Heaven Hill Distillery has unveiled the Heaven Hill Master Distillers Unity, a limited edition expression meant to mark the opening of its new Heaven Hill Springs Distillery in Bardstown, Kentucky.

Heaven Hill has announced that the expression symbolizes a return to its roots in Bardstown where the company was founded in 1935. This new facility will operate alongside the company's existing operations at Bernheim in Louisville and its more than 70 aging warehouses spread across Nelson and Jefferson counties.

With a mashbill of 78% corn, 12% malted barley and 10% rye, the bourbon is described as being of a copper color with notes of sweetness, oak and spice on the nose. On the palate, it is said to have butterscotch, chocolate, caramel, pecans and toasted almonds, with a long oak and spice finish.

The bottling is a blend of whiskies with a unique connection to Heaven Hill's history. It includes whiskey from the last barrel produced at the original Old Heaven Hill Springs Distillery in 1991, distilled by the late Parker Beam and aged for 34 years.

This rare whiskey was blended with 14, 8, and 6-year-old bourbons distilled at the Bernheim Distillery by Beam, Denny Potter, and current Master Distiller Conor O’Driscoll.

The opening of the $200 million Heaven Hill Springs Distillery will be first distilling operation in Bardstown since 1996. The facility began production in April and will work alongside Bernheim Distillery in Louisville to increase its capacity.

The new Heaven Hill distillery is starting with a capacity of 150,000 barrels per year and has plans to expand this to 450,000 barrels. It features a 60-foot Vendome copper still that can produce over 33,000 proof gallons daily. The site also includes an in-house yeast propagation system and an onsite wastewater treatment system that generates renewable energy.

The new distillery is also designed with a focus on sustainability and efficiency. It features a 22-gallon beer system that reduces water consumption by 24,000 gallons daily, as well as LED lighting, insulated equipment, and integrated energy systems. The site also includes environmental elements such as restored white oak woodlands, prairie habitats, and stormwater basins.

The first barrel at the new distillery was filled in April by Charlie Downs, Master Distiller Emeritus and the only Heaven Hill employee to have worked at all four company distilleries.

The release of the Heaven Hill Master Distillers Unity consists of 27 barrels and will yield about 4,000 bottles bottled at 107 proof each, the original entry proof used at the Old Heaven Hill Springs Distillery. Each will be sold for an MSRP of USD$225.

 

Kanpai!

88 Bamboo Editorial Team