Heaven Hill Heritage Collection

Mark Reynier: Whisky’s Enfant Terrible

Waterford Distillery founder Mark Reynier has no shortage of opinions about how he feels whisky should be made, and he’s putting those opinions into the… Read More

Waterford Distillery founder Mark Reynier has no shortage of opinions about how he feels whisky should be made, and he’s putting those opinions into the bottle. Reynier has butted heads with the whisky establishment many times over the years because of his passion for flavor above all else, critics be damned. He’ll share some of his opinions with us on this week’s WhiskyCast In-Depth. In the news, Compass Box founder John Glaser is stepping down after 23 years, while there’s both good and bad news about whisky exports.

Episode 1046: March 3, 2024

Heaven Hill Distillery Announces 2024 Heaven Hill Heritage Collection Release

Heaven Hill Heritage Collection 18-Year-Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey will launch nationally and internationally on a limited basis with a MSRP of $299.99 and will begin shipping in early March 2024.

This year’s release features an 18-year-old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Heaven Hill Distillery announced today the release of Heaven Hill Heritage Collection 18-Year-Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey. Each spring, this annual, highly limited release features some of the distillery’s oldest inventory of aging whiskey, continuing the standard of excellence Heaven Hill has practiced since 1935.

Each release in the ultra-premium collection features one of the six traditional American Whiskey mashbills produced by Heaven Hill, one of the only heritage distilleries to produce this range. This 2024 edition features Heaven Hill’s Bourbon Whiskey mashbill, comprised of 78% corn, 12% malted barley and 10% rye, and is bottled at 120 proof. With an age statement of 18 years, this release is made up of 133 barrels produced in December 2005 pulled from the third floor of Rickhouse 1I.

With its subtle nose of dried flowers, black tea and old oak alongside hints of toasted almond, this edition of the Heaven Hill Heritage Collection is sure to be a unique addition to any whiskey collection. A testament to its age, the initial notes on the palate include vanilla and caramel sweetness up front followed by old leather and a note of oak char with lingering peppery spices and orange oil adding to the depth and complexity. The finish is long, warm, and dry and includes large amounts of spice.

“The Heaven Hill Heritage Collection is our opportunity to showcase some of the oldest stock in Heaven Hill’s incredible inventory of aging whiskey,” says Master Distiller Conor O’Driscoll. “We pride ourselves on having the necessary patience to age, taste, re-taste and select our whiskey at the moment we feel it is perfectly matured. This 18-year-old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey epitomizes what consumers have come to expect from the highest quality of Heaven Hill’s releases.”

Along with its innovation-focused counterpart the Parker’s Heritage Collection, the Heaven Hill Heritage Collection is a testament to Heaven Hill’s patience and ultra-aging techniques. Releases from both collections offer a glimpse into the long-term plan across Heaven Hill’s American Whiskey stock and commitment to quality, craft, and innovation.

As with the inaugural release, the Heaven Hill Heritage Collection 750ml bottle will be accompanied by a premium box in signature Heaven Hill blue. The updated Heaven Hill Distillery seal is prominently positioned on the box, strip stamp and label, and will mirror that of Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond and a new Heaven Hill line extension launching later this year. A signature of the Collection, specific attributes such as warehouse site location, production date, mashbill percentages, and other designations are noted prominently on the packaging. Heaven Hill Heritage Collection 18-Year-Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey will launch nationally and internationally on a limited basis with a MSRP of $299.99 and will begin shipping in early March 2024.

Heaven Hill Announces Latest Heritage Collection Release – 20-Year-Old Kentucky Straight Corn Whiskey

Heaven Hill has announced the 2023 release of the Heaven Hill Heritage Collection. This is a 20-year-old Corn Whiskey. Bottled without chill filtering bottled at 115 proof (57.5% alcohool) and is made with their traditional corn mashbill of 80% corn, 8…

Master Distiller Conor O’Driscoll says:

The Heaven Hill Heritage Collection reflects the true craftsmanship, patience and consistency which are hallmarks of Heaven Hill’s whiskey making traditions. The ability to offer consumers an ultra-aged corn whiskey is a true testament to the forward-thinking innovation the company has practiced for decades and continues to practice to this day.

This release is made up of 110 barrels produced in October 2002. The barrels were pulled from the third floor of rickhouse 1K, one of the brick rickhouses located in their Bernheim Distillery campus in Louisville, Kentucky. No suggested price was provided and the release will be available nationally in a limited release. It contains the following tasting notes:

Nose: Toasted corn and oak spices

Taste: Aged oak and walnuts

Finish: Wood spices with hints of corn sweetness

My Take

While no price was provided, these bottles are selling for north of $1400 online, which puts this out of reach of 99.9% of consumers. If this does make it to Ohio, I would expect to see it in one of the high-end lotteries.

What do you think? Drop a note in the comments below.

Additional Heaven Hill Stories

2022-04-01 - Heaven Hill Announces Old Fitzgerald Spring 2022 Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon Release

2022-02-07 - Heaven Hill Acquires Samson & Surrey - Makers of Widow Jane and Few

2021-09-20 - Heaven Hill Workers on Strike

Source: Heaven Hill

Last Day to Enter OHLQ 2022 Spring Bottle Lottery

Today is the last day to enter the the Ohio Department of Liquor (OHLQ) Spring 2022 lottery for Michter’s 20 Year, Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond (11 year), Parker’s Heritage 15th Edition, Heaven Hill Heritage Collection, and Weller 12 Year. The lotter…

You can enter at the OHLQ lottery website. In order to enter, you'll need to provide the following:

Ohio Driver's License Number / Ohio Identification Card Number
First Name
Last Name
Street Address
Date of Birth
Email Address
Preferred OHLQ store location for purchasing the product if you win

Good luck everyone!

Ohio Division of Liquor Control (OHLQ) Announces Spring Bottle Lottery – Old Fitzgerald 11, Parker’s Heritage, and More – Live Now

The Ohio Division of Liquor Control (OHLQ) has announced what they are calling their Spring 2022 Lottery for Michter’s 20 Year, Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond (11 year), Parker’s Heritage 15th Edition, Heaven Hill Heritage Collection, an…

The lottery starts April 4th and ends at 11:59 p.m. on April 11th. As mentioned, this lottery is for the following:

Weller 12 Year - 90 Proof - $39.98
- Caramel runs through this like a river, with eddies of vanilla, mint, toast, mocha, and pancake syrup. It has a nice but not overpowering char and oak, a little cinnamon, raspberry, blackberry, and raisin.
- Aromas of lanolin, almond oil, and creamed corn.
Michter's Single Barrel 20 - 114.2 Proof - $749.99

Intense notes of black cherry, rich molasses, honeysuckle, roasted pecans, and toasted charred oak.

Old Fitzgerald 11 Year with Decanter - 100 Proof - $109.99

Aroma: Soft, subtle notes of toasted bread, red cherries, and oak sweetness.
Taste: Brown sugar and toasted oak, followed by caramel and butterscotch with a creamy mouthfeel.
Finish: Medium-long and warming, baking spice notes with hints of barrel smoke and char.

Parker's Heritage Collection 15th Edition: Heavy Char Wheat - 122 Proof - $139.99

Aroma: Honey and soft oak with subtle cinnamon and nutmeg spices.
Taste: Rich, soft, and sweet with hints of molasses and butterscotch.
Finish: Long and warm, fading to pepper spices.

Heaven Hill Heritage Collection - 118 Proof - $274.99

Nose: Vanilla, old wood, and aged oak.
Taste: Walnut, cedar, and leather.
Finish: Caramel, smoke, and char.

In order to enter, you'll need to provide the following:

Ohio Driver’s License Number / Ohio Identification Card Number
First Name
Last Name
Street Address
Date of Birth
Email Address
Preferred OHLQ store location for purchasing the product if you win

All entries must be submitted online at the OHLQ lottery website and must be purchased at the Ohio Liquor location designated during submission. Entry is free.

My Take

I'll be entering for the Old Fitzgerald and Weller. I don't have a desire for the expensive bottles and I'm not usually a fan of wheat. However, I know there is a HUGE secondary market in Ohio (even though it's technically illegal) and these bottles will fetch a giant price. For instance, I couldn't find the Heaven Hill online (I think this is actually a 27 year, not 17 year like the State website says) and it's retailing for $2-3k. The Michter's 20 is going for 7k and up... As always, best of luck to my readers. I hope we win all the bottles!

What do you think? Drop a note in the comment box below.

Source: OHLQ

Heaven Hill Announces Heritage Collection 17-Year-Old Barrel Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Fresh off refusing to pay their workers a fair living wage after working through a global pandemic, Heaven Hill has announced the Heaven Hill Heritage Collection. The first release in this collection is a 17-Year-Old Barrel Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey. The Heritage Collection will be released each Spring and feature some of their oldest inventory of aging whiskey.

Max L. Shapira, Heaven Hill president says:

Over many years, we have been quietly aging some exquisite whiskeys to be introduced under a new collection within our Heaven Hill Distillery portfolio. Of our 1.9 million barrels resting across six rickhouse sites, our master craftspeople have kept watchful eyes on this limited stock of special barrels and we are finally ready to release the first edition.

The first edition features the Heaven Hill bourbon mashbill comprised of 78% corn, 10% rye, and 12% malted barley, and bottled at a barrel proof of 118.2. Each bottle will be accompanied by a premium box in Heaven Hill blue with the double-H insignia stamped in gold to signify Heaven Hill. No price or state availability was provided. No price information was provided.

My Take

I wouldn't look to find this in Ohio unless it shows up on one of the State lotteries. I would also expect this to have a very high price tag... most likely in the thousands. While it's cool to have a 17 year bourbon, it's something that the vast vast majority of us will ever experience.

What do you think? Drop a note in the comments below.

Source: Heaven Hill