Tasting & Charity Auction to Honor Heaven Hill Master Distiller Parker Beam

Bourbon Crusaders - Parker's Legacy of Hope 2017

The Bourbon Crusaders, Heaven Hill Distillery, Mint Julep Tours and emcee Fred Minnick are gathering together for an evening of bourbon tasting, storytelling, dinner and a charity auction to honor longtime Heaven Hill Master Distiller Parker Beam. All proceeds from the event will go to the Parker Beam ALS Promise of Hope Fund. Parker Beam lost his battle with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), often referred to as Lou Gehrig’s Disease in January of this year.

Parker Beam earned the title “Master Distiller” the old fashioned way, he earned it. He was a sixth-generation distiller and began working for Heaven Hill under his father, Earl, in 1960. He took over the master distiller position in 1975 and helped pioneer the company’s first premium small batch and single barrel bourbons.

In 2001, Parker was one of the seven person roster that was named to the first ever Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame by the Kentucky Distillers’ Association – KDA and the Kentucky Bourbon Festival. This inaugural class includes industry pioneers like Lincoln Wesley Henderson of Brown-Forman and later Angel’s Envy Distillery, Elmer T. Lee of Buffalo Trace Distillery, Fred McMillen, Fred Booker Noe, Jr. of Jim Beam Distillery, Jimmy Russell of Wild Turkey Distillery, Jim Rutledge of Four Roses Distillery, Bill Samuels, Jr. of Maker’s Mark Distillery and of course Parker Beam. And in 2015, Parker was honored to receive the first-ever Lifetime Achievement from the Kentucky Distillers’ Association. It is the highest honor given by the association. It’s an award that will forever bear his name.

Limited Edition Tastings

Bourbon Crusaders -Parker’s Legacy of Hope 2017, Bottle Prep — Parker’s Legacy of Hope 2017 bottle prep work.

Emcee for the evening will be noted bourbon author Fred Minnick. Minnick will conduct a question and answer session with Parker’s colleagues and friends, introduce complimentary tastings throughout the evening and host the live charity auction. Limited edition tastings will feature the 2017 Parker’s Heritage Collection Single Barrel Bourbon, many private barrels from The Bourbon Crusaders including bourbon brands like Barrell Bourbon, Elijah Craig, Four Roses, Knob Creek, Old Forester, Russell’s Reserve and more.

Stay Informed: Sign up here for the Distillery Trail free email newsletter and be the first to get all the latest news, trends, job listings and events in your inbox.

Exclusive Auction Items

Auction items include Parker’s Heritage Collection Promise of Hope, behind-the-scenes tour of Heaven Hill Distillery with Master Distiller Denny Potter, VIP tour and all-access barrel sampling at Willett Distillery with Master Distiller Drew Kulvseen along with many other Bourbon Crusader exclusive bottles.

How to Purchase Tickets to Parker’s Legacy of Hope 2017

Parker’s Legacy of Hope tickets range from $150 to $500 and include dinner provided from The Silver Dollar, 10+ tasting pours, take-home tasting glass, commemorative program and the ability to bid on the many charity auction items. You can purchase tickets via the Bourbon Crusaders here or from the ALS Association here. The event will be held Saturday, November 4th, 2017 from 6:00 to 10:00 p.m. at Mint Julep Tours headquarters, 1631 Mellwood Ave., Louisville, KY, 40206.