CLERMONT, Ky., March 4, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Building on its rich tradition and deep family roots, Jim Beam launches Jacob's Ghost^™, a new white whiskey that celebrates the "spirit" of founding distiller – Jacob Beam – by perfecting the white whiskey he first distilled more than two centuries ago. Aged for a year and versatile enough to be enjoyed in a variety of mixed cocktails, Jacob's Ghost is answering whiskey drinkers' increasing demand for inventive and unique spirit experiences, while providing a white whiskey that tastes like whiskey.

"Jacob's Ghost represents both our past and our future," said Fred Noe, Jim Beam's 7^th Generation Master Distiller. "It's a tribute to my family's ancestry and our first distiller, while also showing our chops at innovation by perfecting what Jacob first created into a whiskey that's unlike anything out there today."

A Whiskey for Every Occasion
Aged for a year in white oak barrels, Jacob's Ghost is an 80-proof white whiskey that elicits the wood-influenced flavors and hues of a traditional bourbon but offers a lighter body and more adaptable character. Unlike some of the un-aged moonshines and white dogs out there, this unique, hybrid spirit is versatile in a way that traditional whiskies aren't. Jacob's Ghost is:

• Ideal for traditional whiskey cocktails but also for mixed drinks that typically feature vodka, tequila or rum such as "Cosmopolitans" and "Bloody Marys"
• Inviting for white spirits drinkers who want to try something new  
• Smooth and invigorating in creative new cocktails

In a recent study, Jacob's Ghost was the highest performing whiskey concept ever tested by Jim Beam, with 77 percent of whiskey drinkers and 70 percent of vodka drinkers claiming that they would "definitely or probably" purchase Jacob's Ghost.[1]

The Experts Weigh In
Jacob's Ghost has received positive reviews from the spirits media community:

• Colin Joliat, spirits writer for lifestyle website Guyism: "Jacob's Ghost will replace vodka…The strong suit of this spirit came in cocktails typically made with vodka."
• Andrew Strenio, spirits writer for food blog SeriousEats.com: "[Jacob's Ghost] has real potential to become a mainstay in bars and liquor cabinets across the country."
• Tony Sachs, spirits writer for HuffingtonPost.com: "Jacob's Ghost…is most interesting when replacing white spirits like rum or blanco tequila in cocktails – it changes the flavor profile of a margarita or daiquiri without throwing the whole balance off."

Jacob's Ghost is now available nationwide for a suggested retail price of $21.99. For more information on Jacob's Ghost, visit www.JimBeam.com/jacobs-ghost, www.facebook.com/JimBeam or @JimBeamOfficial.

Jim Beam is committed to social responsibility and advises legal purchase age consumers to drink smart®. Through drinksmart.com, Beam Inc. educates legal purchase age consumers about how to make responsible choices about alcohol.

About Beam Inc.
As one of the world's leading premium spirits companies, Beam is Crafting the Spirits that Stir the World.  Consumers from all corners of the globe call for the company's brands, including Jim Beam Bourbon, Maker's Mark Bourbon, Sauza Tequila, Pinnacle Vodka, Canadian Club Whisky, Courvoisier Cognac, Teacher's Scotch Whisky, Skinnygirl Cocktails, Cruzan Rum, Hornitos Tequila, Knob Creek Bourbon, Laphroaig Scotch Whisky, Kilbeggan Irish Whiskey, Larios Gin, Whisky DYC and DeKuyper Cordials.  Beam is focused on delivering superior performance with its unique combination of scale with agility and a strategy of Creating Famous Brands, Building Winning Markets and Fueling Our Growth. Beam and its 3,400 passionate associates worldwide generated 2012 sales of $2.5 billion (excluding excise taxes), volume of 38 million 9-liter equivalent cases and some of the industry's fastest growing innovations. 

Headquartered in Deerfield, Illinois, Beam is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol BEAM and is included in the S&P 500 Index and the MSCI World Index.  For more information on Beam, its brands, and its commitment to social responsibility, please visit www.beamglobal.com and www.drinksmart.com.

Jacob's Ghost™ Whiskey, 40% Alc./Vol.
©2013 James B. Beam Distilling Co., Clermont, KY.
All trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

[1] Directions Research Concept Test, April 2012

SOURCE Beam Inc.