Sad news about Parker Beam from Heaven Hill

Parker Beam, master distiller of Heaven Hill, died at the age of 75. For more than 55 years Parker Beam had worked for Heaven Hill Distillers and he developed and shaped the company and its whiskeys essentially during his time as master distiller.

The news of Parker Beam passing away after fighting against his ALS desease for the last years was answered with notes of deeply regrets worldwide. His death leaves a hard-to-fill-gap not only in his family but also at Heaven Hill Distilleries, the company which he helped to become one of the big ones in the world of whiskey.

Parker Beam was the 6th generation of master distillers in the Beam Family. Together with the Shapira Family, founders of Heaven Hill Distillers, the Beams are the fundamental pillars of the company that was founded in 1934. Parker Beam, a grandnephew of the legendary Jim Beam, started working for Heaven Hill in 1960. His Father Earl was master distiller at that time and he passed on his knowledge to his son. In 1975 Parker succeeded his father and took over the most responsible post.

For nearly four decades Parker Beam created very successfully whiskeys as the Small Batch and Single Barrel Bourbons. And he won every important award that is high regarded in the international spirits business. From charter member of the Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame, Whisky Magazine Awards and Hall of Fame to the Lifetime Award of the Whiskey Advocate – all juries honored the work of Parker Beam.

Short after he was diagnosed with ALS Parker Beam was given emirate status in 2013. But nearly until the end he went on coaching and supporting the distillers, the staff and also his own son Craig who took over the whiskey-baton in the Beam Family.