Here’s the latest bourbon news actually worth your attention.
Heaven Hill Distillery just dropped their 90th Anniversary Limited Edition, and unlike a lot of the milestone releases getting pushed out lately, this one actually means something.
Nine decades of family ownership in a category that’s now dominated by global groups isn’t common.
They’ve just been around, doing their thing, the whole way through.
The News Behind the Numbers
They filled 204 barrels on December 13, 2015 - their 80th anniversary.
Aged 9 years and 8 months. Bottled at 107 proof. Non chill-filtered.
But the interesting bit is the entry proof.
These went into barrel at 107. That’s well below where Heaven Hill usually sits.
Lower entry proof generally means less dilution up front, which can carry more weight and texture through the ageing. It’s not something they do often, so it’s worth paying attention to.
Why the Barrel Math Matters
70% Level 3 char, 30% Level 4 “alligator char”.
That heavier char brings more depth, darker sugars, a bit more grip, a bit more push from the oak. Not typically where Heaven Hill leans, which is what makes this one a bit different.
Then warehouse placement - floors four and six.
Top floor for heat and extraction, mid-floor to keep it in check. Fairly classic approach, but it’s done with intent.
The Bottom Line
This isn’t one of those releases where the story does all the heavy lifting.
They’ve pulled a few different levers here - entry proof, char mix, warehouse position - and it looks like they’ve actually tried to build something around the anniversary, not just label it.
That’s the kind of release we would all love to see on our shores.
Source: Bourbon Culture
