CONSENT OF COUNSEL



                  We consent to (a) the reference to us and our opinion as
counsel for Fortune Brands, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("Registrant"), under
the caption "Federal Income Tax Consequences" and (b) the incorporation by
reference of our opinion as counsel for Registrant contained in Item 3, "Legal
Proceedings", of the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Registrant for the fiscal
year ended December 31, 1997, in this Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the
Registration Statement on Form S-8 and the Prospectuses related thereto.





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April 28, 1998