Heaven Hill Select Stock 9 Year Malt
Kentucky Straight Malt Whiskey
59.7% ABV
$150
Website
What the Bottle Says
Mashbill: 51% Malt, 49% Corn
Rickhouse: MM
Special Characteristics: Our Master Distiller selected this limited offering of 9 year-old Small Batch Malt Whiskey to have a unique mashbill with 51% Malt resulting in a smoky, sweet flavor with a long, lingering finish.
What Gary Says
Nose: Malty, dark fruit notes of raisins and blackcurrants, smokey, hint of cedar and honeysuckle.
Palate: Rich mouthfeel, sweet and fruity with plums, berries, peaches, anise, cloves and cinnamon.
Finish: Moderate to long, drying, fruity with baking spices.
Comments: Very different whiskey. If you’re a fan of scotch – this isn’t that (but some similarities). If you’re a fan of bourbon – this isn’t that (but again, some similarities). The whiskey is really dark in the glass, and with a bit of water the nose opens up with orchard fruits like peaches and pears, and the palate thickens more and also brings out some peaches and apples. My dad and I took the opportunity to partake in the Heaven Hill offering of “You Do Bourbon” during our Bardstown trip in April 2024. For $40 a person (plus taxes & service fees, all told it was about $46 and change per) you get to hear a bit about Heaven Hill’s history and mashbills – and get to taste Elijah Craig barrel proof, Larceny barrel proof, Bernheim Wheat whiskey barrel proof, and a ‘special selection’ which varies. If you like what you tried, you have the opportunity to bottle your own bottle (1 bottle per person). It isn’t a ‘single barrel’, but rather an ‘exclusive batch’ that you can only get there. And if you buy the ‘special offering’ – you can only buy one – period! Even if you were to buy another tour ticket for the next day – they restrict that mainly to deter ‘flippers’. Anyways – my dad and I both were really impressed with this 9 year malt whiskey, and he bought a bottle and was nice enough to let me bring a sample home. I wound up buying the Elijah Craig Barrel Proof as that stood out as a really nice pour – better than I recalled many of the retail batches (although I really wanted one of these too). Crossing my fingers he won’t drink it all before I get up to visit at the holidays!
Gary! You neglected to mention just how easy this particularly unique ‘Malt Whiskey’ is to drink. Man! If anyone poured this for me “blind” and asked me to guess the proof, I’d say; “Maybe 100-proof?” At almost 120-proof this is a dangerously drinkable pour!
Very true, although I definitely took my time and nursed my sample!