Earlier this 12 months, Heaven Hill dropped three distinctive expressions that take a step away from the distillery’s current product line — with new mashbills and an method that focuses foremost on the underlying grains. The launch of the Heaven Hill Grain to Glass collection consists of three Kentucky whiskeys (no less than to begin), together with a straight (rye-heavy) bourbon, wheated bourbon, and rye — throughout 6 years outdated. (All three of those samples have been distilled in 2017, so they might be as much as 7 years outdated.)
Let’s enable Heaven Hill to provide us the deets:
The craft nature of this distinctive line of Whiskeys begins on the very starting – the seed. The concept for the road started over 8 years in the past because the brainchild of Heaven Hill Government Chairman Max Shapira. Max’s ardour for high quality and transparency in whiskey-making result in a partnership with seed firm Beck’s Hybrids – a fellow family-owned and lead operation primarily based in Indiana since 1937. Annually, our Grasp Distiller works with Beck’s Hybrids at hand choose a novel corn seed varietal that has particular attributes fascinating for Heaven Hill Grain to Glass, considered one of which is selecting seed which is greatest suited to development in Central Kentucky. The chosen corn seed varietal is then grown by Peterson Farms on considered one of two websites in Nelson County, considered one of which is instantly throughout the road from Heaven Hill’s Bardstown facility. Peterson Farms, a multi-generational household farming firm, has been entrusted to take the corn seed varietal and domesticate it into wholesome grain that goes into the Heaven Hill Grain to Glass mashbills. Since its founding in 1935, Heaven Hill has prided itself on crafting the very best high quality Kentucky Whiskeys. Heaven Hill Grain to Glass honors this legacy and the cherished partnerships which have been constructed on handshakes, not contracts.
“Over the course of the practically 90 years, for the reason that founding of Heaven Hill by my Dad and his brothers, we’ve all the time been cognizant of viewing our enterprise from the long run, creating merchandise that match into this broad imaginative and prescient,” mentioned Heaven Hill Government Chairman Max Shapira. “Heaven Hill Grain to Glass incorporates every little thing our lengthy historical past and heritage brings to our producing what we consider is essentially the most distinctive, clear providing that we’ve dropped at market in our total historical past. And that’s saying lots.”
The Bourbon and Wheated Bourbon Whiskeys characteristic mashbills with increased secondary grain content material than Heaven Hill’s conventional Bourbon mashbill and Wheated Bourbon mashbill. Bottled at 107 proof, the Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey expression is comprised of 52% corn, 35% rye and 13% malted barley. Bottled at 121 proof, the Kentucky Straight Wheated Bourbon Whiskey expression is made with 52% corn, 35% wheat and 13% malted barley. The Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey expression is bottled at 123.2, the one barrel proof expression of the collection. It additionally encompasses a increased rye content material than Heaven Hill’s conventional Rye Whiskey mashbill consisting of 63% rye, 24% corn and 13% malted barley. The distillates have been aged over six years at Heaven Hill’s Cox’s Creek rickhouse website. Every product is non-chill filtered and bottled on the supreme proof to permit the traits of every distinctive mashbill to shine.
“Working with Beck’s and Peterson Farms to create Grain to Glass has been an unbelievable expertise,” mentioned Grasp Distiller Conor O’Driscoll. “We’re proud to have crafted an revolutionary product – taking it from seed to aged liquid – whereas nonetheless remaining true to the values and legacy of Heaven Hill Distillery.”
Properly, I’m excited. Let’s see how all that pans out.
Heaven Hill Grain to Glass Straight Bourbon – 52% corn, 35% rye, 13% malted barley. Fairly toasty and oaky, with fragrant overtones of roasted grains, combined recent herbs (significantly rosemary), and pink apple skins. Some nutty walnut shell components come up with time in glass, together with a considerable tobacco leaf high quality. Fairly hearty on the palate, with a considerable peanut high quality mixing with apple and spice notes — virtually like applesauce. The oak stays robust right here, as does the rye affect, ultimately giving the whiskey an intensely grassy high quality and an natural pop. There’s loads of lingering peanut butter pushing effectively into the end, together with a wholesome grind of black pepper and a reprise of clove-heavy baking spice. Very a lot a frontier-style whiskey that lets the grain do the speaking. 107 proof. B / $100
Heaven Hill Grain to Glass Wheated Bourbon – 52% corn, 35% wheat, 13% malted barley. Fairly a distinct animal, and instantly far more approachable and engaging. The nostril options muted spices in opposition to an immersive backdrop of honey butter, fresh-cut grass, and cracked black pepper. More and more nutty because the whiskey develops in glass, however wholly missing any overt oakiness. The palate is good and, once more, loaded with peanut butter and honey notes, with any sense of wooden all however hidden away. A lightweight layer of baking spice lingers over a delicate top-note of toasted marshmallow, as a warming warmth soothes the throat, evoking notes of scorching cocoa. Only a contact of char on the end. This isn’t a very complicated bourbon, however it’s a pleasant alternative for cocktailing — or for deep-diving into what wheated bourbon is all about. I’m not alone right here, as that is the one whiskey within the assortment that’s seeing its value being pushed up. 121 proof. A- / $150
Heaven Hill Grain to Glass Rye – 63% rye, 24% corn, 13% malted barley. Take the pungency of the straight bourbon above and double it, and also you’re within the realm of this rye. The nostril is a pushy powerhouse, intensely natural and peppery, like strolling via a discipline of just-cut inexperienced grass — backed up by a lumberyard that’s been evenly torched across the edges. No surprises on the palate: The influence of the rye is heavy and quick, and all-encompassing. Most of the bourbon’s similar taste components seem right here however in variations, most of them scorching on the tongue: Rosemary and thyme, burnt pie crust, closely browned butter, and only a ton of cloves and black pepper to shut issues out. Whereas the bourbon hints at fruit components, the rye doesn’t, tamping them down into near-oblivion. It’s as aggressive a rye as you’ll encounter round these elements — and if the concept was to let the grain do all of the speaking, that has succeeded admirably. 123.2 proof. B / $100
Heaven Hill Grain to Glass Wheated Bourbon
$150
