Freddie Noe Little Book Chapter 7 Blends 7 American Whiskeys
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Last year, Freddie Noe, Jim Beam's great-great-grandson, was named the eighth-generation master distiller of Fred B. Noe Distillery—the fancy new hub of James B. Beam Distilling Co., where the company’s super-premium whiskeys such as Little Book and Booker's are created. Little Book consists of one annually released whiskey made by Freddie himself, who's been working on the project for several years now. The latest arrival, Little Book Chapter 7, is the culmination.
The series as a whole pushes the boundaries of how people think about whiskey. Little Book Chapter 5 invited whiskey lovers of all stages to learn about blending possibilities and Chapter 6 “To The Finish” was inspired by grilling and smoking. This year’s bottling, Little Book Chapter 7 "In Retrospect," looks back at all six of the whiskeys previously released in the series.
It's a blend of seven cask-strength American whiskeys curated from each of the brand's previous six chapters and a seventh new addition. Little Book Chapter 7 In Retrospect reflects on Noe's previous creations, but with a nod toward the future, as he continues to explore new directions in his role as master distiller at Fred B. Noe Distillery.
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"Being named master distiller was a humbling moment for me, and it inspired me to reflect on the whiskey journey I've been on so far," Noe says. "Little Book is a big part of that journey. Looking back on previous chapters' liquid streams with fresh eyes to create something entirely new was an incredibly rewarding challenge—and a testament to the fact that there are so many possibilities yet to be uncovered in American whiskey."
Related: Charlie’s Batch: Booker's First New Bourbon of 2023 Is Here
The makeup of Chapter 7 is as follows: four bourbons aged 4, 9, 17, and 18 years; two ryes, a 4-year-old and an 11-year-old; and a 5-year-old straight malt whiskey finished in applewood smoked barrels. The 18-year-old bourbon originally appeared in Chapter 5, back when it was just 15; the 10-year-old rye was in Chapter 2 as a 6-year-old; and the malt whiskey was in Chapter 6. The new addition is a 4-year-old rye made from a mashbill of 80 percent rye and 20 percent malted rye.
The liquid is a deep russet in color with golden hues, that offers subtle sweet aromas with notes of clove spice. The palate is slightly floral with light smoke and sweet vanilla, followed by flavors of caramel. The brand recommends enjoying the whiskey neat or on the rocks.
"This retrospective chapter was a great opportunity to involve my new team in the journey and spirit of Little Book," says Noe. "Everyone brought their ideas to the table and thought about how we can create the highest potential from this unique catalog of whiskies we've utilized over the years. I'm really proud of the final outcome and excited to help expand folks' whiskey journey with this release."
[$130; totalwine.com]