3rd September, 2013 by Amy Hopkins

Heaven Hill Distilleries has unveiled the latest installment in its annual Parker’s Heritage Collection which will raise money for research into the disease suffered by master distiller Parker Beam.

Beam, a sixth generation distiller in his 53rd at Heaven Hill, was recently diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) – otherwise known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease – prompting the company to get involved in a series of initiatives which support the Parker Beam Promise of Hope fund.

The newest edition is named ‘Promise of Hope’ and has been created from barrels personally selected by Beam to reflect his own preference for age, proof and warehouse location.

For each bottle of ‘Promise of Hope’ sold, Heaven Hill will contribute $20 to the Parker Beam Promise of Hope Fund (www.alsa.org/ParkerBeamPromiseofHope) with the aim of raising at least $250,000 overall.

Beam said: “I, my wife Linda, my son Craig and all my family are honoured and enthusiastic about our efforts towards helping those affected by ALS, and the new ‘Promise of Hope’ edition of my Parker’s Heritage Collection represents a great way for Bourbon fans and even novices to enjoy a great single barrel Bourbon while helping make a real difference and fight against ALS.

“I enjoyed developing the profile developing the profile and selecting these barrels that represent my favourite things in a Bourbon, and I feel sure that anyone who purchases a bottle will get an outstanding single barrel Bourbon and the satisfaction of knowing they are helping with this worthy cause.”

In addition to being the first cause-related release in the Parker Heritage Collection, the ‘Promise of Hope’ bottling will also be the first time that an American single barrel American Whiskey has been offered in the collection.

The launch will follow the recently announced Master Distillers’ Unity where master distillers from Buffalo Trace, Four Roses, Jim Beam, Maker’s Mark, Wild Turkey, Woodford Reserve and Heaven Hill joined forces to create a unique bottling featuring a whiskey from each distillery to raise money for the Parker Beam Promise of Hope fund.

Limited bottles of ‘Promise of Hope’ will roll out across the US from mid-September at an RRP of $90.