Suntory Global Spirits introduces Beam Private Barrel Club for personalized Knob creek bourbon, rye 

USA – Suntory Global Spirits has unveiled the Beam Private Barrel Club, a unique initiative inviting whiskey enthusiasts to purchase and personalize their own single barrel of Knob Creek bourbon or rye directly from the distillery.  

The program offers an immersive experience, enabling members to curate a bespoke whiskey journey. 

Freddie Noe, eighth-generation master distiller, announced the launch in celebration of a historic milestone for the Beam family.  

“The Beam Private Barrel Club is something we’ve been working on for years – even decades now,” Noe said.  

“As we celebrate the 230th year of Jacob Beam selling his first barrel, we want to commemorate this milestone by further welcoming whiskey lovers into our family. This program allows members to own a barrel, exclusively their own.” 

Participants in the program will have the opportunity to delve deep into Beam’s rackhouses at the Clermont campus.  

During their visit, members will act as master blenders for the day, exploring the unique characteristics that barrels develop due to environmental factors and their location within the rackhouse. 

Joining the Beam Private Barrel Club begins with an online booking request. Once registered, members will be contacted by a legacy ambassador, who will confirm the experience and guide them through the selection process.  

On the scheduled day, guests will be taken on a private tour of the distillery, including a stop at the Fred B. Noe Distillery, where they will learn about the Beam family’s rich heritage and production techniques. 

The experience culminates in a tasting session, where participants sample from a selection of single-barrel Bourbons or ryes.  

After choosing their preferred barrel, it will be reserved for bottling. Each bottle will feature a personalized label, allowing up to 41 characters, adding a unique touch to the final product. 

The barrels, priced on a per-bottle basis starting at US$60, typically yield 100 to 175 bottles.  

A non-refundable US$1,000 deposit is required to secure a reservation, which will be credited toward the final cost. Bottling takes approximately 90 to 120 days, and members must collect their cases in person. 

This comes recently after the company announced plans to move the bottling of its Kilbeggan, Tyrconnell and Connemara Irish whiskey brands from Cooley Distillery to offshore locations.

Its three Irish whiskey brands will now be bottled in either Scotland, where Suntory owns Scotch whisky brands including Bowmore and Laphroaig, or in Spain.

Spain is a strategic hub for the drinks giant, and home to its international headquarters. It is home to Suntory’s DYC distillery in Segovia, which produces spirits and liqueurs such as Larios gin, Whisky DYC and La Castellana.

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