Heaven Hill Names New Co-Master Distiller

December 10, 2014 – For the first time in the company’s history, one of Heaven Hill’s master distillers will not have the last name of Beam. The company has named Bernheim Distillery manager Denny Potter to the post of co-Master Distiller alongside Craig Beam, who has been serving as Master Distiller since his father, Parker Beam, stepped aside earlier this year for health reasons. Craig and Parker Beam had been co-Master Distillers for the last several years, while Parker inherited the title from his father Earl in 1975.

In a news release, Heaven Hill president Max Shapira praised the Louisville native’s contributions since joining the company.

“His knowledge of Bourbon production and aging—and his ability to teach and relate these subjects to the trade and consumers—make him an ideal person to help carry forth Heaven Hill’s leadership position and reputation into the future. Denny is grounded in the traditions of our company and industry yet has a keen eye for innovation and emerging trends.”

Potter joined Heaven Hill last year after 12 years of service at Beam, where he worked his way up to assistant distillery manager at Maker’s Mark before taking up the manager’s role at Beam’s Cruzan Rum distillery in the Virgin Islands. He wound up his Beam career as general manager of the company’s production facility in Frankfort, Kentucky. While at Maker’s Mark, Potter was instrumental in designing and implementing an anaerobic processing facility that turns the distillery’s waste products into methane gas for use in the distillery’s boilers.

Links: Heaven Hill