Fred Minnick reported on Thursday that Jim Beam dropped Lineage Batch #2, a father and son collaboration between Fred and Freddie Noe. This year’s release is a particularly important one for Freddie Noe, because it is the first whiskey within Beam’s portfolio to feature his name on the bottle.
Though the whiskey is probably going to be tricky to track down — it’s only available for purchase at the James B. Beam Distilling Co. facilities in Clermont, Kentucky- it’s a special one. Both the Noes picked out a 15-year-old bourbon by hand, making it a family affair. The whiskey spent time aging in charred white oak barrels and has a suggested retail price of $250.
Clocking in at 111 proof, Lineage #2 marks the second release within the series. The inaugural expression dropped in 2021, and made headlines in Maxim. It was the first release to feature Fred Noe’s name on the bottle. Like the subsequent release, it had a 15-year age statement, though it hosted a slightly milder proof of 110.
“Lineage represents a significant moment in the history of Jim Beam,” Fred Noe said in a statement about the first release. “Not only is it a collaboration between the seventh and eighth generation distillers in our family, but it’s a blend of the past, the present and the future.”
Though the launch was initially a global travel retail exclusive, Noe shared that was a purposeful choice. The launch coincided with the second year of the COVID-19 Pandemic, when travel was challenging for many. Noe wanted the travelers to have “something special” during “these trying times.”
Other Important Beam Releases
It’s been a big week for the folks at Beam. The brand announced the return of the iconic whiskey, Old Grand Dad — except this year’s release was a Bottled In Bond expression.
The first revitalized Old Grand Dad release was quietly rolled out by Beam in November 2024, and the inaugural offering was a one-off 16-year-old release, according to Fred Minnick. Needless to say, Beam fans were delighted, as the Old Grand Dad label is a cult favorite amongst bartenders and whiskey enthusiasts all over the world.
The first Old Grand Dad release hosted a hefty SRP of $194.99, which was understandable due to the spirit’s higher age statement.
Both Old Grand Dad expressions lean into the vintage-era nostalgia associated with the brand, which has a rich history that dates back to 1882.
No responses yet