A Family Project Rooted in Legacy
The Little Book series has become Freddie Noe’s creative laboratory—an annual release that allows him to explore whiskey in ways the Beam name has rarely done before. The nickname “Little Book” was given to Freddie by his grandfather, Booker Noe, the legendary master distiller behind Booker’s Bourbon and the Jim Beam Small Batch Collection.
Every chapter in the series is a unique, uncut, and unfiltered blend of bourbons, ryes, or experimental whiskies. The result? A portfolio of releases that not only showcases the depth of the Beam barrel warehouses but also the vision of an eighth-generation distiller unafraid to experiment.
“Little Book is as much storytelling as it is whiskey.”
Chapter Nine: None for Granted
The ninth installment, released in 2025, is bottled at a robust 121.8 proof (60.9% ABV). It features a blend of five different whiskeys—four bourbons ranging in age from seven to eleven years, plus an eight-year-old rye. Each whiskey adds something distinct, from fruit and baking spice to deep oak and sweetness.
Tasting notes highlight:
- Nose: ripe apple, baking spice, and butterscotch.
- Palate: creamy caramel, brown sugar, oak, and layers of vanilla.
Freddie’s goal was to celebrate the foundational flavors of American whiskey—those notes of vanilla, caramel, oak, and spice that built bourbon’s reputation worldwide.
“None for Granted” is Freddie’s reminder that the flavors we take for granted today were once groundbreaking in their time.
Innovation Meets Tradition
Little Book Chapter Nine: None for Granted also reflects Freddie’s drive to push whiskey in new directions. One component is distilled with brown rice, echoing experimental mash bills Booker once championed. Another uses extended fermentation, lasting five days instead of three, which amplifies fruit and apple notes in the final blend.
This balance between respect for heritage and pursuit of innovation is what sets Little Book apart.
The Beam Legacy in Perspective
From Jacob Beam to Booker Noe
The Beam family distilling story began in 1795, when Jacob Beam sold his first barrels of corn whiskey. Over more than 200 years, the Beams have weathered wars, Prohibition, and shifting American tastes to become the world’s best-selling bourbon brand.
Booker Noe, Freddie’s grandfather, was one of the most influential distillers of the 20th century. His 1987 release of Booker’s Bourbon helped ignite the premium bourbon movement, proving that uncut, barrel-strength whiskey could find an eager audience. He later spearheaded the Jim Beam Small Batch Collection, which introduced Knob Creek, Baker’s, and Basil Hayden’s to a new generation of drinkers.
The Next Generation: Freddie Noe
Now, the baton rests with Freddie Noe, who carries his grandfather’s curiosity and his father Fred Noe’s stewardship. With Little Book, he has been given the freedom to explore, experiment, and add his own chapter to the Beam story.
Why Chapter Nine Matters
Little Book Chapter Nine isn’t just another allocated bourbon with a high price tag (MSRP ~$160). It’s a statement about what matters most in whiskey: the flavors that built the category, the heritage of family distillers, and the willingness to push beyond what’s expected.
For collectors, it’s a must-find bottle. For casual bourbon drinkers, it’s a chance to experience both tradition and innovation in one pour. And for Freddie Noe, it’s another reminder that while the Beam family name is steeped in history, its future is still being written—one Little Book at a time.
Final Pour
When you sip None for Granted, you taste more than whiskey. You taste the legacy of Jacob Beam’s first barrels, Booker’s bold innovations, and Freddie’s modern experiments. It’s history in a glass, carried forward by one of bourbon’s most storied families. Take a moment and watch my good friend Charlie and me try this wonderful whiskey for the first time HERE.
Raise a glass, but take none of it for granted.
