Slainte! Raise a Glass to Toast the Irish With Kilbeggan Irish Whiskey This St. Patrick's Day


DEERFIELD, IL--(Marketwire - Mar 15, 2012) - As consumers make plans for St. Patrick's Day, Beam Inc. (NYSE: BEAM), the new owner of the award winning Kilbeggan Irish Whiskey, is gearing up for the holiday with Irish celebrations in mind. Toast the Irish and release your inner Irish spirit by filling your glass with Ireland's native spirit this holiday weekend.

"With many Americans looking to celebrate St. Patrick's Day in true Irish style, Kilbeggan is the ideal whiskey to show your Irish pride," said Bob Gorman, Director of Marketing World Whiskies at Beam Inc. "Our handcrafted Irish whiskey is a blend of the finest hand selected Irish malt and grain whiskies."

Demand for the Irish spirit is high. According to the Distilled Spirits Council, Irish Whiskey was the fastest growing spirits category in the United States in 2011 with a 23.6% increase in sales volume. Beam's recent acquisition of the Cooley Distillery, reputed to be the world's oldest operating distillery, brings with it a diverse portfolio of prized Irish Whiskies including the flagship Kilbeggan brand, as well as Tyrconnell Single Malt, Connemara Peated Single Malt and Greenore Single Grain Irish Whiskey.

For those hosting their own St. Patrick's Day celebrations, Kilbeggan has created some delicious cocktail recipes to help bring a touch of Irish to any get together:

KILBEGGAN® IRISH MULE

  • 3 parts Kilbeggan Irish Whiskey
  • 2 parts Triple Sec
  • 2 parts Simple Syrup
  • Lime Juice
  • Ginger Ale

Combine Kilbeggan Irish Whiskey, Triple Sec, simple syrup and lime juice into a shaker with ice and shake for 60 seconds. Strain over ice into a tall glass. Top with ginger ale. Garnish with a lime wedge.

KILBEGGAN® DUBLINER

  • 3 parts Kilbeggan Irish Whiskey
  • 2 parts Sweet Vermouth
  • 1.5 parts Cherry Syrup
  • 1.5 parts Cranberry Juice
  • Dash Simple Syrup (optional)

Combine all ingredients into a shaker with ice and shake for 60 seconds. Strain neat into a martini glass. Garnish with a black cherry.

KILBEGGAN® SHAMROCK SPRITZER

  • 1 part Kilbeggan Irish Whiskey
  • 4 parts Apple Juice
  • Lemon-Lime Soda

Pour whiskey and apple juice over ice in a tall glass. Top with lemon-lime soda. Garnish with a lemon.

For more information on Kilbeggan, as well as additional cocktail recipes, visit www.kilbegganwhiskey.com. As always, Beam encourages consumers to enjoy responsibly.

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, Canadian Club Whisky, Courvoisier Cognac, Teacher's Scotch Whisky, Kilbeggan Irish Whiskey, Laphroaig Scotch Whisky, Cruzan Rum, Hornitos Tequila, Knob Creek Bourbon, EFFEN Vodka, Pucker Flavored Vodka, Larios Gin, Whisky DYC, DeKuyper Cordials, and Skinnygirl Cocktails. 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 3,200 passionate associates worldwide generated 2011 sales of $2.8 billion, volume of 34 million 9-liter 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.

Enjoy Responsibly

Kilbeggan® Blended Irish Whiskey 40% Alc./Vol. ©2012 Kilbeggan Distilling Import Company, Deerfield, IL