Interview with Frederick Booker "Fred" Noe, III, November 14, 2013

Interview Summary

Fred Noe is Master Distiller at the Jim Beam Distillery near Bardstown, Kentucky. He is the son of Booker Noe and the great-grandson of Jim Beam. In this interview he talks about growing up in Bardstown, Kentucky with other distilling families and how he came to work at the family business. He talks about the changes that have occurred at the distillery and in the bourbon industry over the years including the introduction of super premium and small-batch bourbons. He talks about his mentors, his father, and the advice he has received and will pass on to his own son. He talks about bourbon on the international market, the resurgence in the popularity of bourbon, and the trend of bourbon tourism.

Noe describes the process of making bourbon, the importance of charred barrels, and how the rackhouses work to age the bourbon. He talks about the creation of Booker's Bourbon and tells stories about his father and mother and their family home. He discusses illegal distilling during Prohibition and Jim Beam's career outside of the bourbon industry.

Interview Keyword

Beam, James B., 1864-1947--Family. Distilleries--Kentucky Distillers. Family-owned business enterprises. Genealogy. Jim Beam Dilleries Whiskey industry--Kentucky--History. whisky whiskey

Interview LC Subject

Bourbon whiskey Distillation James B. Beam Distilling Company Whiskey Whiskey industry -- Kentucky Families Distilleries--Kentucky

Interview Rights

All rights to the interviews, including but not restricted to legal title, copyrights and literary property rights, have been transferred to the University of Kentucky Libraries.

Interview Usage

Interviews may be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, Special Collections, University of Kentucky Libraries.