Jim Beam 7
Jim Beam’s collection of small batch bourbons arrive in the UK
23 April 2015: Maxxium UK is welcoming Beam Suntory’s super-premium collection of small batch bourbons featuring Basil Hayden’s, Booker’s and Baker’s this month. Available across the on-trade, the trio are among the highest quality products from the world’s #1 bourbon producer, offering consumers premium expressions of bourbon that showcase the long-standing traditions of the Beam family.
These products will be introduced at the Jim Beam Crafthouse, an experiential event also housing other Bourbon Legends including Jim Beam Signature Craft 12-Year old, Maker’s Mark and Knob Creek. Taking place on Thursday 23 and Friday 24 April, the Jim Beam Crafthouse will immerse guests in an educational and interactive experience led by special guests Bill Samuels Jr, President of Maker’s Mark and Kevin Smith, Vice President of Kentucky Beam Bourbon Affairs, accompanied by Maxxium UK’s Mixxit team.
Jim Beam’s strong family heritage is at the heart of the development of all three small batch bourbons. Baker’s is named after Baker Beam, Jim Beam’s great-nephew; Booker’s was created by Jim Beam’s grandson, 6th Generation Master Distiller Booker Noe; and the recipe for Basil Hayden’s Bourbon dates back to 1796. The result is a collection of distinct and exquisite bourbons, rich with American heritage. These bourbons are individually unique and now for the first time have a unified bottle shape ensuring the collection is easily identifiable on shelf and in bar.
Baker’s Bourbon is aged for seven years and hand bottled at 53.5% ABV. The Beam family has a secret jug yeast recipe that has been used for over six generations and it is this formula which is responsible for the bourbon’s silky smooth texture and for balancing the bold, intense flavour with a consistently luxurious taste from batch to batch.
Master Distiller Booker Noe, Jim Beam’s grandson, originally created Booker’s for his own personal use. It is one of the only bourbons available today that is bottled straight from the barrel, uncut and unfiltered, yielding an intense flavour and nose which is one of a kind. Booker’s Bourbon is bottled at its natural ABV of 62.5% and aged for between six and eight years in barrels in the centre of the rack house. The temperature and humidity there ensure the perfect conditions for ageing this exceptional bourbon. Each of the barrels used in this process were hand-selected by Booker himself, leaving a lasting legacy.
Basil Hayden’s was created with the same high-rye style of the whiskey originally produced by its namesake in 1796. Basil Hayden the distiller was born in Maryland, where a high proportion of rye was used in the production of whiskey and then moved to Kentucky, adapting the method of producing whiskey from a base of corn. However he continued to add a higher percentage of rye than other distillers, resulting in a smooth, mild bourbon, with a slightly peppery taste and aroma. This bourbon has a gentle taste and at 40% ABV it is smooth and approachable.
The small batch bourbons will be available in the UK on-trade from the 1st May.
Maxxium UK’s Marketing Controller for Imported Whiskey, Janice McIntosh says:
“Jim Beam’s small batch bourbons will appeal to bourbon connoisseurs and consumers interested in exploring premium dark spirits. The collection offers three unique bourbons which embody the Make History philosophy, perfectly displaying the wealth of history and craftsmanship in Jim Beam bourbons.
“The premium bourbon segment is a developing opportunity within the category and we are proud to offer customers and consumers the premium Baker’s, Booker’s and Basil Hayden’s bourbons. This unique collection will allow our customers to capitalise on the growth of US whiskey and offer something special to the growing contingent of American whiskey enthusiasts.”
Baker’s is available in 700ml bottles with a RRP of £53.99, Booker’s is available in 700ml bottles with a RRP of £63.99 and Basil Hayden’s is available in 700ml with a RRP of £41.99.
For more information, please contact: Jennifer Cirillo or Simone Harvey
Tel: 020 8544 6917 or e-mail: j.cirillo@lime-pr.co.uk, s.harvey@lime-pr.co.uk
Shake History Finalists to Compete For Fred Noe’s Seal of Approval
05 November 2014: Maxxium UK welcomes Jim Beam’s Seventh Generation Master Distiller Fred Noe to London on the 6th November to judge the final round of the Shake History bartender competition—a first for Noe in the UK—and lead an exclusive bourbon masterclass.
Jim Beam’s® Make History™ bartender challenge, Shake History, drew teams from across the UK, six of whom will now compete in a final like no other at The Blues Kitchen in Shoreditch for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to make their own history in Kentucky at the Jim Beam American Stillhouse.
To enter the competition, bar teams of three to four members each submitted an original Jim Beam cocktail that they felt was worthy of making history and representative of the personality and style of their bar. The six bar teams competing for the grand prize include: The Cocktail Trading Co. (London), MASH (London), City Social (London), The Milk Thistle (Bristol), The Lace House (Nottingham) and Steam and Rye (London).
Once the winning team is announced, Noe will lead an exclusive bourbon masterclass, giving guests a first-hand taste of a selection of the Jim Beam bourbon portfolio.
Maxxium UK’s Marketing Controller for Imported Whiskey, Janice McIntosh says: “We are honoured to welcome Fred Noe to judge our Jim Beam Shake History competition and host a very special masterclass for a select group of people. Shake History is a first-of-its-kind competition and having Fred as part of the day makes it a truly unique and engaging experience enabling us to make history here in the UK.
“Bourbon is thriving in the UK and there is no better way to celebrate the success of Jim Beam and the Make History™ campaign than to reward our Shake History winners with the unique chance to travel to the Jim Beam American Stillhouse in Kentucky to make history with Fred once more.”
The Shake History competition is part of the global Jim Beam ® Make History™ campaign, which invites Bourbon fans around the world to “Come As Friends, and Leave As Family.”
For more information, please contact: Jennifer Cirillo or Simone Harvey
Tel: 020 8544 6917 or e-mail: j.cirillo@lime-pr.co.uk, s.harvey@lime-pr.co.uk
Bartenders Compete to “Shake History” With Jim Beam
Maxxium UK is launching Jim Beam’s® Make History™ bartender challenge, “Shake History,” welcoming contestants nationwide into the Jim Beam® Bourbon family and rewarding the winning team with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to make their own history in Kentucky and meet Jim Beam’s seventh generation Master Distiller Fred Noe.
As Jim Beam, the world’s No. 1 selling bourbon, invites legal drinking age bourbon fans to “Come As Friends, and Leave As Family” in the next chapter of the global Make History™ campaign, the winners will travel to the Jim Beam® American Stillhouse in Clermont, Kentucky and make history in the home of the world’s number one bourbon.
Bar teams of three or four can enter by submitting an original, inspirational Jim Beam cocktail that they feel is worthy of making history and represents the personality and style of their bar. Successful teams will be judged based on speed, accuracy and creativity through a series of unique and sensory challenges that will take place in a fun and fast-paced final this autumn in London.
Maxxium UK’s Marketing Controller for Imported Whiskey, Eileen Livingston says: “Our Make History campaign marks an exciting time for Jim Beam. To celebrate those who have helped bring this brand to life in the on-trade, we’ve created a unique competition that will reward the winning team with a trip to Kentucky and the opportunity for them to make history.
“Bourbon is thriving in the UK and Shake History celebrates the growth of the category and our brand while inspiring bartenders to make history with Jim Beam.”
The competition is open to all bars that stock Jim Beam. Bar teams can enter online or contact their Maxxium UK representative.
For more information, please contact: Jennifer Cirillo or Simone Harvey
Tel: 020 8544 6917 or e-mail: j.cirillo@lime-pr.co.uk, s.harvey@lime-pr.co.uk
Maxxium UK Launches: Limited Edition Jim Beam Maple
14 July 2014: Maxxium UK is introducing further innovation into the American whiskey category and reinforcing Jim Beam’s market leadership status with the launch of the first ever maple-infused bourbon in the UK.
Launching this month is limited edition Jim Beam® Maple, an innovation that will drive the appeal and accessibility of bourbon, recruiting new consumers to the category.
Jim Beam Maple is made with 4yr old Jim Beam bourbon whiskey, slowly infused with maple to produce the perfect balance of sweet warm maple and bourbon. Bottled at 35% ABV with a retail price of £19.99, Jim Beam® Maple is aged in oak barrels and is perfect on its own, chilled or mixed in long serves.
Jim Beam Maple will raise visibility for the category and brand, reinforcing Jim Beam’s position as the world’s #1 bourbon and strong reputation for innovation. Already this year Maxxium UK has launched Jim Beam Signature Craft, a premium bourbon aimed at connoisseurs and experienced bourbon drinkers looking to try something new.
Maxxium UK’s Marketing Controller for Imported Whiskey, Eileen Livingston says: “We are excited to expand our Jim Beam portfolio and create a further point of difference with this innovation. Jim Beam Honey was the first-to-market honey-infused bourbon and now with Jim Beam Maple we will again stir up fresh interest and broaden the appeal of bourbon amongst young adults who may not previously have considered bourbon.”
For more information, please contact: Jennifer Cirillo or Simone Harvey
Tel: 020 8544 6917 or e-mail: j.cirillo@lime-pr.co.uk, s.harvey@lime-pr.co.uk
Jim Beam Makes History With New Global Campaign
11 March 2014: Maxxium UK is launching Jim Beam’s new global campaign, Make History in the UK this month. The first multi-media global campaign for the world’s number one bourbon begins with a new television commercial featuring the brand’s new spokesperson, award-nominated actress Mila Kunis. With significant trade support and activation throughout the year, Make History is a ground-breaking initiative that inspires consumers to make their own mark in history in the same way Jim Beam has.
The TV advertising, which features the Hollywood actress, will break in the UK on 16 March with 30-second ads across multiple media channels such as ITV, Channel 4 and Sky. The campaign also includes online and digital advertising underpinned by PR.
From its humble beginnings as the first bourbon produced in 1795 to becoming the number one bourbon in the UK and across the globe, Jim Beam’s inspirational story is the motivation behind Make History. With taglines focused on encouraging consumers to Make History such as We’ve Made Our History Now Make Yours!, Come As A Friend, Leave As Family and Be The Story Others Tell, the campaign will deliver unprecedented visibility across the trade.
Make History will be activated across the off-trade, including Asda, Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Morrisons and Waitrose. In store visibility is key with eye-catching displays and innovative POS. The iconic Jim Beam Stillhouse is also being used as an important visual element across the retail trade, with replicas on display in the top Jim Beam depots across the country. The campaign will be heavily supported in depot with POS and retailer incentives and reinforced with a strong Make History presence online.
Consumers can win their chance to make history with on-pack promotions offering trips to the US including the Ultimate Road Trip across America. The activity in the off-trade will also be supported with in-store sampling.
The campaign will be activated in the on-trade with Make History kits to drive awareness and promote the Ultimate Road Trip competition. This will be complemented with a range of high-quality POS items as well as tent cards, posters, seasonal Make History Jim Beam serves and glassware. Bartenders will be supported through bourbon education sessions with training conducted by mixxit, Maxxium UK’s expert cocktail team. Bartenders can also take part in a Jim Beam Make History challenge, which will reward the winner with an historic Jim Beam experience.
Jim Beam’s rich history of producing bourbon goes back over 200 years. Jim Beam has continued to make history by being a pioneer in the category, recruiting consumers through innovation. Red Stag by Jim Beam was the first flavoured bourbon, launched in 2011. This was followed in 2012 by the first honey-infused bourbon to arrive in the UK, Jim Beam Honey. This commitment has resulted in strong Jim Beam performance across the UK trade with volume +13% year on year with +20.2% growth in the on-trade and +11.7% in the off-trade1.
Maxxium UK’s Marketing Controller for Imported Whiskey, Eileen Livingston says: “The UK is one of the largest markets in Europe for Jim Beam and Make History is set to make 2014 an historic year for the brand. Make History embodies the story of Jim Beam and the seven generations of Beam distillers who have been proud of their history, yet keen to make history of their own — innovating ahead of their peers and cementing the brand’s standing as a category leader.
“We are excited to introduce the new campaign to the UK and delighted to welcome Mila Kunis to the Beam family! In 2014 we will share a little of our own history while also encouraging consumers to follow in our footsteps and be inspired to make their own history.
“Our Jim Beam family of products is diverse and appeals to many consumers. This year we are determined to fuel the category growth in the UK even further by supporting the needs of customers across the on- and off-trade with our Make History campaign. This is the right time to execute an initiative of this scale and the year ahead is set to create momentous events for both Jim Beam and our customers.”
For more information, please contact: Jennifer Cirillo or Simone Harvey
Tel: 020 8544 6917 or e-mail
: j.cirillo@lime-pr.co.uk, s.harvey@lime-pr.co.uk
