There are actually two different whiskies that make up the 2016 edition of Heaven Hill’s Parker’s Heritage Collection. Both are 24-year-old “bottled-in-bond” Bourbons, and here’s what makes the distinction important. Under US law, a “bottled-in-bond” whiskey must come from a single distilling season: either January 1-June 30 (“spring”) or July 1-December 31 (“fall”). After 24 years, there’s not much whiskey left in a Bourbon barrel – so Heaven Hill needed to use whiskies from two different distilling seasons to come close to meeting the demand for this annual release. The good thing is that this gives us a way to see just how different the two whiskies can be.

In this case, we’re discussing the Fall 1990 version. The nose is woody and aromatic with notes of oak, sandalwood, vanilla, caramel, pipe tobacco, and old leather. The taste is dry and peppery with black pepper, chili powder, molasses, caramel, and pipe tobacco. The finish is medium-length with subtle lingering spices and touches of caramel and molasses cookies. Very nice! (September, 2016)

Tasting notes for the Spring 1991 version are also available.