Heaven Hill Just Dropped Its Most Anticipated Bourbon of the Year

When it comes to Kentucky-based whiskey companies, few can rival Heaven Hill. The family-owned business has the second-largest bourbon inventory on the planet, making and distributing Elijah Craig, Evan Williams, Henry McKenna, Larceny, Old Fitzgerald, Parker's Heritage Collection, and many more. Still, there are only so many releases the brand throws the actual Heaven Hill name on.

Of those few bottlings, the most exciting is the Heaven Hill Heritage Collection. The highly limited annual release features some of the distillery’s oldest whiskey, as well as one of its six traditional American whiskey mashbills. This year, the Heaven Hill Heritage Collection 18-Year-Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey comprises 78 percent corn, 12 percent malted barley, and 10 percent rye, and is bottled at 120 proof. To create this exceptionally rare bourbon, the company pulled 133 barrels, sealed in December 2005, from the third floor of Rickhouse 1I.

“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 Heaven Hill 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.”

On the nose, the whiskey offers aromas of dried flowers, black tea, and oak, alongside hints of toasted almond. The palate features initial flavors of vanilla and caramel, followed by notes of leather, pepper, and orange oil. The finish is long, warm, and dry, with lots of spice.

Much like the brand’s Bottled-in-Bond release, the whiskey arrives in a Heaven Hill blue box featuring the distillery seal. The bourbon’s specific attributes, such as warehouse site location, production date, and mashbill percentages are also featured on the packaging.

The Heaven Hill Heritage Collection 18-Year-Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey is available now for $300 at select retailers.

The Heaven Hill Heritage Collection Aged 18 Years is delicious—and exceedingly rare.

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