The Big Man of Jim Beam: Booker Noe and the Number-One Bourbon in the World - Hardcover

by Jim Kokoris (Author)

Lessons on product, quality, innovation, and longevity from the "First Family of Bourbon"

The Big Man of Jim Beam delves into the life and times of legendary distiller F. Booker Noe III, grandson of Jim Beam and father of the bourbon boom. A true American original who left his mark on everything he did and everyone he met, this charismatic, opinionated man turned the Jim Beam company into the world's largest bourbon distillery and secured his product's place in the cultural psyche. This book tells his story, from growing up in the "First Family of Bourbon" to becoming master distiller, offering insights and guidance for creating brands and products that stand the test of time. His commitment to innovation and quality earned him legendary status and tremendous business growth; the discussion keys in on some of his most prized creations, including one of the first super-premium bourbons on the market, and the small batch collection that laid the groundwork for bourbon's modern resurgence.

Jim Beam is a distinctly American brand that has tapped into the collective consciousness and leveraged vision into growth. This book tells the story of the man behind the brand, and his approach to his work, his product, his company, and his people.

• Read colorful stories about growing up as "bourbon royalty"
• Trace Booker's journey from apprentice to world's largest bourbon distiller
• Learn how innovation and a commitment to quality delivers product longevity
• Gain deep, personal insight on creating a brand that becomes a legend

Booker was the sixth generation of the Beam family to make bourbon, and he grew an empire. Driven by commitment, vision, and a singular sort of ambition, his success offers many lessons to anyone in business. The Big Man of Jim Beam tells the story, and digs out the wisdom and insight from this legendary leader.

Front Jacket

"Making whiskey wasn't a job to him, it was a calling,"

Fred Noe writes in the Foreword about his father, the legendary master distiller Booker Noe. As the grandson of Jim Beam, it may seem logical for Booker to step in and run the family business. What could be easier than inheriting a bourbon empire? The Big Man of Jim Beam shows you no silver spoon came in Booker's tumbler as it unwinds the story of how a Kentucky boy, through hard work and perseverance, found his destiny leading an aging family business and in the process, revitalized an entire industry.

The author who first shined a light on Fred Noe in Beam, Straight Up, now goes back a generation to examine the remarkable life of Booker Noe, whose name decorates the Boston, Kentucky distillery he helped build with his "Uncle Jere," T. Jeremiah, the only son of Jim Beam. From Plant Number Two, as it was originally called, Booker filled orders the main plant couldn't handle and soon started outpacing its production numbers. Through firsthand family stories, you get to know the hard-working man who learned how to distill bourbon from grain to barrel to bottle and then went beyond to do it better, even if it meant just one-tenth of a percent better. Without formal training in business, Booker instinctually learned and lived by the principles followed by the most successful business leaders to overcome such setbacks as significant inventory loss during the Kentucky tornado of '74 and a twenty-year market decline when the world lost interest in America's native spirit. Illustrative accounts of Booker's passion for making bourbon give you an insider's look at the complete process, including what happened on the fifth floor of the rack house in Plant Number Two to usher in the current bourbon boom with:

• Booker's Bourbon, uncut and unfiltered, just like the man himself
• The bourbon trio, Knob Creek, Basil Hayden's, Baker's, part of the original Small Batch Collection
• The Big Man himself, an American original who became an ambassador for his brands

To make the best bourbon in the world, Booker Noe needed to redesign a dilapidated distillery, and The Big Man of Jim Beam shows you how he did both.

Back Jacket

"Making whiskey wasn't a job to him, it was a calling,"

Fred Noe writes in the Foreword about his father, the legendary master distiller Booker Noe. As the grandson of Jim Beam, it may seem logical for Booker to step in and run the family business. What could be easier than inheriting a bourbon empire? The Big Man of Jim Beam shows you no silver spoon came in Booker's tumbler as it unwinds the story of how a Kentucky boy, through hard work and perseverance, found his destiny leading an aging family business and in the process, revitalized an entire industry.

The author who first shined a light on Fred Noe in Beam, Straight Up, now goes back a generation to examine the remarkable life of Booker Noe, whose name decorates the Boston, Kentucky distillery he helped build with his "Uncle Jere," T. Jeremiah, the only son of Jim Beam. From Plant Number Two, as it was originally called, Booker filled orders the main plant couldn't handle and soon started outpacing its production numbers. Through firsthand family stories, you get to know the hard-working man who learned how to distill bourbon from grain to barrel to bottle and then went beyond to do it better, even if it meant just one-tenth of a percent better. Without formal training in business, Booker instinctually learned and lived by the principles followed by the most successful business leaders to overcome such setbacks as significant inventory loss during the Kentucky tornado of '74 and a twenty-year market decline when the world lost interest in America's native spirit. Illustrative accounts of Booker's passion for making bourbon give you an insider's look at the complete process, including what happened on the fifth floor of the rack house in Plant Number Two to usher in the current bourbon boom with:

• Booker's Bourbon, uncut and unfiltered, just like the man himself
• The bourbon trio, Knob Creek, Basil Hayden's, Baker's, part of the original Small Batch Collection
• The Big Man himself, an American original who became an ambassador for his brands

To make the best bourbon in the world, Booker Noe needed to redesign a dilapidated distillery, and The Big Man of Jim Beam shows you how he did both.

Author Biography

JIM KOKORIS is spokesperson and publicist for the Beam family, and a longtime family friend. He traveled extensively with Booker Noe for more than ten years while he conducted bourbon tastings and supported the launch of the Knob Creek and the Small Batch Bourbon Collection. He is coauthor with Fred Noe of Beam, Straight Up, and author of four novels, including It's. Nice. Outside, The Pursuit of Other Interests, Sister North, and The Rich Part of Life.