Overview: Heaven Hill is releasing a limited-edition Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey to mark the 30th anniversary of the 1996 fire that destroyed its original distillery. The release, named Phoenix, combines an 18-year-old spirit with whiskey from the pre-fire era to honor the event and the resilience of the brand.
The Full Story
Heaven Hill is launching a tribute to the former Old Heaven Hill Springs Distillery with this one-time release. In 1996, lightning struck the facility, causing an inferno that burned to the ground and destroyed around 100,000 aging barrels. To honor this event, the brand added 30-year-old whiskey distilled at Old Heaven Hill Springs Distillery to connect it to the event. The award-winning distillery is releasing this limited-edition bourbon as a Phoenix rises from the ashes, noting that a new distillery was built after the recovery.
The spirit begins with an 18-year-old Kentucky bourbon distilled in March 2007 and matured in heavy-char American oak casks. It is blended with 30-year-old whiskey from the original distillery to create a complex 107-proof whiskey. Aromas open with charred oak, cinnamon candy, nutmeg, and caramel. Sipping reveals notes of butterscotch, toffee, cinnamon, baked apples, and oak. The finish is long and warm, ending with apple pie and cracked black pepper.
Brand & Industry History
Max L. Shapira, Executive Chairman and second-generation family owner of Heaven Hill Distillery, stated the fire brought tremendous loss but showed resolve to move forward together. Conor O’Driscoll, Master Distiller at Heaven Hill Distiller, noted that the determination that carried them through the fire lives on in Phoenix. The brand emphasizes bridging that pivotal moment in their past with an ongoing commitment to producing exceptional, ultra-aged whiskeys.
What This Means
Max L. Shapira added that the spirit of adaptability and shared purpose continues to guide Heaven Hill today. Conor O’Driscoll explained that Heaven Hill Phoenix balances the mature oak and length of its 30-year-old component with the structure of 18-year-old Bourbon aged in heavy-char oak. The release honors employees, community members and industry partners who refused to let a single night define generations of craftsmanship.
Consumer Takeaway
Heaven Hill Phoenix will be available online beginning this month for the suggested retail price of $325 for a 750ml bottle. It can also be purchased at the Heaven Hill Bourbon Experience in Bardstown, Kentucky.
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