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Frederick Noe, master distiller, dies at age 74
By Jennifer Hewlett
HERALD-LEADER STAFF WRITER
Frederick Booker Noe II, a master distiller and a grandson of the legendary Jim Beam, died of complications from diabetes yesterday at his home in Bards-town. He was 74.
Mr. Noe, master distiller emeritus of Jim Beam Brands Co., worked for Jim Beam distilleries in Boston, Ky., and in Clermont for nearly 50 years, overseeing the production and aging of bourbon. He was a member of the sixth generation of the Beam family involved in the making of Jim Beam bourbon, which was created by his great-great-great-grandfather, Jacob Beam, in 1795.
In 1988, Mr. Noe created his own signature bourbon, Booker's Bourbon. It is considered the king of the elite "small-batch" bourbons introduced by Beam. Booker's is bottled straight from the barrel, undiluted and unfiltered, at an average of 125 proof.
"Years ago, we were talking down at the plant about what kind of bourbon I drink and I said 'straight out of the barrel.' It's not filtered or cut or anything," Mr. Noe said in a 2002 interview.
"So we decided to bottle some of it uncut and unfiltered and give the bottles as Christmas presents."
Booker's Bourbon was Jim Beam Brands' first small-batch bourbon. It joined a line of specialty bourbons that created a lifeboat for Kentucky distillers in the 1980s and continued to drive the industry's sales.
"I'm just glad to give people a taste of bourbon the way it used to be" before modern processing, he said.
Mr. Noe became Jim Beam's ambassador, traveling throughout the world. He hosted bourbon tastings and told stories about his family and the distillery business.
One story he often told was called "Pork and Beam." He told how his wife, Annis Noe, would use Jim Beam bourbon in cooking pork roast. One day, while preparing a roast, she grabbed a bottle of Booker's, instead. She poured the Booker's over the roast and returned the meat to the oven. The oven door blew open.
"He was a loved and respected ambassador of our company as well as our industry," said Tom Flocco, president and chief executive officer of Jim Beam Brands Worldwide Inc. "He was larger than life and he will be greatly missed."
Mr. Noe, who was born in Springfield, was a standout football player at St. Joseph Preparatory School in Bardstown and attended the University of Kentucky. He joined the family business as an assistant distiller in 1950. He became a master distiller in 1965. He retired from Jim Beam Brands in 1992, but continued to make personal appearances on behalf of the company until about 1999.
In 1995, Jim Beam Brands put his picture alongside the five distillers who preceded him in the family business on Jim Beam bourbon bottles. Mr. Noe was inducted into the Bourbon Hall of Fame in 2001.
Mr. Noe contributed to civic and charitable organizations throughout the Bardstown area.
He also frequently hosted parties and dinners at his home, where he served Kentucky hams from his backyard smokehouse.
He also was an avid hunter and fisherman.
"He was a wonderful guy. I know that," said Bill Roby, a friend since eighth grade. The two went quail hunting in Kansas and duck hunting in Arkansas.
"We fished around here a lot -- blue gill fishing, bass fishing," he said.
Roby said he also enjoyed going to Mr. Noe's home to eat and watch UK games on television. At Mr. Noe's annual Kentucky Derby party, there was "plenty of whiskey, and we bet there," he said.
Mr. Noe's son, Fred Noe III of Bardstown, is a Jim Beam ambassador and now oversees the company's Small Batch Bourbon Collection. "He had a good ride. He told me when he was there in the hospital, 'I've seen everything on this side, and I want to see what's on the other side,'" he said.
In addition to his son, Mr. Noe is survived by his wife, Annis Wickham Noe; a brother; a sister; and a grandson.
By Jennifer Hewlett
HERALD-LEADER STAFF WRITER
Frederick Booker Noe II, a master distiller and a grandson of the legendary Jim Beam, died of complications from diabetes yesterday at his home in Bards-town. He was 74.
Mr. Noe, master distiller emeritus of Jim Beam Brands Co., worked for Jim Beam distilleries in Boston, Ky., and in Clermont for nearly 50 years, overseeing the production and aging of bourbon. He was a member of the sixth generation of the Beam family involved in the making of Jim Beam bourbon, which was created by his great-great-great-grandfather, Jacob Beam, in 1795.
In 1988, Mr. Noe created his own signature bourbon, Booker's Bourbon. It is considered the king of the elite "small-batch" bourbons introduced by Beam. Booker's is bottled straight from the barrel, undiluted and unfiltered, at an average of 125 proof.
"Years ago, we were talking down at the plant about what kind of bourbon I drink and I said 'straight out of the barrel.' It's not filtered or cut or anything," Mr. Noe said in a 2002 interview.
"So we decided to bottle some of it uncut and unfiltered and give the bottles as Christmas presents."
Booker's Bourbon was Jim Beam Brands' first small-batch bourbon. It joined a line of specialty bourbons that created a lifeboat for Kentucky distillers in the 1980s and continued to drive the industry's sales.
"I'm just glad to give people a taste of bourbon the way it used to be" before modern processing, he said.
Mr. Noe became Jim Beam's ambassador, traveling throughout the world. He hosted bourbon tastings and told stories about his family and the distillery business.
One story he often told was called "Pork and Beam." He told how his wife, Annis Noe, would use Jim Beam bourbon in cooking pork roast. One day, while preparing a roast, she grabbed a bottle of Booker's, instead. She poured the Booker's over the roast and returned the meat to the oven. The oven door blew open.
"He was a loved and respected ambassador of our company as well as our industry," said Tom Flocco, president and chief executive officer of Jim Beam Brands Worldwide Inc. "He was larger than life and he will be greatly missed."
Mr. Noe, who was born in Springfield, was a standout football player at St. Joseph Preparatory School in Bardstown and attended the University of Kentucky. He joined the family business as an assistant distiller in 1950. He became a master distiller in 1965. He retired from Jim Beam Brands in 1992, but continued to make personal appearances on behalf of the company until about 1999.
In 1995, Jim Beam Brands put his picture alongside the five distillers who preceded him in the family business on Jim Beam bourbon bottles. Mr. Noe was inducted into the Bourbon Hall of Fame in 2001.
Mr. Noe contributed to civic and charitable organizations throughout the Bardstown area.
He also frequently hosted parties and dinners at his home, where he served Kentucky hams from his backyard smokehouse.
He also was an avid hunter and fisherman.
"He was a wonderful guy. I know that," said Bill Roby, a friend since eighth grade. The two went quail hunting in Kansas and duck hunting in Arkansas.
"We fished around here a lot -- blue gill fishing, bass fishing," he said.
Roby said he also enjoyed going to Mr. Noe's home to eat and watch UK games on television. At Mr. Noe's annual Kentucky Derby party, there was "plenty of whiskey, and we bet there," he said.
Mr. Noe's son, Fred Noe III of Bardstown, is a Jim Beam ambassador and now oversees the company's Small Batch Bourbon Collection. "He had a good ride. He told me when he was there in the hospital, 'I've seen everything on this side, and I want to see what's on the other side,'" he said.
In addition to his son, Mr. Noe is survived by his wife, Annis Wickham Noe; a brother; a sister; and a grandson.