Review #: 555
Description: Heaven Hill Heritage 20 Year Corn Whiskey
Spirit: Corn Whiskey
Background:
Heaven Hill typically puts out their heritage release each spring. This is their opportunity to show off some of the less standard mashbills they produce as well as what high age can do for them. The 2023 release uses their 80% corn, 12% malted barley, and 8% rye and likely aged in used barrels, as this is technically corn whiskey and not bourbon. It was aged for 20 years before bottling at cask strength. Produced on October 21st, 2002 it was aged in Warehouse 1K, which is a brick rickhouse.
This was tasted blind and notes were made prior to reveal, so keep that in mind while reading.
Distillery – Heaven Hill
Bottler – Heaven Hill
Brand – Heaven Hill
Selection – N/A
ABV – 57.5%
Age – 20 Years
Nose – Oh man, roasted coffee beans, dark fruit – stewed plums and cherries, smoked chocolate, touch of honey, slight roasted corn sweetness. Smells like when you walk into a rickhouse with that earthy charred wood and light sweetness
Taste – Cinnamon chip pancakes with maple syrup, luxardo cherries, brown sugar, rich caramel, milk chocolate
Finish – Tons of sweet oak, chocolate, cooked apple with cinnamon, tobacco, carrot cake
Guess: Really not sure on this one. Going to guess around 10 years, 60% bourbon. I don’t know beyond the fact it’s delicious
Score: 8
Would I buy a bottle? $290 Is spicy. I don’t think I would be able to pull the trigger but I don’t think one would be disappointed if they did buy it.
Thoughts: Oh man was this good. Everything you want to taste in a bourbon. Complex, oak and fruit sweetness with a long lasting finish of sweet spice and warmth. Very interested in this reveal.