Bourbon

Whiskey Review: Parker’s Heritage (2017)

We review the 2017 Parker's Heritage release. This year's commemorates the late Parker Beam with an 11-year-old bourbon drawn from his favorite rickhouse.

OVERALL RATING

9
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Heaven Hill 2017 Parker's Heritage Collection

Tasting Notes

About:

11 years old, 122 proof. Single barrel release. Suggested retail pricing $129.99.
Appearance:
Dusky chestnut
Nose:
At first, the nose appears a little bit closed—soft vanilla and cream soda atop a deep backdrop of polished oak. After a few minutes, a richer, darker side begins to reveal itself. There’s char and smoke, caramel and dark spice, and just-the-right-edge-of-burnt popcorn, like a wood-powered kettlecorn machine. A little more nosing reveals a gentle suggestion of something fruity—concord grape, maybe?—and a warm note of sandalwood. A few drops of water increases the amplitude of the aroma, bringing out dill, fruit salad, and toasted grain.
Palate:
Deeply roasty, with lovely rich notes of char, roasted corn, citrus pith, sandalwood, toasted nuts, leather, and smoke. The finish is long and warming, with a nice raisin-like quality. Again, a little water opens up things considerably, bringing out some sweetness as well as bitter orange, lemon zest, more caramel and spice, and an almost sherried nuttiness. It reminds me a little of a Manhattan cocktail made with amaro instead vermouth.
Finish:
Comments:
Powerful, elegant, complete, and intentional, this bourbon isn’t flashy, but the marketing materials are spot on: “The sixth-generation Master Distiller would have described these bottles as ‘just good bourbon.’” A fitting tribute to a lost friend from Heaven Hill.

Editor’s Note: This whiskey was either bought as a sample by The Whiskey Wash or provided to us as a review sample by the party behind it. Per our editorial policies, this in no way influenced the outcome of this review.

Margarett Waterbury

Margarett Waterbury is the author of "Scotch: A Complete Introduction to Scotland's Whiskies" and a full-time freelance writer and editor specializing in the beverage industry. Her work has graced the pages of numerous publications, including Whisky Advocate, Food and Wine, Spirited Magazine, Artisan Spirit, Edible Seattle, Sip Northwest, Civil Eats, Travel Oregon, and many others. She also boasts editorial experience as the former managing editor of Edible Portland and as a co-founder and former managing editor of The Whiskey Wash. In recognition of her talent, Margarett received the Alan Lodge Young Drinks Writer of the Year award in 2017 and was awarded fellowships for the Symposium for Professional Wine Writers in 2017 and 2019.

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