Old Fitzgerald and Elijah Craig might be familiar names. But do you know who makes them?
Heaven Hill Distillery is the family company behind many award-winning bourbons. It has powered Kentucky’s whiskey scene since 1935. Today, it is the largest independent distillery in America. It was even named Distiller of the Year for the second year running by Whisky Magazine in 2024.
This article will tell you the story behind the names on your shelf. Let’s take a closer look.
Where Is Heaven Hill Distillery?
Heaven Hill is based in Bardstown, Kentucky. Bardstown calls itself the Bourbon Capital of the World. The company’s main visitor center, the Heaven Hill Bourbon Experience, is here. This is where you can tour rickhouses, taste bourbon, and explore its history.
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The whiskey is distilled at the Bernheim Distillery in Louisville. Bernheim is about 45 minutes from Bardstown. After distillation, the whiskey travels back to Bardstown. It is aged in warehouses and bottled there.
In 2025, Heaven Hill opened the new Heaven Hill Springs Distillery in Bardstown. This brought active bourbon production back to its hometown for the first time since a fire in 1996 destroyed the original plant.
From One Barrel to Millions
Heaven Hill started in 1935, just after the end of Prohibition. Five brothers from the Shapira family invested in the new business. They partnered with Joseph L. Beam, a cousin of Jim Beam, as their first master distiller.
The Beam name often causes confusion. Heaven Hill is not owned by Jim Beam or Beam Suntory. It has always been privately owned by the Shapira family. However, Joseph L. Beam was instrumental in establishing the distillery and positioning it for later success.
The first distilled and matured product, Old Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond, was a hit. It became Kentucky’s top-selling bourbon in the mid-20th century. Over the decades, new brands like Evan Williams, Elijah Craig, and Old Fitzgerald joined the lineup.
In 1996, a fire destroyed the Bardstown distillery and 90,000 barrels of whiskey. Other Kentucky distilleries stepped in to help keep production going. In 1999, Heaven Hill bought the Bernheim Distillery in Louisville. This site became the company’s production home and still operates today.
The Heaven Hill Brands You Know
Heaven Hill produces a wide range of bourbons. Some are everyday staples. Others are rare and collectible.
Elijah Craig is a small batch bourbon that helped popularize the category. Its barrel proof editions are among the most sought after by enthusiasts.
Old Fitzgerald is a wheated bourbon with a long history. Heaven Hill releases luxury bottled-in-bond decanters twice a year. In 2025, the 19-year-old Very Very Special edition was named World’s Best Bourbon at the World Whiskies Awards.
Larceny is another wheated bourbon in the portfolio. It offers both small batch and barrel proof versions.
Henry McKenna Single Barrel is a 10-year bottled-in-bond bourbon. It became famous in 2019 when it was named Best Whiskey in the World at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition.
Evan Williams is one of the world’s best-selling bourbons. It includes entry-level bottles, bottled-in-bond expressions, and a single barrel series.
Heaven Hill also makes rye whiskeys like Rittenhouse and Pikesville, and Bernheim Original Wheat Whiskey. This mix shows the company’s ability to make quality whiskey across styles and price points.
Grain to Glass and Quality
Heaven Hill controls its whiskey from start to finish. Grain is milled, mashed, fermented, distilled, aged, and bottled under its own oversight. Traditional mashbills and charred new oak barrels remain central to the process. Aging warehouses in Bardstown hold more than two million barrels.
In 2024, Heaven Hill was named Distiller of the Year for the second year in a row at the Whisky Magazine American Icons of Whisky Awards. The company produces around 29 million proof gallons each year at Bernheim. That equals about 1,300 barrels a day. It is the largest independent American whiskey distillery in the world.
This scale gives Heaven Hill’s blenders a deep inventory to work with. It helps maintain consistency across its brands. It also allows for special releases and experiments without risking core products. Sustainability efforts include modern stills that save energy, waste reduction programs, and careful water management.
Is It Worth Visiting?
The Heaven Hill Bourbon Experience in Bardstown is a top destination on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. In 2022, it was named Global Visitor Attraction of the Year at the Whisky Magazine Icons of Whisky Awards.
The center offers interactive exhibits on bourbon history and the Shapira family. Guests can take guided tastings ranging from introductory to premium. The “You Do Bourbon” experience lets visitors bottle and label their own whiskey straight from the barrel.
Rickhouse tours are a highlight. Walking among the rows of aging barrels, you can smell the angel’s share in the air. The Five Brothers Bar and Kitchen serves cocktails and local dishes. The gift shop stocks a wide selection of Heaven Hill bottles, including some that are only available on site.
For bourbon fans, the mix of history, hands-on activities, and exclusive pours makes it well worth the trip.
Which Heaven Hill Bourbon Should You Try First?
For a classic bourbon profile, start with Elijah Craig Small Batch. It is rich, balanced, and widely available.
If you like high proof, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof delivers big flavor and complexity.
Fans of wheated bourbon should look for Larceny Barrel Proof or an Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond release. The latter can be expensive and limited, but it offers exceptional depth.
For bottled-in-bond traditionalists, Henry McKenna Single Barrel 10 Year or the Heaven Hill 7-Year Bottled-in-Bond are excellent choices.
Heaven Hill’s range covers every style and budget. It is easy to find a bottle that suits your taste, whether you want an affordable daily pour or a rare collectible.
The Lasting Legacy of Heaven Hill
Heaven Hill is more than a name on a bottle. It is a family-owned distillery with nearly a century of history, a deep inventory of aging whiskey, and a record of award-winning releases. From Old Fitzgerald to Elijah Craig, its brands cover every corner of the bourbon market. Whether you visit Bardstown or pour a glass at home, you are tasting a piece of Kentucky’s whiskey heritage.
