Eighth-generation master distiller Freddie Noe represents the legacy of James B. Beam Distilling Co., which recently celebrated its 90th anniversary. He built on the work of his father, Fred Noe, and his father’s father, Booker Noe, both master distillers in their own right. On August 27, Freddie and James B. Beam announced a new expression that celebrates the generational influence of their ancestors: Little Book The Infinite: Edition 1 Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey. It’s the latest addition to the eponymous bourbon line, named after Freddie’s childhood nickname, Little Book.
While tinkering with different barrels at the Fred B. Noe Distillery on the James B. Beam campus in Clermont, KY, Freddie came up with an idea. This facility was specifically designed for experimentation. Why not take the liquid from the barrels his father and grandfather had created and mix it with something of his own creation?
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The resulting blend consists of four parts: 20-year-old bourbon that Booker made before his death in 2004, 14-year-old whiskey crafted by Fred, Freddie's own seven-year-old bourbon, and an eight-year-old expression inspired by the work of all three men.
In the warm orange light of the Fred B. Noe Distillery tasting room, I sat at the bar across from Freddie, whose distinct Kentucky accent was aptly singing The Infinite’s praises. His passion was palpable, fueled even more by a few sips of the chestnut bourbon. A glass of The Infinite was placed in front of me, and I was ready to drink.
The fruity smoke hits my nose as I lift the glass to my face. At first I taste caramel and vanilla, then ripe cherries stick to the tip of my tongue and stay there—Freddie’s favorite part, he tells me. An oaky, spicy finish that tempts my taste buds to try again.
“I've always cared about the finish,” Freddie says. “It's one of those things that is the final impression of the glass.”
He was absolutely right. The finish was so impressive that I wanted to take another taste. I found myself wanting to borrow the bottle for a quick photo—an excuse to pour some more. No one seemed to notice as Freddie answered more questions, encouraging us to experience Little Book by talking about it, not just drinking it.
Chris Hatler
“What I love about Little Book is that it's a conversation. There's no handcuffs, you just talk about whiskey and enjoy it,” he says.
Whiskey makers speak through their products, the physical manifestation of their shared passion, and Freddie has combined this conversation between his grandfather, his father and himself into one bottle.
The bourbon’s name hints at another layer of symbolism. With each subsequent annual edition of The Infinite, Freddie will add an additional whiskey to the mix. While the initial liquids will make up an increasingly smaller share of the whole, they will always be present. It’s a powerful statement: As time goes by, older generations pass, younger generations take over, and everything inevitably changes—but the foundation remains.
Little Book The Infinite: Edition 1 Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey is bottled at 59.65% ABV and sold for $200 per 750 ml bottle in a commemorative wooden box.
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