Charles L. Beam
“Inventor of Eagle Rare and Benchmark”
During the 1930s through most of the 1940s, Four Roses was the most popular bourbon in the world. Nevertheless, in 1943, the descendants of the Jones family sold the distillery and the entire business to the Seagram's Company. At the time, Seagram's was the largest spirit maker in the world and had seven distilleries, including five in Kentucky, one in Maryland, and one in Canada. In the late 50s, despite the popularity of the brand, the company decided to convert Four Roses from an authentic Kentucky Bourbon to a cheaper blended American Whiskey and market it internationally, discontinuing its sales in the United States.
Charles L “Chuck” Beam was born in Louisville, Kentucky, in October 1922. His parents were Roy M. Beam, Sr., and Mattie D. Beam. They were intent on making sure that young Chuck received a good education, so they sent him to Central Kentucky’s best prep school in St. Xavier High School, and strove to ensure that he graduated from the University of Louisville. In four years, Chuck finished at UofL with his Bachelor’s Degree in Chemistry. When World War II broke out, Chuck volunteered and served as a Staff Sergeant in the Army Air Corps, flying thirty missions over Europe and earning the Distinguished Flying Cross.
After the War, Chuck married Mary Lee Kuhn in January of 1946 in Louisville and soon had three children, Rebecca, Charles Jr., and David (who went on to work at the Beam Distillery).
Mary Lee Kuhn Beam, with other 2010 Bourbon Hall of Fame honorees, accepting on behalf of her late husband Charles L Beam
Charles Beam was hired on at the Four Roses Distillery in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky, in 1962. In just six short years, he was named only the fourth Master Distiller at Four Roses. In 1966, Jim Rutledge had joined Seagram's at their Louisville Plant but was transferred in 1975 to be a student under Charles. Under Beam's tenure as Master Distiller, Four Roses introduced the Bourbon brands of Benchmark in 1969 and Eagle Rare in 1975. Both brands were later sold to the Sazerac Company and continue to be distilled by the Buffalo Trace Distillery today. Eagle Rare has now become Buffalo Trace’s second most popular brand and a great buy at the price, while being aged 10 years. Benchmark or McAfee’s Benchmark Old No. 8 has turned into one of Buffalo Trace’s two “High Volume Economy Brands” and the one that Buffalo Trace does its experimental testing with by adding flavoring to a base of Benchmark Bourbon. At this time, it has released an Apple, Peach, Brown Sugar, and Eggnog brand made out of the base Benchmark.
Charles L Beam retired from Four Roses in 1984, but enjoyed another 23 years of retirement, passing away peacefully at the age of 84 in 2007 at Baptist East Hospital of Louisville. He was inducted posthumously into the Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame in 2010. In that induction class, there were three honorees, rather than the usual four, but it included other bourbon legends, including Wild Turkey Master Distiller Eddie Russell and Buffalo Trace’s Ronnie Eddins.
Chuck’s proud wife of 61 years, his widow Mary Lee Kuhn Beam, was pleased to accept the award on his family’s behalf. At that time, Charles Beam became the 9th of 11 Beam family members to be inducted into the Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame.
Contributed by Colonel Craig Duncan, Columbia, Tennessee
