Deerfield, Ill. – June 17, 2009 – Beam Global Spirits & Wine, Inc. [Fortune Brands, Inc. (NYSE:FO)], the leading American spirits company with the largest Bourbon portfolio, applauds today’s launch of the Congressional Bourbon Caucus. Co-chaired by Congressmen John Yarmuth (KY-3) and Brett Guthrie (KY-2), the Congressional Bourbon Caucus is a bi-partisan group dedicated to maintaining and strengthening the Bourbon industry in the United States and educating other Members on the legislative and regulatory issues impacting the industry.
The Bourbon industry provides more than 3,000 jobs in Kentucky and more than $3 billion in gross state revenue. In addition, more than 500,000 visitors from all 50 states and more than 25 countries annually tour the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, which includes the Jim Beam and Maker’s Mark distilleries. This year marks the Trail’s 10th anniversary.
“We thank Congressmen Yarmuth and Guthrie for establishing the Congressional Bourbon Caucus,” said Bill Newlands, president of Beam Global U.S. “The Congressional Bourbon and Wine Caucuses demonstrate the importance and contributions of America’s distillers and vintners to the economy. The Bourbon industry has played a key role in the economy, including jobs and tourism, and as the leading Bourbon producer in the country, we support the Congressional Bourbon Caucus in their work to strengthen the industry.”
“This is a great step for the Bourbon industry and ‘America’s Native Spirit,’” said Frederick “Fred” Booker Noe III, seventh-generation Jim Beam family distiller. “The Congressional Bourbon Caucus recognizes Bourbon’s unique place in American history and its positive impact on the economy.”
In 2007, the U.S. Senate resolution declared September as “National Bourbon Heritage Month.” In 2008, Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear recognized September 2008 as “Bourbon Heritage Month” which celebrated Bourbon as “America’s Native Spirit” and honored the family heritage and deep-rooted legacy of the Bourbon industry in the Commonwealth.