BEAM Inc : 01 17 12 BEAM COMPLETES ACQUISITION OF COOLEY DISTILLERY

January 17, 2012

• Beam Enters Fast-Growing Irish Whiskey Category
• Opportunity to Expand Award-Winning Brands in U.S.other Key Markets for Irish Whiskey

Dublin, IrelandDeerfield, Illinois, January 17, 2012 - Beam Inc. (NYSE: BEAM), a leading global premium spirits company, today completed the acquisition of Cooley Distillery, the award-winning Irish whiskey producer.

The acquisition includes the Kilbeggan, Connemara, TyrconnellGreenore brands, as well as aging inventoryCooley's maltgrain distilleries in DundalkKilbeggan, Ireland. Cooley is one of only three sources for Irish whiskeywas the category's only remaining independent producer. The purchase price was approximately $95 million on a debt-free basis. Beam expects the acquisition to be earnings neutral in 2012 reflecting substantial initial brand investment,increasingly accretive in future years.

"As one of the world's fastest-growing spirits companies, Beam is excited to enter one of the world's fastest-growing spirits categories," said Matt Shattock, presidentchief executive officer of Beam. "We look forward to combining our whiskey expertise, brand-building firepowerstrong routes to market with the experience, talentpassion of the Teeling familythe Cooley team to help take these award-winning brands to the next level. On behalf of the 3,200 Beam associates worldwide, we are delighted to welcome Cooley's talented workforce to the Beam family." Shattock added that Cooley's flagship Kilbeggan brand will join the ranks of Beam's Rising Star brands, which, along with the company's global Power Brands, are a focus for brand-building investment.

"Beam can do in 10 years what it would take Cooley, on its own, 30 years to do," said John Teeling, chairman of Cooley Distillery. "The market opportunity for Irish whiskey is nowit is substantial. Beam has particular strengths in the main fast growing Irish whiskey marketsso will be well able to take advantage of this Irish renaissance. It is a bittersweet moment for myselfthe other founders as we cede control but, having rebuffed many suitors, we were happy that Beam, which is a pre-eminent whiskey company, will build on the strong foundations laid down over 24 years. I want to thank the staff, shareholders,close colleagues who have been on the journey. It is only the beginning."

The Irish whiskey category grew 11.5% in 2010 to 4.86 million cases according to Impact Databank. The leading markets for Irish whiskey, according to Impact, are the United States, Ireland, the United Kingdom, France, South AfricaGermany. Cooley currently sells approximately 250,000 9-liter cases per year - divided among its brands, private label productsbulk sales to third-party customers -has production capacity to support substantial future growth.

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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, Laphroaig® Scotch Whisky, Cruzan® Rum, Hornitos ™ Tequila, Knob Creek® Bourbon, EFFEN® Vodka, Pucker™ Flavored Vodka, Larios® Gin, Whisky DYC®, DeKuyper® Cordials,Skinnygirl® Cocktails. The Beam portfolio includes 10 of the world's top 100 premium spirits brandssome of the industry's fastest growing innovations. Beam is focused on delivering superior performance with its unique combination of scale with agilitya strategy of Creating Famous Brands, Building Winning MarketsFueling Our Growth. Beamits 3,200 passionate associates worldwide generated 2010 sales of $2.7 billion on volume of 33 million 9-liter cases.

Headquartered in Deerfield, Illinois, Beam is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol BEAMis included in the S&P 500 Indexthe MSCI World Index. For more information on Beam, its brands,its commitment to social responsibility, please visit .

About Cooley Distillery

Cooley Distillery is the award winning independent Irish whiskey distillery. Established in 1987, Cooley takes its name from the location of its distillery, situated at the foothills of the Cooley Mountains, in Co. Louth. Cooley has an award winning portfolio of Irish whiskeys including Kilbeggan Irish whiskey, Tyrconnell Single Malt, Connemara Peated Single MaltGreenore Single Grain Irish whiskey. To learn more about Cooley Distillery visit .

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements, as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements as to the expected earnings impact of the transactionthe expected benefits of the transaction. Readers are cautioned that these forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof,the company does not assume any obligation to update, amend or clarify them to reflect events, new information or circumstances occurring after the date of this release. Actual results may differ materially from those projected as a result of certain risksuncertainties, including but not limited to: general economic conditionscredit market instability; customer defaultsrelated bad debt expense; competitive market pressures (including pricing pressures); changes in customer preferencestrends; risks pertaining to strategic acquisitionsjoint ventures, particularly financialintegration risks; any possible downgrades of the company's credit ratings; commodityenergy price volatility; risks associated with doing business outside the United States, including currency exchange rate risks; inability to attractretain qualified personnel; the impact of excise tax increasescustoms duties on distilled spirits; the status of the U.S. rum excise tax cover-over program; dependence on performance of distributorsother marketing arrangements; costs of certain employeeretiree benefitsreturns on pension assets; tax law changes and/or interpretation of existing tax laws; potential liabilities, costsuncertainties of litigation; ability to securemaintain rights to trademarkstrade names; impairment in the carrying value of goodwill or other acquired intangible assets; disruptions at production facilities; risks related to the Home & Security spin-off;other risksuncertainties detailed from time to time in the Company's SecuritiesExchange Commission filings.

CONTACTS:

Media Relations - Beam
Clarkson Hine
[phone]
[e-mail]

Investor Relations - Beam
Tony Diaz
[phone]
[e-mail]

Cooley Distillery
David O'Siochain
[phone]
[e-mail]