Rival Ky. bourbon barons ready to unite

[kentuck]

Since Maker's Mark is my bourbon of choice.. :)
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http://www.kentucky.com/mld/kentucky/12915432.htm

<snip>
The acquisition brings together two storied names in Kentucky bourbon history.

Jim Beam's roots in the industry reach back to 1795, when family patriarch Jacob Beam first sold a barrel of whiskey. Jim Beam's grandson, Booker Noe, was master distiller at Jim Beam for years and was an innovator in small-batch production techniques that age bourbon longer before bottling. Noe's son, Fred, is bourbon ambassador for Jim Beam Brands.

Meanwhile, Samuels is a seventh-generation bourbon maker in Kentucky, and his parents created Maker's Mark, which celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2004. Maker's production has risen from 113,000 cases in 1981 -- when Maker's first changed hands -- to 617,000 cases.

In the close-knit world of Kentucky's bourbon barons, Jim Beam was a close friend of Samuels' grandfather and mentor to Samuels' father.

[reprehensor]

1. Maker's Mark man, myself.

My favorite Corn Liquor.