Each Spring Heaven Hill goes all out to make America go on a mad chase - they release their Heritage Collection expression. This year we'll see an 18 Year Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey.

The 2024 bottling comes from 133 barrels that were distilled in December 2005, using a mashbill of 78% Corn, 12% Malted Barley and 10% Rye, which follows the producer's Bourbons including Evan Williams, Henry McKenna and Elijah Craig. The barrels were aged on the third floor of Rickhouse 1I and under the constellation Ursa Major.

“We now have over 2 million barrels aging,... Rickhouse 1I is 12 stories, it’s almost 100 years old, it’s a large brick and concrete building. It’s got 80,000 barrels aging, and it’s particularly good at aging older whiskeys. When you taste this 18-year-old, it’s remarkably soft and subtle and gentle, and there is no overpowering wood.” says Master Distiller Conor O’Driscoll.

“The Heaven Hill Heritage Collection is released in the Spring, and Parker’s comes out in the Fall,... The Heritage Collection is more classic, more traditional. We’re not doing weird mash bills or new barrel finishes. Whereas Parker’s is a lot more innovative. So you will see different barrel finishes, different chars, different mashbills.” adds O'Driscoll.

The new 18 Year Old Heritage Collection Bourbon will see massive lines of eager buyers in March 2024, and will be bottled at 120 Proof (60% ABV) - talk about a big boy! Heaven Hill did however mention that the initial proof from the barrel was above 150 proof.

It will retail at an MSRP of US$299.99. 

Kanpai!

88 Bamboo Editorial Team