Beam Years in the Making Visits Phoenix
Left to right: Bill Buitenhuys (AZ Bitters Lab), Adam Harris (Beam Suntory Whiskey Ambassador) Lillian Buitenhuys (AZ Bitters Lab) and Anthony DeSantis (Arizona Beam Suntory Specialist)
This fall, Jim Beam launched a national industry event showcasing their range of beloved spirits. Beam Years in the Making is traveling to a group of select cities as it recognizes the Jim Beam whiskey-making legacy spanning centuries. "Join us to enjoy a menu that stands the test of time. Learn how the years shape the flavors and gain a new appreciation for the aging process behind our favorite pairings" read the invitation, and our group of media and industry bourbon lovers met at Crudo to do just that.
I chatted with Adam Harris, American Whiskey Ambassador at Beam Suntory, who had flown in from Texas for the event. I learned that this traveling party had already visited Portland, New York, and Chicago before heading to Phoenix, to be followed by Vegas and Atlanta. "It just launched last month," Adam told me. "We wanted to keep this first round small, just 50 people, to give everyone the best opportunity to have a good time. Based on the success of this event - which has been very sucessful so far - next year we're going to try to take it a little bit bigger and a little bit different, without losing the soul of what it is."
Categories included an exploration of the flavors of umami, bitter, salty, sour, and sweet. Follow along on a photo journey of convivial education and creative pairings.
I'm already looking forward to next year!