Overview: Heaven Hill has released Heaven Hill Phoenix, a limited-edition, one-time release that blends 18-year-old Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey with 30-year-old whiskey from pre-1996 stock. The product is priced at $325 per bottle and originates from the Bardstown, Kentucky distillery site.
The Full Story
Thirty years after a fire tore through its original distillery, Heaven Hill is bottling some of the whiskey that survived. On November 7, 1996, lightning is believed to have sparked a fire at Heaven Hill’s original distillery in Bardstown, Kentucky. Wind-driven flames destroyed the 1935 distillery and seven rickhouses, consuming nearly 100,000 barrels of aging bourbon. The loss of whiskey and facilities was later valued at $30 million.
Max L. Shapira, executive chairman and second-generation family owner of Heaven Hill, said in the release that “the fire brought tremendous loss, but it also showed the resolve of the people who chose to move forward together.” The Kentucky distillery released Heaven Hill Phoenix as a commemoration of resilience following the November 7, 1996 fire.
Production & Profile
Phoenix starts with 18-year-old bourbon produced in March 2008 and matured in heavily charred barrels. The 30-year-old whiskey from the original distillery, Old Heaven Hill Springs, is blended into that base. It is bottled at 107 proof.
Matthew Allyn, Inc.’s resident whiskey expert, had a chance to taste the bourbon and called it “a real showstopper.”“The aroma pours out of the glass—you can smell the rich, dusty oak at an arm’s length. The big barrel notes are joined by toasty pastries and caramel with a hint of peach,” Allyn said, adding, “on the palate, the oak leans into a spicy cinnamon with a pleasant backing heat that develops into cherry, very dark chocolate, earthy leather, and licorice. The high-age lends a dry, pleasant tannic finish like a great red wine.”
Brand & Industry History
The original distillery fire occurred on November 7, 1996, consuming nearly 100,000 barrels valued at $30 million. The event marked the destruction of the 1935 distillery and seven rickhouses at the Bardstown location.
What This Means
This release commemorates three decades of resilience following the original distillery fire. The limited-edition, one-time release status highlights the survival of whiskey made before the 1996 fire.
Consumer Takeaway
This bottle offers a connection to the past through pre-1996 stock blended with 18-year-old bourbon matured in heavily charred barrels. The release is available at $325 per bottle and represents a one-time opportunity to own whiskey from the original distillery site.
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