The Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame honored five individuals for their service to and support of the state’s signature industry, including the first-ever Lifetime Achievement Award to renowned Master Distiller Parker Beam.
This year’s inductees are, in alphabetical order:
‣ Parker Beam, Master Distiller Emeritus, Heaven Hill Brands
‣ Owsley Brown II, former CEO and Chairman, Brown-Forman
‣ Kathleen DiBenedetto, Senior Director of Commercial Marketing, Luxury, Beam Suntory
‣ U.S. Sen. Wendell Ford
‣ Donna Nally, co-creator of the Kentucky Bourbon Festival
The KDA Board of Directors announced they had unanimously voted to name the Lifetime Achievement Award after Beam, now in his 55th year at Heaven Hill. He was elected a charter member of the Hall of Fame in 2001.
“It is a great honor to not only receive this award, but to have it be established in my name,” he said. “Linda and I are just thrilled by the recognition and humbled that the KDA and Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame would make this gesture. I accept the honor on behalf of my father, my cousin, Booker Noe, Elmer T. Lee and all the others who came before and who also devoted their lifetimes to making great Bourbon, and to making Bourbon great.”
Parker Beam joined Heaven Hill in 1960 working under his father, Earl, as a sixth-generation distiller in his storied family. He became Master Distiller in 1975 and has earned numerous awards for distilling, aging and selecting some of the world’s most acclaimed Bourbons.
He was named Master Distiller Emeritus in 2013 shortly after being diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), or Lou Gehrig’s disease. His public advocacy for ALS research, care and awareness has generated more than a half million dollars for his “Promise of Hope” fund.
“With this award, we salute Parker for not only his accomplishments but also the camaraderie and high regard that we hold for him and his tireless spirit. He is the personification of the premium craftsmanship and unwavering friendship that we all should strive to achieve.”
Created by the KDA in conjunction with the Kentucky Bourbon Festival in 2001, the Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame recognizes individuals and organizations that have made a significant and transformational impact on Bourbon’s stature, growth and awareness.
It is the highest honor given by the industry and is presented annually during the Kentucky Bourbon Festival, which runs through Sunday in Bardstown.
Candidates may be nominated each year by the KDA, its member distilleries and the Kentucky Bourbon Festival from four categories: Industry, Journalism, Roll of Honor and Lifetime Achievement. Nominees are then sent to the KDA Board of Directors for final selection.
From KDA