. David served in that position for the last five years, leading the strategic repositioning and strong growth of MBD’s single malt portfolio.

“I am delighted to be joining the Beam Suntory team at this time, to lead the next chapter for our GTR business,” Wilson added. “I have spent a significant part of my career building and growing premium brands and I very much look forward to working with our retail partners to develop our mutual businesses.”

Deerfield, Illinois, November 19, 2014 – Beam Suntory Inc., one of the world’s leading spirits companies, today announced the appointment of Paula K. Erickson, 45, to the position of Senior Vice President—Global Chief Human Resources Officer.

A six-year veteran of the company, Erickson has served for the past six months as Vice President and Interim Chief Human Resources Officer. She previously held leadership roles of increasing responsibility in communications while also serving on the human resources leadership team.

“Paula has been an instrumental and inspirational leader as we have integrated two great companies to become one Beam Suntory,” said Matt Shattock, Chairman & CEO of Beam Suntory. “Paula’s experience and deep roots in our company, her exceptional feel for our common culture, and her ability to engage, motivate and inspire our people – across functions and geographies – make her uniquely qualified to be our Global Chief Human Resources Officer.”

Erickson serves on the Beam Suntory Executive Leadership Team and reports to Shattock.

Fort Campbell, Ky. – December 9, 2014 – Jim Beam® Bourbon, the world’s No. 1 bourbon, is adding more happy to the holidays this year with a $100,000 donation to Operation Homefront, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting United States military families. Presented today by Frederick “Fred” Booker Noe III, seventh generation Jim Beam master distiller, along with his son, Freddie Noe IV, in a ceremony at Fort Campbell, Ky., the funds will help provide holiday meals for military families.

“Bourbon is just about as American as you can get,” said Noe. “So at Jim Beam we’re honored to support our military heroes who defend our great country every day. They are part of our family, and we salute them.”

The donation marks the latest demonstration of Jim Beam’s long history of support for the military and Operation Homefront. Since 2008, Jim Beam has donated more than $2.5 million to the organization through a variety of charitable programming efforts. The Holiday Meals for Military program began Thanksgiving 2009 as the result of a chance encounter in a supermarket in Utica, N.Y., near Fort Drum. A soldier, his wife and infant had a handful of grocery items they could not afford, so a Jim Beam employee picked up the $12 cost for the groceries. Since that time, the program has grown from initially providing 500 meal kits to military families in 2009 to providing 8,000 this holiday season, and Jim Beam continues to be a major supporter of the program.

“Thanks to continued support from Jim Beam and other sponsors, this season we’re providing 8,000 military families at 21 different active duty bases with a Holiday Meal kit, which includes everything they need for a holiday dinner,” said Stacey Crooks, Senior Director of Corporate Relations for Operation Homefront. “We’re incredibly grateful for the generous donations Jim Beam has provided over the years and for its commitment to honoring and assisting our country’s military families. Having Fred Noe and his son volunteer their time today is the icing on the cake and means so much to our military families.”

Jim Beam has a long history of support for the military that can be traced all the way back to the 1700s. If not for the land grant given to the Beam family for all their service during the revolutionary war, the brand’s Kentucky distillery may not have existed. Today, the company is proud to employ numerous veterans and active military personnel, and has promised to hold the jobs of those called to active duty.

Deerfield, Illinois, April 27, 2015 – Beam Suntory Inc. today announced that it will simplify its regional structure by merging its four operating regions into three. The company will combine management of its Europe/Middle East/Africa and Asia Pacific businesses to create a larger International Region. Furthermore, the company’s South America business will become part of an expanded Americas region. This organizational simplification will result in three regions – Americas, Japan and International – with more comparable scale and sales in the range of $1 billion or more each.

The new International Region will be led by Albert Baladi, president of Beam Suntory’s current EMEA region. Baladi will be supported by managing directors of five geographic clusters: Oceania, Emerging Asia, Developed Europe, Emerging Europe & Middle East/Africa, and Global Travel Retail. Tim Hassett, president of Beam Suntory’s current North America region, will lead the expanded Americas region.

“With the Beam Suntory integration largely behind us, we can now benefit from simplifying our regional structure,” said Matt Shattock, chairman and CEO of Beam Suntory. “Merging our EMEA and Asia Pacific businesses helps ensure our business is set up to win by being close to our customers and consumers, aligning with our long-term growth strategy, and creating opportunities for some of our best and brightest talent. We also see benefits from uniting all of our Latin America markets in the same region. We look forward to driving continued momentum in the marketplace with our three strong regions.”

Separately, Nick Fink, president of the current Asia Pacific/South America (APSA) region, has accepted a US-based senior executive position at a public company outside of the spirits industry. As a result, Fink will depart Beam Suntory effective May 8th. “We are happy for Nick and grateful for his numerous contributions to our success,” said Shattock. “He leaves a business in Asia Pacific/South America that is gaining momentum, and he has built an outstanding leadership team that will play an invaluable role in the new International region.”

Deerfield, Illinois and Manila, Philippines, November 30, 2015 – Beam Suntory Inc. today announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to sell its Jerez-based brandy and sherry business to Emperador Inc. The agreement includes the Fundador, Harveys, Terry and Tres Cepas brands, as well as production operations in Jerez and Tomelloso, Spain.

“A recent review of our portfolio of brands and supply chain footprint led us to believe that our Spain-based brandy and sherry business could be of greater value to another company,” said Steve Fechheimer, Head of Strategy and Corporate Development at Beam Suntory. “Our teams in Jerez and Tomelloso are outstanding, and I am confident that the operations and the brands produced there have a very bright future as part of Emperador Inc.”

Emperador Inc. is the world’s largest brandy producer through the Emperador brand. “We are very excited about adding the iconic brands of Fundador (the Philippines’ premier imported brandy brand), Terry Centenario (Spain’s number one selling brandy), Tres Cepas (number one brandy in Equatorial Guinea) and Harveys (number one selling sherry wine in the United Kingdom) to the Emperador portfolio,” said Winston Co, President of Emperador Inc. “We look forward to continuing to invest behind the acquired brands, welcoming the transferring employees to Emperador and engaging with the local community.”

The all-cash transaction was valued at 275 million Euros.

Beam Suntory was advised on this transaction by Rabobank (sole financial advisor), Uria Menendez (legal advisor) and Deloitte (accounting advisor). Emperador was advised on this transaction by Nomura (sole financial advisor), Allen & Overy (legal advisor) and KPMG (accounting advisor).

Deerfield, Illinois, 4 January 2016 – Beam Suntory, the world’s third largest premium spirits company, today announced that it has acquired a 50% equity stake in ABV Brands Proprietary Ltd., an independent distributor of premium spirits in South Africa, from Cyprus-based FIX Wines & Spirits Ltd. The remaining 50% will continue to be held by ABV Brands’ co-founders and management team.

ABV Brands has been the appointed distributor in South Africa for Beam Suntory (previously Beam Global) since its foundation in 2010, during which time ABV Brands has grown sales of Beam Suntory’s brands by more than 260%, driven in part by consistent double-digit growth of Jim Beam and Courvoisier. The transaction announced today represents a strategic extension of this partnership, and will unlock growth potential by allowing for further investment in sales and marketing capabilities to expand distribution and reach more consumers. ABV Brands aims to be among the top five distributors in South Africa by 2020.

Under the terms of the deal, ABV Brands will continue to focus on growing and distributing its entire current spirits portfolio in South Africa. ABV’s co-founders and Managing Directors, Ross Calow and Dan Hawkins, will also maintain their current roles.

Albert Baladi, President, International at Beam Suntory, says, “I am delighted to announce our strategic investment in ABV Brands in South Africa, which extends our successful partnership with ABV Brands. The African spirits market has phenomenal growth potential for Beam Suntory and our global whisky and cognac portfolio is ideally suited to capture the growth of premium spirits. This partnership gives us a beachhead, and we will continue to look for opportunities to become a key player in Sub-Saharan Africa by expanding our footprint, growing our brands and securing strong routes to market.”

Ross Calow, Managing Director of ABV Brands, commented, “ABV Brands is at the forefront of marketing and distribution of some of the world’s best-loved premium spirit brands, and this transaction will allow us to take Beam Suntory’s exceptional premium brand portfolio to new customers. This is a fantastic opportunity to combine ABV’s local expertise and agility with Beam Suntory’s global scale and portfolio of premium brands.”

Daniel Hawkins, Managing Director of ABV Brands, added, “We know the South African market inside out and see a clear opportunity here to grow Beam Suntory’s share. This deal will allow us to more aggressively target that growth by aligning our strategies and investment priorities.”

Igor Boyadjian, of FIX Wines & Spirits, says, “As co-founders of ABV, we are extremely proud of the success ABV Brands has had in growing a phenomenal and exciting portfolio of brands from Beam Suntory, Edrington, Berry Bros. & Rudd and others over the last five years. FIX Wines & Spirits has played a pivotal role in fueling ABV Brands’ early success and providing full support to the executive team. We now feel it is time for ABV Brands to play in a different league, so we are delighted to pass the baton to Beam Suntory to define a new and even more ambitious vision for the business. We wish them every success in this new partnership.”

The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions.

Deerfield, IL, January 12, 2016 - Beam Suntory Inc. today announced the appointments of David Hunter as Senior Vice President, Chief Supply Chain Officer and Steve Fechheimer as Senior Vice President, Chief Strategy Officer.

Hunter, 51, most recently served as Vice President, Global Manufacturing, and will oversee the company’s global supply chain and manufacturing operations. Fechheimer, 38, was most recently Beam Suntory’s Vice President – Strategy & Corporate Development, and will oversee corporate strategy, mergers and acquisitions, and Information Technology.

“David Hunter is a talented, experienced and respected leader who has demonstrated exceptional ability to elevate our production operations, drive a culture of excellence, and generate fuel to reinvest in the growth of our brands,” said Matt Shattock, Chairman & CEO of Beam Suntory. “Steve Fechheimer is a proven enterprise-wide leader who has been instrumental in the development of our strategic plan, our organic and external growth initiatives, and the large-scale Beam Suntory integration. David, Steve and their teams will be key to continued execution of Beam Suntory’s growth strategy and the pursuit of our ambitious goals.”

Hunter joined the spirits industry in 1996 in the Scotch whisky business of Allied Domecq. He holds a Bachelor of Science, 1st Class Honours Degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Glasgow. Hunter succeeds John Owen, who has made a personal decision to depart Beam Suntory in the second quarter of 2016.

Prior to joining Beam Suntory in 2009, Fechheimer spent significant time in business consulting. He is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and earned an MBA at the University of Chicago. Fechheimer’s role is a newly created position.

With these promotions, Hunter and Fechheimer will both serve on the Beam Suntory Executive Leadership Team and report to Shattock.

Deerfield, Illinois – September 27, 2016 – Booker Noe, sixth generation Beam Master Distiller and Jim Beam’s grandson, has been described in many ways: Legendary bourbon distiller. Larger-than-life innovator. Raconteur. American Original.

In the newly released and eagerly awaited biography “The Big Man of Jim Beam” (Wiley, September 2016), Noe comes to life as all of these characters – and more. The book provides bourbon enthusiasts a clear-eyed look at one of the industry’s most influential figures as the celebration of National Bourbon Heritage Month draws to a close.

“This book captures the spirt and essence of my dad in every sense,” says Fred Noe, Seventh Generation Beam Master Distiller. “It’s honest and forthright, just like his whiskey. If you’re a bourbon fan, or just a fan of bold characters and trailblazers, then this is the book for you.”

Written by award-winning author Jim Kokoris, a close friend of Booker Noe and the Beam family, the book chronicles Booker’s life from his boyhood in small town Kentucky through to his rise to bourbon prominence. An illustrative account of his 40-year reign as master distiller of the world’s number one bourbon Jim Beam® Bourbon, “The Big Man of Jim Beam” carefully reconstructs Booker’s groundbreaking creation of The Small Batch Bourbon Collection®, including Booker’s® Bourbon, Knob Creek® Bourbon, Basil Hayden’s® Bourbon and Baker’s® Bourbon, which changed the bourbon industry. In addition, the history of his family’s seven generations of distilling is also recounted.
Offering never-before told stories, historical footnotes, and cocktail and cooking recipes, this book is an entertaining – yet accurate – account of Noe’s colorful life.

“Noe’s uninhibited character is revealed with poise, honesty and precision throughout the book. Noe would expect his biography to be as uncut and unfiltered as his favorite whiskey, Booker’s Bourbon. Kokoris delivers,” said F. Paul Pacult, author of American Still Life: The Jim Beam Story and the Making of the World’s #1 Bourbon and editor of F. Paul Pacult’s Spirit Journal.

To purchase a copy of “The Big Man of Jim Beam,” visit the Jim Beam online store at store.jimbeam.com.

Deerfield, IL (October 17, 2016) – Two years after naming Yamazaki® Single Malt Sherry Cask 2013 the “World Whisky of the Year,” Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible anointed Booker’s® Rye Whiskey the “World Whisky of the Year” for 2017. Booker’s® Rye, the first-ever rye whiskey released by the ultra-premium Booker’s® Bourbon brand, joins other Beam Suntory Whiskies to earn top honors at recent industry competitions, including Jim Beam Black® Bourbon, Knob Creek® Rye Whiskey and Yamazaki® Sherry Cask 2016.

“It is a high honor to be named the world’s best by Jim Murray and his authoritative Whisky Bible, and I could not be more thrilled for Master Distiller Fred Noe and his family,” said Matt Shattock, Chairman and CEO of Beam Suntory. “For Fred to achieve this honor for the brand began by his father, Booker Noe, it warms the heart of everyone at our company and reflects the utmost care and craftsmanship that goes into our American whiskies each and every day.”

After being tasted alongside 1,240 other new whiskies in this year’s judging, Booker’s Rye is described in Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible as “simply a staggering example of a magnificent rye showing exactly what genius in terms of whiskey actually means.” Booker’s Rye features a never-before-released rye mash bill, aged for just over 13 years and bottled uncut and unfiltered1, true to Booker’s® Bourbon standards. Released in extremely limited quantities earlier this year, it is made from some of the last rye barrels laid down by Booker Noe and marks one of his greatest and final experiments to date.

“On behalf of my dad, Booker Noe, I could not be more proud to see Booker’s Rye named ‘World Whisky of the Year,’ said Fred Noe, Beam’s 7th Generation Master Distiller. “Dad was more than just a distiller. He was a big thinker and a man who loved to experiment – and Booker’s Rye is a true celebration of that. Together with my son, Freddie Noe, I’m excited to carry on this legacy of innovation – and our family’s 220-year tradition of crafting the highest quality bourbon and whiskey – for years to come. Let’s just say we have some exciting things ahead.”

Joining Booker’s Rye with a best-in-class ranking this year is Yamazaki® Single Malt Sherry Cask 2016 – a follow-up to the 2013 edition that won Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible’s“World Whisky of the Year” in 2015. In the 2017 Whisky Bible, Yamazaki Sherry Cask 2016 swept both Japanese Whisky categories, earning “Japanese Whisky of the Year” and “Single Malt of the Year (Multiple Barrels).”

These outstanding accolades from Whisky Bible are the latest in a wave of recent industry honors for spirits within Beam Suntory’s broad portfolio of premium whiskies:
Jim Beam Black® Bourbon was the highest-rated bourbon at the 2016 International Wine and Spirits Competition (IWSC), earning the best-in-class “Bourbon Trophy.” Jim Beam® Bourbon was also named “Brand Innovator of the Year” by Whisky Magazine’s Icons of Whisky Awards.

Demonstrating leadership in the fast-growing rye category, Knob Creek® Rye Whiskey was awarded the best-in-class “World Whiskies Trophy” at the 2016 IWSC, while Jim Beam® Rye and Canadian Club® 100% Rye each earned Double Gold medals at the New York Wine & Spirits Competition.

Leading Islay Single Malt, Laphroaig® Scotch Whisky, took home Double Gold medals for Laphroaig® 10 Year Old and Laphroaig® Lore at the New York Wine & Spirits Competition.

Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible is the world’s leading whisky guide, featuring thousands of detailed tasting notes for the world’s whiskies, including brands both large and small. Published annually, each edition features reviews of the newest whiskey releases and each year, only one whiskey is selected to hold the prestigious title of “World Whisky of the Year.”

For more information on Booker’s Rye and Booker’s Bourbon, visit: www.BookersBourbon.com and for more information on Beam Suntory, visit: www.BeamSuntory.com.

Deerfield, Ill. (November 14, 2016) – Basil Hayden’s® Bourbon, a distinctive, super-premium bourbon known for its trademark spicy finish, today announced the launch of its exclusive “Sipping Companions” Collection, just in time for the 2016 holiday season.
Dedicated to quality, craftsmanship and the belief that bourbon is best when shared, Basil Hayden’s has partnered with artisans around the country to create the Sipping Companions Collection, which includes six curated, thoughtfully designed items that enhance the experience of sipping bourbon among friends and family. Each item, available in extremely limited quantities, has been handcrafted by an artisan who shares Basil Hayden’s passion for quality and superior attention to detail, and will be made available for purchase in time for the holidays.

“A surprising amount of time and care goes into crafting each bottle of Basil Hayden’s Bourbon, from the distinctive liquid made with twice as much rye as traditional bourbons, to the hand-applied parchment bib and copper belt,” said Ivan Hidalgo, Director of Small Batch Bourbons at Beam Suntory. “We’re thrilled to work with a special group of artisans who share our values to offer fans this unique collection. From a bar cart that fits perfectly into any urban setting to a whiskey wheel that makes serving a round of drinks easier than ever, each Sipping Companion makes sharing a glass of bourbon that much more enjoyable this holiday season.”

Basil Hayden’s partnered with artisans in six cities across the United States to create each Sipping Companion item*, including:

Greta de Parry (Chicago, Ill.), The After Five Bar Cart ($400)
The After Five Bar Cart provides the perfect perch for an evening’s entertaining wares. With space for glassware and a bottle of Basil Hayden’s Bourbon to be stored below, the top shelf separates to create a handy tray for serving whiskey drinks to guests. Quantity available: 10

Railcar Fine Goods (Los Angeles, Calif.), The Sidekick Blanket & Holster ($250)
The Sidekick Blanket & Holster neatly packs two essentials for an afternoon or evening outdoors – be it at the park, a concert or the beach. The blanket is made using hand-chosen fabrics and a century-old stitch style, and it cleverly rolls into a set of leather carrying straps. There’s even space for a bottle of Basil Hayden’s Bourbon to hitch a ride in its purpose-built holster. Quantity available: 25

Slow North (Austin, Texas), The Barman’s Candle Set ($75)
The Barman’s Candle Set serves as a pleasing accompaniment to a relaxing evening of bourbon sipping. The candles fill the room with scents that echo the nose and profile of Basil Hayden’s Bourbon including citrus, spice and oak. A simple way to deepen the appreciation while sipping. Quantity available: 100

Stanley & Sons Apron & Bag Supply Co. (New York, N.Y.), The Generous Traveler($349)
The Generous Traveler is a canvas and leather weekender bag designed to hold all the components of a great weekend getaway with friends: clothes, personal items and of course, Basil Hayden’s Bourbon. Quantity available: 50

Paper Plates Press (Denver, Colo.), The Warm Reception Coaster Set ($40)
The Warm Reception Coaster Set sets the tone for an evening of sharing bourbon with friends. Eight wooden coasters are letterpressed with expressions inspired by the generous, hospitable spirit of Basil Hayden’s Bourbon. Quantity available: 100

Reclamation Etchworks (San Francisco, Calif.), The Whiskey Wheel ($469)
The Whiskey Wheel brings new meaning to pouring a round. Featuring a revolving tray of six rocks glasses encircling a fitting home for a bottle of Basil Hayden’s Bourbon, the beautiful display affords a theatric serve and harkens back to a golden era of home entertainment. Quantity available: 15

Basil Hayden’s limited-edition Sipping Companions collection will be exclusively sold through the Basil Hayden's Bourbon Holiday Shop on Huckberry.com, an online retailer devoted to curating products that inspire active, adventurous and stylish lives. Items will become available for purchase on a rolling basis beginning today through December 25, 2016.

Consumers who order a Sipping Companion will also receive a promotional code for use on Reserve Bar to receive free shipping on their purchase of a bottle of Basil Hayden’s Bourbon to enjoy this holiday season.

*A bottle of Basil Hayden’s Bourbon is not included with any purchase of the Sipping Companion items.

About Basil Hayden’s® Bourbon
Basil Hayden’s® Bourbon is known for standing out in the crowd. The distinctive flavor was originally inspired by the legend of a family recipe said to date back to 1796 when Master Distiller Basil Hayden Sr. broke ‘the rules’ and went off-the-beaten-path mixing the spiciness of rye with the smoothness of corn to create a light-bodied, mixable and smooth bourbon. Today, Basil Hayden’s® Bourbon is crafting its own story by providing bourbon drinkers with a sipping experience to be shared with friends and family. For more information on Basil Hayden’s, please visit www.basilhaydens.com.

About Huckberry®
Huckberry® is an online retailer devoted to curating products that inspire active, adventurous, and stylish lives through exclusive sales, original story-telling, and unique experiences for its members.