Beam Hosts Great Whisk(e)y Debate at World Whisky Conference 

Beam Global Spirits & Wine Inc., a unit of Fortune Brands Inc. recently hosted the first Great Whisk(e)y Debate ever held in Scotland. The debate was hosted for the World Whiskies attendees to exuberantly discuss the history, heritage, qualities and tasting notes of bourbon whiskey and Scotch whisky.

Bourbon was vigorously defended by Fred Noe, the great grandson of the legendary distiller Jim Beam and seventh generation distiller from the famous Bourbon family, while Scotch whisky was championed by Richard Paterson, third generation master blender of the Dalmore Scotch Whisky distillery and one of the world's leading authorities on Scotch whisky. Moderated by Jim Kokoris, former president of the Kentucky Bourbon Circle and long time friend of all whiskeys, the Great Whisk(e)y Debate sparked strong opinions among the hundreds of spectators.

Beam Global CEO Tom Flocco personally weighed in on this topic yesterday during his keynote speech at the 2008 World Whiskies Conference, offering to set the record straight about bourbon.

"Kentucky produces 95 percent of the world's bourbon; almost two thirds of it comes from us," he said. He reminded the audience "that loving one is not cheating on the other. In this industry, you really can serve two masters."