Here are a few pictures I took from last night’s party here in Bardstown, KY, celebrating Heaven Hill’s Master Distiller Parker Beam’s 50 years in the business. Plenty of fellow distillery managers, press, etc. And LOTS of bourbon!
The pics are from my Blackberry while was tweeting, so I apologize for the poor quality.
The Program
The Beam Family
Parker Beam
Jim Rutledge (Four Roses)
Greg Davis & wife (Tom Moore)
A very blurry Elmer T. Lee (Buffalo Trace)
Kevin Smith (Maker’s Mark)
Fellow writers Paul Pacult & Jim Murray
What a great evening. You were wonderful up at the lectern as were the other three (but Pacult had the laugh of the night with his “I’m the tallest” observation!) Geez, after forgetting the proof of was we were drinking and more drinks in the Heritage center barrel after the feast, I was lucky to have a driver for the trek home. Parker wowed me with the fact that in the Golden Anniversary marriage bottle, the five decade old barrel was 75% empty. The 25% left is some rare stuff! Many thanks to Heaven Hill, the Shapiras, Parker and the rest of the Beams for a wonderful event. Oh, and thanks to my date too!
It was a great time, wasn’t it?
As a kid I remember my grandfather and other grand-relatives with HH in their pantries. Over the past few years I’ve pretty much been converted to bourbon after love affairs with Trappist ales, Brunellos, Chauteauneuf-du-Papes, anejo tequilas and aged rums. I’ve had many a drink of Pappy’s, Hirsch’s and others of similar ilk (and the hooch from the ’shiner down the road) and the Elijah Craig 18yo is without a doubt one of my favourite daily drinkers.
I think that the Golden Anniversay bottle of Parker’s gifted to me will have to sit in the cabinet for a while since I had so much of it that night. Or maybe a trip back to the Heritage Center for another bottle?
John, hopefully I’ll have a chance in the future to introduce myself and share a dram or two in the name of Bourbon and all whiskeys.
I wonder if you’ve had much experience with Canadian Whiskys and in particular “Gibson’s Finest Rare 18yo”? I had a couple bottles over the Summer and aside from all the wonderful notes in the nose and on the palate, it’s just a tremendously civilized and drinkable whisky.