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Bourbon

Heaven Hill Heritage Collection 17-Year-Old Barrel Proof Bourbon

$274.99

OVERALL
RATING

8

Whiskey Review: Heaven Hill Heritage Collection 17-Year-Old Barrel Proof Bourbon

Tasting Notes:

About:
Bottled at barrel proof of 118.2. Mash bill of 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley. Aged 17 years, made up of 28% 20-year-old, 44% 19-year-old, and 28% 17-year-old barrels. Limited release with an SRP of $274.99/750ml.
Appearance:
Deep amber
Nose:
Maple, vanilla, cherry, oak and leather – classic bourbon flavors that don’t stray too far from ordinary.
Palate:
Wood and subtle sweetness. There’s a rich, warming heat that coats the palate. The whiskey is pithy, with notes of cherry, marshmallow, and dark chocolate.
Finish:
Comments:
This is a fine whiskey! It’s classic and warm, like staying in a wood cabin in the forest during a winter storm. It’ll be best shared around a fire, and I’ll prefer to drink it neat, because while it is fairly simple, it’s simple in a way I enjoy. There’s some comfort in familiarity.

Editor’s Note: This whiskey was provided to us as a review sample by Heaven Hill. This in no way, per our editorial policies, influenced the final outcome of this review. It should also be noted that by clicking the buy link towards the bottom of this review our site receives a small referral payment which helps to support, but not influence, our editorial and other costs.

Boasting popular brands such as Elijah Craig and Evan Williams, Heaven Hill Distillery has solidified their family-owned business as a powerhouse of American bourbon. Heaven Hill Distillery is the fourth largest supplier of distilled spirits in the United States, and has remained a family business for over 85 years.

Now releasing their new Heaven Hill Heritage Collection, the distillery will delve into some of their oldest inventory of aging whiskey to produce high-end expressions under the family name. Master Distiller Max L. Shapira says of the release, “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.”

A new whiskey from the Heaven Hill Heritage Collection will be released annually every spring. The first of these is the 17-Year-Old Barrel Proof Kentucky State Bourbon Whiskey. This features the Heaven Hill Bourbon mash bill composed of 78% corn, 10% rye, and 12% malted barley, pulled from several barrels aged 17-20 years.

With a slightly higher price tag, this whiskey has a nice flavor profile, but it doesn’t exactly rise too high above similar bourbons. While Heaven Hill produces some of the most popular whiskeys in the United States, I appreciate the move toward a release under the distillery’s name. There may be a bit of reliance upon familiarity, but this first release from the Heritage Collection is enjoyable and pleasantly sippable.

Heaven Hill Heritage Collection 17-Year-Old Barrel Proof Bourbon review
Heaven Hill Heritage Collection 17-Year-Old Barrel Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (image via Heaven Hill)

Tasting Notes: Heaven Hill Heritage Collection 17-Year-Old Barrel Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Vital Stats: Bottled at barrel proof of 118.2. Mash bill of 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley. Aged 17 years, made up of 28% 20-year-old, 44% 19-year-old, and 28% 17-year-old barrels. Limited release with an SRP of $274.99/750ml.

Appearance: Deep amber

Nose: Maple, vanilla, cherry, oak and leather – classic bourbon flavors that don’t stray too far from ordinary.

Palate: Wood and subtle sweetness. There’s a rich, warming heat that coats the palate. The whiskey is pithy, with notes of cherry, marshmallow, and dark chocolate.

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