Review

Notes: For the sake of clarity, an explanation/contrast is necessary here.A Taxonomy and short history, so to speak.
Heaven Hill has a very large portfolio and is always releasing more interesting whiskies on a regular basis. There are the Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Releases four times a year, The Larceny Barrel Proof Release ( usually four times a year), The Bernheim Wheat Whiskey releases ( twice a year), The Old Fitzgerald Bottled in Bond series releases (twice a year). These are fairly straightforward. The  Heaven Hill Heritage vs. The Parker Heritage is slightly less so. Simple explanation;

The Parker Heritage Collection is more innovative/experimental in its focus, featuring a new type of whiskey, aging or treatment/aging. The Heaven Hill Heritage Collection is just that – Heritage and long-term aged select releases of their whiskey stocks – usually well beyond the usual aging period for a given whiskey. These are whiskies that were selected and shepherded to be the Methusalahs of their particular line and distinguished by their quality and taste. These are usually once-a-year events. Both are usually highly allocated and hard to find.
This is one of those bottles -The 2025 Release.

Geeky Details :
Mashbill: One of Heaven Hills’ traditional recipes ( there are six). This is their wheat whiskey mashbill. 51%Wheat, 37% Corn, 12% Malted Barley. Bottled at 100 proof.
Barrels and Aging: 277 barrels were produced in August and September 2005 and aged on the 5th and 6th floors of Rickhouse Y.
At 19 years old, the oldest wheat whiskey they have released.

Appearance: A reddish gold shift due to age is a welcoming sight. Whiskey starts to shift from yellow to gold and finally to a red tinge due to long aging in a charred barrel. Clear honey-like appearance. It leaves a thin, even coat on swirling with a highly symmetrical formation of tears along the meniscus (edgeline)at first, then slowly receding back into the glass. Shows a well-integrated spirit and careful distillation and cut choices.

First Impression: Understated and subtle, seasoned oak (like grandfathers woodworking shop), with base floral and honeyed notes, notes reminiscent of Djarum Kreteks, mace, allspice, and Ceylon Cinnamon

Taste: Grain and oak come across immediately ( in a nice way ), sweet, then drying like a good myrrh. Cloves, Oak char, leather, and Balkan tobacco note with an assortment of spices.Pleasantly sweet in a subdued way, then drying with a nicely lingering and long finish with a ghost of grain and oak. Nicely done ! Very smooth for a wheat whisky- wheat is a challenging grain at times.

Drinks: Glencairn, NEAT,Riedel, or similar proper nosing and tasting glass only, please. Of course, you can add a small amount of decent water ( slightly warmed) to release the spirit’s delightful nuances even more.
Given the price (($299.99), I would hesitate to use it for mixing experiments – use the cheaper stuff!

Bottle: I can’t comment as we did not receive a production bottle. If we ever figure out how to access their press release and photo links, we’ll try to post at least one of their pictures!

Other: Please check our other links to many other Heaven Hill whiskey lines. Search by the name of whiskey ( Elijah Craig, Larceny, Bernheim, Old Fitzgerald, etc.) under our search function!

Final Thoughts: A smooth, seductive whiskey for those willing to slip out of your usual comfort zones for a whiskey ( referring to bourbon, rye, scotch, etc., ) to explore a new whiskey and mashbill.I highly recommend it if you can both afford it and get your hands on it.

Website: www.heavenhill.com

Fast loading and easy to navigate. This is one of the most comprehensive bourbon (or any other spirit, for that matter) websites I have come across – and that is saying a lot! Extensive information and good pictures of how bourbon is made, the distillery, the bourbon heritage with reviews and ratings by different people and organizations of the different vintage years. Also the most extensive store of bourbon-related gear and accessories in the industry.