Season 7, Episode 38: Freddie Noe, 8th Generation Master Distiller - The James B. Beam Distilling Co.

On this episode of The Bourbon Life Podcast, Mark heads to the James B. Beam Distilling Co. campus in Clermont, Kentucky, for a special one-on-one conversation with his good friend Freddie Noe, eighth-generation Master Distiller. With Matt away competing in the Ironman World Championship in Kona, Mark and Freddie settle into Beam's new content creator lounge to catch up, share some laughs, and enjoy three memorable whiskeys.

Freddie reflects on how his responsibilities have evolved since becoming Master Distiller at the Fred B. Noe Craft Distillery and what it means to put his own fingerprints on more than 230 years of Beam family history. He talks about working alongside his dad, Fred Noe, the behind-the-scenes effort that goes into improving whiskey quality, and the importance of making time for family amid a busy travel schedule.

The conversation also explores Freddie's approach to blending and the story behind Little Book Chapter 10, All the Wiser, including its connection to earlier chapters and the use of sherry-cask finishing. Freddie shares how he thinks about creating a whiskey experience from nose to finish, and he offers a look at the family history woven into Little Book The Infinite.

Next, Freddie takes Mark inside the creation of the 2026 Booker's The Reserves Rye. He explains how apple brandy casks and a carefully restrained touch of cinnamon connect this release to his grandfather Booker Noe's homemade A.B.C. Wassail tradition and why preserving those personal stories matters just as much as pushing the boundaries of flavor.

Mark and Freddie also discuss the 2026 production pause at the main Clermont distillery, the upgrades behind the decision, and the continued operations at the Fred B. Noe Craft Distillery and the Booker Noe facility. They wrap up with Freddie's experience at the Monaco Grand Prix, Jim Beam's partnership with Cadillac Formula 1, and Mark's excitement about the upcoming United States Grand Prix in Austin.

And, of course, there's whiskey! This episode features three special pours, including a particularly meaningful bottle Mark finally opens after more than six years:

Little Book Chapter 10 – All the Wiser

Booker's The Reserves 2026 Rye – Finished in Apple Brandy Casks and Infused with Cinnamon

2020 Knob Creek BHG Restaurants Single Barrel "Three Mooseketeers" – Mark's first-ever barrel pick, selected in 2019

From a milestone Little Book release and a family-inspired rye to a nearly 15-year-old Knob Creek barrel p