Parker’s Heritage Collection 12th Edition: Bourbon Finished in Orange Curaçao Barrels
55% ABV
$90
Website
What the Distiller Says
Heaven Hill Distillery has announced the 2018 limited-edition release of Parker’s Heritage Collection, which is comprised of Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey finished in orange curaçao barrels. This is the 12th edition of the collection and the second time Heaven Hill has partnered with Master Blender Alain Royer to create a barrel-finished offering.
As the second barrel finished edition of the series, this edition continues to pave the way for innovation at Heaven Hill Distillery. This 7 to 8-year-old Bourbon has been aged in the upper floors of Rickhouse Q and finished for four months in barrels that previously aged French orange curaçao liqueur. It is bottled without chill filtration at 110 proof.
Tasting Notes
Nose: Pepper, dried fruit, oak and vanilla
Taste: Spicy citrus, nutmeg, caramel & hints of honey
Finish: Strong, top of mouth, silky, toasted toffee
The past five editions of Parker’s Heritage Collection have raised more than $1 million toward ALS research and patient care.
Heaven Hill will continue this legacy and contribute a portion of proceeds from each bottle sold of this year’s release to the ALS Association.
With every past edition of Parker’s Heritage Collection quickly selling out, the company expects to generate a significant amount of money for ALS research in Parker’s memory.
What Gary Says
Nose: Orange gummy candies, oak, bright vanilla and honey.
Palate: Vanilla and orange cream, sharpening with a pepper spice , oak and orange bitters note
Finish: Moderate in length, drying with fading orange bitters.
Comments: To start with, I’m not “anti-finish” when it comes to bourbon. I get the view from purists that the definition of bourbon means no adding flavor, which certainly happens when you finish in a cask that held some other spirit. But as long as someone is transparent around “This is bourbon that we’re finishing in something else” – I think it is great for the category and opens up a lot of innovative possibilities. All that said, this particular offering struck me as ‘over-finished’. When I initially nosed it, I wouldn’t have called it out as bourbon necessarily. On the palate, it is more nuanced, and while you can’t miss the orange, it isn’t as overpowering. But on the nose it really dominated for me, which was disappointing. All that said, it isn’t off-putting in any way, and I enjoyed sipping it. I found it drinks incredibly easily for 110 proof (I’d have guessed this to be under 100 proof).