Batch 2016-06 was named Noes Hard Times to pay homage to the nickname Booker Noe earned playing football in Bardstown, KY years ago.

Bookers Noe Hard Times batch is the sixth and final release from the 2016 Bookers Batch collection made up of barrels from four different rack houses and five different production dates. The release pays homage to the nickname Booker Noe earned playing football in Bardstown, KY in his youth.

Booker Noes son, Fred Noe who is the current Master Distiller of Jim Beam and the great grandson of Jim Beam himself comments: Dad was larger-than-life in personality and stature and needless to say, no team in central Kentucky wanted to line up against such a formidable opponent. This, combined with a birthday in December 1929, just on the cusp of the Great Depression, earned him the nickname Hard Times on and off the field.