Beam Global Spirits & Wine Names Robert Probst as Chief Financial Officer

Beam Global Spirits & Wine, Inc. [Fortune Brands, Inc. (NYSE:FO)], a global leader in premium spirits, announces the appointment of Robert Probst as senior vice president and chief financial officer, effective September 29, 2008. A key member of the Beam Global executive team, Probst will assume responsibility for directing the company’s overall financial operations and accounting practices while overseeing all planning, reporting, measurement, compliance and strategy activities. Probst will take the leading role in developing financial strategy and will ensure that systems and financial controls effectively support Beam Global and its aggressive growth trajectory.

Probst comes to Beam Global with 15 years of experience, most recently with Baxter International, a global healthcare company. At Baxter, he served as vice president, finance, strategy and business development, a leadership role that included responsibility for mergers and acquisitions for Baxter’s $4.0 billion Medication Delivery business unit. Prior to Baxter, Probst was with Diageo for eight years in a series of significant leadership roles that included chief financial officer of global supply, assistant treasurer and director of mergers and acquisitions. He was also with The Pillsbury Company for four years as a finance manager, plant controller and senior financial analyst for the company’s refrigerated baked goods business.

"With his international and commercial experience, Bob brings a unique, broad and global skill set to Beam Global,” said Tom Flocco, president and CEO, Beam Global Spirits & Wine, Inc. "Bob will be integral in driving our goal of greater accountability across our business while lending added rigor and discipline to our measurement and monitoring systems.”

"As we work toward our Vision of ‘Building Brands People Want to Talk About,’ Bob will help Beam Global enhance our business processes to help us achieve this goal,” continued Flocco. "His capability to lead a global finance function and build on our systems and processes will drive and catalyze our business going forward.”

Probst will report directly to Beam Global president and CEO, Tom Flocco, and also serve on the Beam Global executive committee. Probst takes the helm from Ron Kapolnek, who led the finance function for the past four and a half years.

Probst received a Masters of Business Administration in finance and accounting from the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business and received his Bachelor of Arts in economics from Duke University.

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, Larios® Gin, Whisky DYC®, Teacher's® Scotch Whisky, DeKuyper® Cordials and Liqueurs, Knob Creek® Bourbon and Starbucks™ Liqueurs. Beam Global Spirits & Wine is part of Fortune Brands, Inc. (NYSE:FO), a leading consumer brands company with annual sales exceeding $8 billion. For more information on Beam Global Spirits & Wine, its brands, and its commitment to social responsibility, please visit www.beamglobal.com and www.drinksmart.com.

© 2008 Beam Global Spirits & Wine, Inc., Deerfield, IL

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