Heaven Hill

Shortly after Prohibition ended in the United States, Heaven Hill Distilleries, Inc., was founded in Bardstown, Kentucky by the Shapira family to produce and market Bourbon and premium American whiskeys. At the time, it was as speculative a new business venture as the dot com start-ups of the 1990’s — a company founded with no brands, no available stocks of whiskey, and at the height of the Great Depression. Today, the company is the largest independent, family-owned and operated producer and marketer of distilled spirits in the country. According to industry analysts, Heaven Hill is now the seventh largest spirits supplier in the United States and second largest holder of aging Bourbon whiskey in the world with an inventory in excess of 1,000,000 barrels.

In 2014, the company changed names to Heaven Hill Brands. The name and a logo capture the company’s evolution from a leader in American Whiskey production – a position it continues to hold today – to the nation’s sixth-largest distilled spirits supplier. Over the last three decades Heaven Hill has built on its foundation of American Whiskeys to become a broadly diversified supplier of whiskeys, liqueurs, vodkas, rums and other spirits. Heaven Hill’s portfolio includes the world’s second-largest selling Bourbon, Evan Williams Bourbon, and category leaders Christian Brothers Brandy, Burnett’s Vodka and Admiral Nelson’s Rum. The portfolio also includes a growing line of leading imported brands from around the world, such as Hpnotiq and Domaine de Canton liqueurs. Likewise, the company has a stable of innovative brands including PAMA Liqueur, Blackheart Spiced Rum and Evan Williams Flavors. Brands are identified and developed to take advantage of the many, varied consumer tastes and are sold domestically and worldwide in more than 40 countries through innovative and aggressive marketing and sales initiatives.

In stark contrast to the unpredictable and ever-consolidating spirits industry, Heaven Hill remains fiercely independent, guided by the steady hands of the Shapira family. The company is dedicated to establishing long-term relationships with their customers in order to build strong brands and implement consistent, effective programming. Independence, quality and integrity define Heaven Hill Distilleries, Inc., a company committed to producing and marketing the highest quality spirits products worldwide.

The Whiskyphiles tasting notes

official bottling

Bernheim Original Kentucky Straight Wheat Whiskey (2018) - Bernheim Original Kentucky Straight Wheat Whiskey Review: Slightly less complex than Bourbon, this wheat based whiskey has a softer, sweet and slightly spiced nature. Quite tasty and nutty with cereal elements add a bakery style / sweetie shop mixture. Very pleasant. 83/100
Elijah Craig 12 Years Old (2016) - Elijah Craig 12 Years Old (47%, OB, 2016) Category: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Origin: Heaven Hill Distillery Bottling: Heaven Hill ABV: 47% Cost: £34.67 What They Say: Bottled exclusively from a dumping […]
Elijah Craig Small Batch Bourbon (2017) - Oddly we sampled this completely independently of the 12 year stock bottle that we are still nursing at home and came away much less impressed. I'm not sure how much batch variation there is but the previous bottling had much more depth and complexity and evidence of well-aged Bourbon present. 81/100
Elijah Craig Small Batch Bourbon (2020) - Elijah Craig Small Batch Bourbon Whisky Review: Another sample at Elijah Craig small batch and yet further disappointment, sadly this just doesn't cut it like the 12yo did. 78/100
Evan Williams Black Label Bourbon (2017) - A pleasant enough Bourbon with hints of spice and mint, plenty of Corn and Rye grain influences. Less wood influence than I like in my Bourbon or would prefer but pretty solid nonetheless. 80/100
Evan Williams White Label (2023) - Presented at a higher ABV I enjoyed this much more than Evan Williams Black Label, there is plenty of peppery nature to it and a depth of sweetness to keep it interesting. 83/100
Henry McKenna 10 Year Old Single Barrel (2016) - Henry McKenna 10 Year Old Single Barrel (50%, OB, 2016) Category: Kentucky straight bourbon Origin: Heaven Hill Distillery Bottling: Henry Mckenna ABV: 50% Cost £72.00 What they say: In 1837, a young […]
Larceny Kentucky Straight Bourbon (2018) - John E. Fitzgerald Larceny Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Review: A complex nose but much more straight-forward on the full-bodied palate, creamy and sweet and plenty of cedar wood. 86/100
Old Fitzgerald 12 Years Old (2015) - Old Fitzgerald 12 Years Old ~ 45% (Heaven Hill) Bourbon American Whiskey 45% ABV, £40 for 70cl Score 86/100 What they say: Old Fitzgerald is a brand of sour mash bourbon currently […]

Independent Bottling

That Boutique-Y whisky company

Heaven Hill 9 Years Old American Whiskey Batch 1 (2020) - Heaven Hill 9 Years Old American Whiskey whisky review: Too spicy initially on the palate, a little too oily/buttery and really not sweet enough for my liking. 75/100
Heaven Hill 9 Years Old Straight Corn Whiskey Batch 1 (2020) - Heaven Hill 9 Years Old Straight Corn Whiskey Batch 1 Whisky Review: Light in spirit but with a heavy cask influence, still a little corn syrupy, light fruit and sparkling pepper spices becomes a lot creamier and sweeter with a splash of water. 82/100

The Single Cask

Heaven Hill 10 Years Old 2009 The Single Cask (2020) - Heaven Hill 10 Years Old 2009 Whisky Review: Closed and a little difficult at cask strength, a little water softens and opens up this one. Plenty of caramel and a hint of fruit but overall this is very palate-neutral. 76/100