Laphroaig® Single Malt Scotch Whisky Elevates Scotch Enthusiasts’ Online Experience

Deerfield, Ill. (July 7, 2009) — As people around the world flock to mass social networking sites like Facebook® and Twitter®, a dedicated community of Scotch enthusiasts has flourished online for more than 15 years.

Friends of Laphroaig, the original online community for Laphroaig® Single Malt Scotch Whisky lovers, is elevating the online experience by engaging the senses and offering the opportunity to connect with more than 364,000 like-minded Scotch fans, spread across more than 150 countries. Despite its growing size, Friends of Laphroaig remains a tight-knit “village” of brand aficionados. Virtual friends and geographic neighbors meet and gather daily at www.laphroaig.com to share exciting, exclusive benefits, including a lifetime lease of Distillery land on the island of Islay, Scotland.

“Much like Laphroaig, a Friend of Laphroaig is an individual with extraordinary character,” said John Campbell, Laphroaig Distillery Manager. “Such a person deserves a sophisticated online destination to share the Laphroaig experience with friends with similar discerning tastes.”

From satellite positioning to Web cams streaming video in real time, Laphroaig uses the latest technology to keep friends informed about the latest bottlings and Distillery news and to create connections and conversations with Scotch enthusiasts worldwide. The Friends of Laphroaig online community features interactive social networking elements allowing Scotch fans to quickly and easily share photos, send private messages and discuss tasting notes with one another.

OWN A PIECE OF SCOTLAND
Have you ever wondered what it was like to own a piece of real estate abroad? Laphroaig offers a lifetime lease of one square foot plot of land on the Island of Islay to each consumer who buys a bottle of Laphroaig. By registering the purchase number found on the bottle, Scotch enthusiasts automatically become a member of the Friends of Laphroaig community and will receive the deed to their numbered plot of land. Friends are encouraged to visit the Distillery to view their plot and claim their “rent” – a dram of Laphroaig! Over the years, the plots have served as sentimental ground for members’ lives, including a marriage between two Friends of Laphroaig. Members can browse the online registry of plot owners to connect with their Islay neighbors.
“Offering our Friends a lease on the Laphroaig estate is like inviting a family member into our home,” said Campbell. “We make people feel like a part of the Laphroaig experience.”

INTERACTIVE MEMBER MAP
View aerial photographs to find your plot of land and meet your neighbors! You may find a Friend in your hometown, or on the other side of the globe. Share photos, send private messages and plan a meet-up among Friends in your own neighborhood.

LAPHROAIG TV
Laphroaig TV offers a look inside the Distillery and exclusive previews of limited-edition expressions. Live online tastings and educational seminars offer Friends of Laphroaig around the globe a deeper understanding of one of the most richly flavored malt whiskies.
To become part of Friends of Laphroaig or to learn more about the award-winning Laphroaig portfolio, visit www.laphroaig.com.

About Beam Global Spirits & Wine:
Inspiring conversations around the world, Beam Global Spirits & Wine, Inc. is building brands people want to talk about. Consumers from all corners of the globe call for our brands, including Jim Beam® Bourbon, Sauza® Tequila, Canadian Club® Whisky, Courvoisier® Cognac, Maker’s Mark® Bourbon, Laphroaig® Scotch Whisky, Cruzan® Rum, EFFEN® Vodka, Larios® Gin, Whisky DYC®, Teacher’s® Scotch Whisky, DeKuyper® Cordials and Liqueurs and Knob Creek® Bourbon. Beam Global Spirits & Wine is part of Fortune Brands, Inc. (NYSE:FO), a leading consumer brands company recently named one of the World’s Most Admired Companies by Fortune magazine. For more information on Beam Global Spirits & Wine, its brands, and its commitment to social responsibility, visit www.beamglobal.com and www.drinksmart.com.