Whether you have been with Heaven Hill for 30 years or you joined the company recently, you have more than likely heard about Parker Beam, Heaven Hill’s Master Distiller Emeritus. Parker’s legacy is an integral part of Heaven Hill’s history, and his impact on the American Whiskey industry is unmatched. Despite his influence in the industry, anyone you ask will tell you that Parker was extremely humble and at the end of the day his passion was just making great whiskey.

“That’s what I admired most about Parker, his quiet, yet commanding nature,” says Bernie Lubbers, Heaven Hill National Whiskey Ambassador. “He grew up in the distillery with his dad Earl, learning the industry from the inside. Even after 56 years, and realizing he was indeed one of the all-time greats in his field, he was still so modest about it. What else could someone want out of life?”

“His humility was so admirable,” says Conor O’Driscoll, Heaven Hill Master Distiller. “He didn’t get caught up in all of the hoopla and his focus was truly on making consistently great whiskey, not being the celebrity Master Distiller. That’s really what it’s about because at the end of the day, if the whiskey isn’t good then what does it matter? I try to follow that same philosophy so that I can carry on that Heaven Hill legacy of producing great whiskey.”

Parker joined the Heaven Hill family in 1960 when his father, Earl Beam was still Master Distiller. He learned all he could about the industry and Heaven Hill and in 1975 Parker was named Heaven Hill’s sixth generation Master Distiller. Even to those outside of Heaven Hill, Parker was well known for his dedication to consistency and quality and the humility he brought to the craft.

“When I was just getting into the industry and trying to learn as much as I could, Parker had already won the Malt Advocate Lifetime Achievement Award and been inducted into the Bourbon Hall of Fame, so even before joining Heaven Hill, I was well aware of who Parker was and his legacy,” says Conor. “When I was working my first industry job at Brown Forman we were making a lot of whiskey for Heaven Hill. I had the chance to meet Parker a few times and he was just so gracious and kind.”

His sense of humor came through even when talking about the nuances of the whiskey he was making. According to Bernie, when someone mentioned to Parker that a pour of Evan Williams Single Barrel carried essence of caramel, raisins, or marzipan he would reply with a simple “I didn’t put any of that stuff in there. It just tastes like good Bourbon to me.” It’s this same no-nonsense sense of humor that made Parker so unforgettable.

“My favorite thing about Parker was without question his stories,” says Bernie. “He didn’t have a boisterous voice, but he demanded attention by his status in the industry, and he used that in his presentations to his advantage. He loved to talk, and he loved to make people laugh. One particularly funny story was when he would tell people about when he raised hogs and he noticed that they would eat just about anything you put in front of them, except cucumbers. Once in San Francisco he noticed a slice of cucumber floating in his water as a garnish and proclaimed, ‘Bernie, I won’t eat anything a hog won’t eat!’”

In 1983, Parker’s son Craig Beam took over as Master Distiller. Parker continued to work alongside his son overseeing all aspects of Heaven Hill’s whiskey production, and in 2007 Heaven Hill launched Parker’s Heritage Collection to honor the legacy of the sixth generation Master Distiller. In his time with Heaven Hill, Parker won various honors and awards including three-time Distillery of the Year and seven time Whiskey of the Year and the Bourbon Hall of Fame named its Lifetime Achievement Award after him.

In 2013, the industry received the devastating news that Parker Beam had been diagnosed with ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis).

“To say there was an outpouring of support is an understatement,” says Conor. “He was revered, and a lot of people were really saddened to hear about the diagnosis. People talk about comradery within the industry and the outpouring of support he received is a great example of this.”

“I was working for Jim Beam when the news broke, and Jim Beam Master Distiller Fred Noe actually told me about it,” says Bernie. “That let me know that competing distillers or not, they were family. The Bourbon industry is just one big extended family.”

After the diagnosis, Parker continued working for Heaven Hill as Master Distiller Emeritus, attending events and working in production as much as possible. He dedicated much of his time to raising awareness and money for ALS research, founding the Parker Beam Promise of Hope Fund and dedicating a portion of proceeds from the Parker’s Heritage Collection to the ALS Association.

“When I joined Heaven Hill, it was after his diagnosis and I noticed that Parker still came to events and to the visitors center to see people and sign autographs, even when it was physically challenging for him to simply sign bottles and cards.” says Bernie. “I asked him once why he didn’t take it easy, and just take care of himself. He told me it’s because he loved what he did and loved to work and stay busy saying, ‘On the day I die, I hope it’s late in the afternoon so I can get a lot done.’ Parker passed away in the middle of the night, so I think he probably got a lot done that day!”

Parker passed away on January 9, 2017. It was a sad day for the Whiskey community as many shared fond memories and stories about Parker and their gratitude for the incredible legacy he left behind. Bernie says his favorite memory of Parker was his last Bourbon Festival before he passed away.

“He specifically told Susan Wahl that he wanted me to sit with him all night long at our Heaven Hill Bourbon, Cigars, and Jazz event,” says Bernie. “I think he kind of knew that would be his last Bourbon Fest, and the fact that he wanted to spend it with me was extremely touching. I didn’t get enough time with him because the night seemed to fly by but seeing how strong and powerful he was even in his obvious weakened condition was inspiring to me.”

Nearly four years after Parker’s passing, Heaven Hill continues to honor him through the Parker’s Heritage Collection and reflecting on his 56 incredible years with Heaven Hill.

Just over a year and a half into his time with Heaven Hill, Conor O’Driscoll shares what it’s like walking in Parker’s footsteps:

“It is humbling, inspiring, and really cool to be in line behind Parker. He was Master Distiller for around 56 years, and I’ve got a little more than 56 weeks under my belt. I’m truly standing on the shoulders of giants, one of the largest giants ever at that. One of the strengths of this distillery and of Heaven Hill is our legacy. Because of Parker’s work I don’t have to focus on building brands as much as I get to focus on making high quality, consistent whiskey, which is what he left behind when he retired. My hope is that when people look back on my legacy as a Master Distiller that I am remembered for the same thing – a focus on how it’s made, who’s making it, and ensuring that Parker’s legacy and the legacy of Heaven Hill are maintained for years to come.”