Booker’s Bourbon Debuts Its First Release of 2025, An Homage to Former Beam Chairman Barry Berish

On Wednesday, James B. Beam Distilling Co. unveiled the latest release in its ongoing Booker's Bourbon series, simply dubbed "Barry's Batch." The whiskey was aged for seven years, two months and four days before being bottled at 125.7 proof. The bourbon was selected by seventh-generation master distiller Fred Noe, son of former distiller Booker Noe who launched the Booker's lineup back in 1987. This time around, the whiskey pays tribute to former Beam Chairman and CEO Barry Berish, who passed away last year. Berish worked at the company for over 40 years, famously helping oversee its acquisition of National Distillers in the late 1980s. By the time he left the company in 1997, Jim Beam was the largest distilled spirits company in the U.S. and the fifth largest in the world. Each bottle of Barry's Batch features a short blurb reminiscing on an event commemorating Beam's 200th anniversary. As the story goes, Berish invited everyone in the audience named Jim Beam to join him on stage. The blurb adds with a cheeky touch, "I can still see him, surrounded by dozens of those Jims, beaming."

"If it weren’t for Barry, we wouldn’t be where we are today. We’re more than grateful for everything he did and everything he was: a real good guy, and truly one of a kind. So, here’s to you Barry, you’ll always be in our hearts," the label reads.

Barry's Batch is said to boast a bright golden amber hue, aromas of vanilla and sweetness and a "balanced finish." The bourbon is now available at a suggested retail price of $99.99. In years past, Booker's Bourbon has paid homage to a wide variety of figures, locales and influences found in the centuries-old Beam lore. Last year's Batch #1 was named in honor of Springfield, the small Kentucky town in which Booker Noe grew up. Others have paid tribute to Kentucky Tea, the whiskey-and-water cocktail that Noe is said to have sipped every night before bed, and "Mighty Fine Batch," a catchphrase of the former master distiller.

"I know Dad would have loved to celebrate his long-time friend and colleague with this bourbon named after him. I really hope you enjoy Barry’s Batch as much as I enjoyed creating it!" Fred Noe added in a news release.

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