Today’s Reads will boil down to one important story and that’s it. We’ll return to our regularly scheduled 5-6 stories of interest and bemusement tomorrow, but today we felt it important to highlight one particular news item that entered our inbox over the weekend.

Any bourbon fanatic will instantly know the name Parker Beam, and not just because of the automatic association of the last name either (he is the grand-nephew James Beauregard “Jim” Beam). He has been a master distiller of the highest order, first with his father Earl and now with his son Craig, for over half a century at Heaven Hill distillery.  He is synonymous with some very high quality expressions, including the Parker’s Heritage series, which consistently receives high marks and critical acclaim here at Drinkhacker and beyond.

Recently, Mr. Beam received very sad and unfortunate word that he has been diagnosed with ALS. However, like most men made of Kentucky stock, he refuses to take this news lying down and is digging in for a long, courageous fight. He has repurposed his passion for making quality bourbons into helping to raise money in an effort to find a cure for the disease that has taken so many far too soon in their lives. For starters, he has established the Parker Beam Promise of Hope Fund, and $20 of each bottle of Parker’s Heritage sold this fall (the seventh in the series) will be donated to the ALS Promise Fund, a donation that promises to bring in over a quarter million dollars.

Autumn is a long ways away from today, and of course we’ll be here to remind you closer to release date. However, this time around, take great comfort in knowing that your purchase of Parker’s will make a big difference in the name of a man who has given much comfort and enjoyment to countless others over the past several decades.

To learn more about ALS or to donate to the Parker Beam Promise Fund, please visit their website.

About Post Author