Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/1050740
90 / the tasting panel / november 2018 REPORT whiskey Connoisseurs would agree that good whiskey can't be rushed, and from the moment of its creation, the Kentucky-based Heaven Hill Distillery has refused to take shortcuts in its quest to produce high-quality expressions. After Prohibition ended, a group of distillers approached a man named Ed Shapira and his brothers about investing in their distillery. When they ran into financial difficulties, the Shapiras bought the fledgling distillery outright despite its lack of barrel inventory, warehousing operation, and actual brand to sell. More than 80 years later, they now produce one of the best-selling American whiskey portfolios in the industry. Standards set in place by Earl Beam and his son Parker, both of whom served as Master Distillers for most of Heaven Hill's history, laid the foundation for a thriving distillery built on patience and perseverance. As a staple in the Kentucky spirits industry, Heaven Hill has worked with the same family-owned farms for decades to source grains for its whiskeys. Distilled in 60-foot column stills, the spirits rest in barrels made by cooperages Heaven Hill has also partnered with for years. These barrels are stored in one of the company's six rickhouse campuses, all of which are located between Bardstown and Louisville. Heaven Hill's portfolio comprises every major style of American whiskey: wheated bourbon, rye, wheat whiskey, and corn whiskey. Beyond household names like Evan Williams, Elijah Craig, and Larceny, the distillery also produces special releases like the Parker's Heritage Collection; arriving annually, the label honors its longtime Master Distiller, who died in early 2017 after a valiant fight against ALS. A portion of the proceeds from each bottle sold supports ALS research and patient care. No matter its style or type, each expression Heaven Hill produces follows the same rigorous standards that have elevated America's whiskey industry since the brand's founding in 1935. HEAVEN HILL Worth the Wait: Heaven Hill Distillery