Beam, Straight Up: The Bold Story Of The First Family Of Bourbon

From the moment Fred Noe came home from the hospital in a 1957 Ford Fairlane that his father, Booker, spent his last dime on, his family had high hopes. The seventh generation of a whiskey-making family that can trace its roots back more than 200 years, those hopes included carrying on the legacy of the world's best- selling bourbon whiskey - Jim Beam.

In his delightful new memoir, Beam, Straight Up: The Bold Story of the First Family of Bourbon (Wiley; $22.95; September 2012), Noe chronicles his memorable and at times, outrageous journey along the bourbon trail. From his boyhood in Mayberry-ish Bardstown, Kentucky, "The Bourbon Capitol of the World," and hell-raising experience as a roadie for Hank Williams Jr., to his long, dues-paying stint on Jim Beam bottling line, and his inevitable ascension to Master Distiller of Beam Inc., Noe pulls no punches when describing his life and adventures in the whiskey business.

The first member of the Beam family to write his memoirs, Beam, Straight Up, offers colorful stories of life on the road and the distillery, the numerous celebrities he's met and shared a few laughs with, and a close up look at his large- than-life father, Booker Noe. In addition, Noe offers valuable recommendations and insights into building and maintaining of a centuries-old brand.

One part biography, one part bourbon primer, equals pure entertainment in this entertaining yet sincere account on how to live up to your potential, and perhaps even more importantly, how to enjoy your life along the way.

For more information about Jim Beam, visit www.jimbeam.com or find Fred Noe on Facebook at www.facebook.com/jimbeam.

About Beam Inc.
As one of the world's leading premium spirits companies, Beam is Crafting the Spirits that Stir the World. Consumers from all corners of the globe call for the company's brands, including Jim Beam Bourbon, Maker's Mark Bourbon, Sauza Tequila, Pinnacle Vodka, Canadian Club Whisky, Courvoisier Cognac, Teacher's Scotch Whisky, Cruzan Rum, Hornitos Tequila, Knob Creek Bourbon, Laphroaig Scotch Whisky, Kilbeggan Irish Whiskey, EFFEN Vodka, Pucker Flavored Vodka, Larios Gin, Whisky DYC, DeKuyper Cordials, and Skinnygirl Cocktails. Beam is focused on delivering superior performance with its unique combination of scale with agility and a strategy of Creating Famous Brands, Building Winning Markets and Fueling Our Growth. Beam and its 3,200 passionate associates worldwide generated 2011 sales of $2.8 billion, volume of 34 million 9-liter cases and some of the industry's fastest growing innovations.

Headquartered in Deerfield, Illinois, Beam is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol BEAM and is included in the S&P 500 Index and the MSCI World Index. For more information on Beam, its brands, and its commitment to social responsibility, please visit http://www.beamglobal.com and www.drinksmart.com.

About Wiley
Founded in 1807, John Wiley & Sons, Inc. has been a valued source of information and understanding for 200 years, helping people around the world meet their needs and fulfill their aspirations. Wiley's core businesses include scientific, technical, and medical journals; encyclopedias, books, and online products and services; professional and consumer books and subscription services; and educational materials for undergraduate and graduate students and lifelong learners. Wiley's global headquarters are located in Hoboken, New Jersey with operations in the U.S., Europe, Asia, Canada, and Australia.