Tag: Heaven Hill Distilleries Page 1 of 3

Heaven Hill Distilleries Inc. is a private, American family-owned and operated distillery founded in 1935 and headquartered in Bardstown, Kentucky, that produces and markets the Heaven Hill brand of Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey and a variety of other distilled spirits.

The Heaven Hill brands include:
Elijah Craig Bourbon, Evan Williams Bourbon, Heaven Hill Bourbon, Pikesville Bourbon, Rittenhouse Rye whiskey.

Pikesville 110 Proof Straight Rye Whiskey

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 07/24/2023

In Rye Whiskey

This bottle of Pikesville 110 Proof Straight Rye whiskey has been in my cupboard for a couple of years after the hubby brought it back from a trip to the UK. I have been in the mood for something more spicy after the sweetness of the last couple of weeks, so a rye whiskey is perfect.

Pikesville Rye whiskey was initially produced in Maryland by L. Winand & Brothers Distillery, established in 1895. The brand went through several changes of ownership and survived Prohibition. The last batch of rye whiskey was produced in Maryland in 1972 by the Majestic Distilling Corporation.

In 1972 Majestic Distilling closed down. However, they left enough filled barrels, and the brand continued until 1982. In 1982, Heaven Hill bought the brand. Heaven Hill released the Pikesville Rye in 2015, and it is currently produced at the Bernheim Distillery.

Also Read: Michter’s Single Barrel Rye

Heaven Hill has an extensive whiskey and bourbon brand collection, and the Evan Williams, Rittenhouse and Henry McKenna brands fall under their banner. They are the biggest privately owned whiskey company in the USA.

The mash bill for the Pikesville Straight Rye whiskey is 51% rye, 39% corn and 10% malted barley. Compared to the other rye whiskies I have tried, this is the bare minimum rye to quality as a rye whiskey. The Jack Daniel’s Rye and the Bulleit Rye are considerably higher with 70% and 95%, respectively.

Another different aspect is the higher ABV when looking at the other rye releases. Sazerac and Bulleit Rye has a 45% ABV while the Pikesville rye is at 55% (110 proof).

Pikesville 110 Proof Straight Rye Whiskey Review

The Pikeville Rye is a 6 year old release.

REGION: USA

ABV: 55%

COLOUR: Pale copper

NOSE: The nose is subtle with hints of grassy rye, brown sugar, oak, pepper and baking spices. Hints of cherry and liquorice in the background. A whiff of alcohol on the first sniff, so let it stand a few minutes.

PALATE: The Pikesville Straight Rye whiskey starts quite spicy with notes of cloves, pepper and rye spices, but then comes red fruits and cherries with toasted oak. Maple syrup sweetness balances out the spicy notes. Not as spicy or complex as some of the other rye releases I have tried, but it is relatable and easy to drink. A few drops of water cool down the alcohol heat.

FINISH: Medium length with notes of vanilla, cinnamon spice and bits of drying oak. A faint dark chocolate-covered cherry note makes me want to go back to try this rye again.

RATING: EXCELLENT

What a drinkable bottle of rye whiskey. Not quite as spicy as I expected, which is a good thing. I have a sweeter palate, and some rye releases can quickly become too spicy. It does need a few minutes to breathe and a few drops of water to cool down the alcohol heat, but this is an impressive rye.

The Pikesville Straight Rye whiskey retail for around $58. I will pick up another bottle when I travel again.

Also Read: Pike Creek 10 year old Whisky

Heaven Hill Bourbon Whiskey

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 05/23/2022

In Bourbon whiskey

With the fall of the South African Rand against most currencies, my little hobby is becoming expensive. So image my surprise when I walked past a liquor shop that had some “bargain bourbon”. It was the Heaven Hill Kentucky Straight bourbon whiskey.

At about R150 and in a glass bottle, this looked interesting. I was, however, sceptical about the quality. I first went to visit Google; just to see if I am buying a real bargain or a cheap knock off.

Some reviewers think that this no age statement, screw-top Heaven Hill Kentucky Straight bourbon whiskey is not too bad. According to my research, it will not win international prizes for complexity, but it is, according to some people, drinkable and affordable.

So, I bought it, and we are going to give it a try. Heaven Hill was founded in Bardstown, Kentucky shortly after Prohibition ended in the US. The Shapira family wanted to produce and market bourbon and premium American whiskeys. During the 1990s the Heaven Hill company diversified their portfolio.

They acquired more brands and obtaining import rights for gin, malt whiskey vodka and various other liqueurs and spirits brands. Today, Heaven Hill is the seventh-largest distributor of bourbon in the US. Other brands in their portfolio include Evan Williams and Elijah Craig bourbon whiskey and Rittenhouse Straight Rye whiskey.

In 2014, the name changed to Heaven Hill Brands. The Heaven Hill company remain independently owned. The Heaven Hill bourbon whiskey is aged for about 4 years.

Related Article: Jim Beam Devil’s Cut Bourbon

Heaven Hill Kentucky Straight Bourbon Review

COUNTRY: USA

ABV: 43%

COLOUR: Not as dark as some of my other bourbons. It has a pale golden mahogany colour.

NOSE: Not quite as rich as its peers. There are notes of condensed milk, caramel and fruit mixed with hints of cinnamon and nutmeg. There is a bit of alcohol bite on the nose. Not a very complex nose.

PALATE: Slightly more complex, but still not equal to some of our other bourbons. There are notes of spice, caramel sweetness. A bit of bitter orange in the background. Water softens the alcohol bite and makes it marginally smoother. The Heaven Hill bourbon is medium-bodied.

FINISH: Medium length and end in notes of inoffensive spice.

RATING: GOOD

I suspect that this Heaven Hill bourbon whiskey might work great in marinades for meat. For some or other reason, this bourbon reminds me of the old spaghetti westerns.

The scene: A bar in a small town in the middle of a God forgotten, desert area. The good guy (Clint Eastwood) riding into town on his horse, to track down the bad guy. The bad guy is sitting in the bar, drinking a bourbon neat, the bottle next to him: this bottle of Heaven Hill Old Style bourbon.

And when Clint Eastwood enters the bar, the Heaven Hill is the first thing he shoots at. The glass bottle next to the bad guy explodes as Clint’s bullet eliminates it. And then the fighting starts. Can you picture it?

Also Read: Evan Williams Bourbon

Evan Williams vs Jack Daniel’s whiskey

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 10/11/2021

In Whisky Comparison

In this engaging three-part comparison series, I embark on a journey to dissect two iconic American whiskey giants: Evan Williams vs Jack Daniel’s whiskey.

My exploration commenced with a clash between Jim Beam and Jack Daniel’s Old No. 7, a showdown that divided our preferences. John leaned towards the robust charms of Jim Beam, while I preferred the smoothness of Jack Daniel’s.

Ultimately, the mellow notes of Jack Daniel’s, characterized by its blend of easy-drinking qualities, sweet vanilla, and toasted oak, clinched victory.

Next, on our tasting odyssey, we ventured into a captivating battle between Evan Williams and Jim Beam bourbon. Choosing a favourite between these two proved to be a more intricate challenge. However, the Jim Beam surged ahead. Its slightly heightened complexity and overall drinkability took centre stage, casting a formidable shadow over Evan Williams.

And now, my voyage through the world of American whiskey brings us to the eagerly anticipated Evan Williams vs Jack Daniel’s showdown. These releases share a similar price range and boast global recognition.

Evan Williams Bourbon Whiskey

Evan Williams Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey with glass b

Evan Williams, a distinguished straight bourbon from the Heaven Hill range, traces its origins back to 1783 when Evan Williams commenced bourbon distillation in Kentucky.

Heaven Hill introduced this specific bourbon release to the American market in 1957, and it continues to be distilled at the Bernheim Distillery in Louisville. With an age spanning 5-7 years, Evan Williams’ mash bill comprises 78% corn, 12% malted barley, and 10% rye, retailing for R250 in South Africa.

Jack Daniel’s Old No 7 Whiskey

Jack Daniel's Old No 7 with glass b

On the other side of the ring stands Jack Daniel’s, a legendary Tennessee whiskey that began its journey around 1875 thanks to the vision of Jasper Newton ‘Jack’ Daniel. His innovative Lincoln County process, which involves filtration through sugar maple charcoal before maturation, distinguishes this whiskey as a Tennessee classic.

While the distillery remained in Jack’s family until 1956, it subsequently found a new home with Brown-Forman. Jack Daniel’s Old No. 7 whiskey features a mash bill of 80% corn, 8% rye, and 12% barley, and after charcoal filtration, the new spirit ages for a minimum of 4 years in new charred American oak barrels.

Evan Williams Bourbon vs Jack Daniel’s Whiskey

Evan Williams vs Jack Daniel's Whiskey Comparison

	Evan Williams Bourbon	Jack Daniel's Old no 7
Type	Bourbon Whiskey	Tennessee Whiskey
Mash Bill	78% corn, 12% malted barley and 10% rye	80% corn, 12% barley, and 8% rye
ABV	43%	43%
Colour	Dark reddish gold	Light amber
Nose	While it has the traditional bourbon notes of toasty oak and vanilla on the nose, there is an element of corn syrup floating around. The nose is very one-dimensional and not layered or complex.	Quite sweet with honey, vanilla and toasted oak with a hint of smoke. Dried red fruit and marzipan.
Palate	It offers little complexity. Toasty oak, vanilla and bits of spice. All kinds of rough edges and alcohol notes. It has a light body and mouthfeel. Adding water does little to increase the complexity. It unlocks notes of chilli and bitter orange peel.	Oak and butterscotch sweetness. A hint of sour cherries and cereal. Bits of fruit and loads of vanilla. It is quite an oily whiskey and has a medium body.
Finish	A bit rough and fortunately does not linger too long.	Medium length with some toasty oak, butterscotch and spice.
My Rating	Good	Very Good
Price	$12	$27

To maintain objectivity, we conducted a blind tasting, ensuring our personal biases would not influence the evaluation. Evan Williams bourbon whiskey has notes of toasted oak, vanilla, orange peel, and corn syrup, accompanied by a discernible alcohol burn. It showcases a straightforward profile but lacks complexity.

On the other side, Jack Daniel’s Old No. 7 whiskey offers oak, cherries, and cereal with hints of vanilla. It proves to be a smoother, more easily sippable option, though not exceptionally complex.

Placed side by side, Jack Daniels emerges as the clear standout, boasting a richer sweetness and greater depth on the palate, with cherry and vanilla notes accentuated in comparison to Evan Williams.

Evan Williams embodies the quintessential bourbon character, but I found it one-dimensional with unwelcome raw alcohol notes. Unlike Jack Daniel’s, its sweetness leans towards a corn syrup artificiality. The finish on Evan Williams is notably short and laden with spice.

In contrast, Jack Daniel’s offers an oily, longer finish. In our final verdict, Jack Daniel’s emerges as the more memorable and favoured choice between these two distinguished releases, a testament to its enduring legacy in American whiskey.

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Also Read: Elijah Craig 12 yo vs Evan Williams Bourbon

Evan Williams vs Jim Beam Bourbon

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 09/13/2021

In Whisky Comparison

Another fun side-by-side bourbon comparison, and this time I am looking at the Evan Williams vs Jim Beam bourbon whiskey. As part of my comparison series, I put these two well know budget brands next to each other so you can make an informed buying decision.

Two of the most famous bourbon whiskey brands on the market are Jim Beam and Evan Williams. These bourbons are available in many countries around the world. Both brands have histories that date back a long time. But if you can get only one bottle, which bottle is worth buying?

Evan Williams Bourbon Whiskey

Evan Williams Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey with glass b
The Evan Williams Straight bourbon whiskey is a brand from the Heaven Hill range. Evan Williams decided to settle in Kentucky, which is where he began distilling his bourbon in 1783.

This specific bourbon release was first introduced to the American market in 1957. Evan Williams is distilled at Heaven Hill’s Bernheim Distillery in Louisville, Kentucky.

It is between 5-7 years old. The Evan Williams’ mash bill is 78% corn, 12% malted barley and 10% rye. It retails for R250 in SA and around $12 in the USA. Over on THIS blog post I explored more comparisons with other Evan Williams releases.

Jim Beam Bourbon Whiskey

Jim Beam Bourbon White with glass
Jim Beam is one of the best selling brands of bourbon in the world. In the early 1700s, a group of German immigrants moved to Kentucky to farm the new land. Jacob Beam (Boehm) grew grains and corn. The region allowed abundant cereal farming.

In 1795 he founded Jim Beam and used his excess grain to distil whiskey. He began selling it under the name of Old Jake Beam, and in 1820 his son David began managing the distillery. The distillery and brand grew from strength to strength. In 2014, Suntory Holdings acquired Jim Beam to create Beam Suntory.

The Jim Beam Straight bourbon whiskey is distilled at lower temperatures and aged for 4 years in oak. The mash bill is 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley. It retails for around $15 in the USA and is readily available. I have also done a side by side comparison between the Jim Beam and Jack Daniel’s whiskey comparison.

Evan Williams vs Jim Beam Bourbon Whiskey

Evan Williams vs Jim Beam Bourbon Whiskey Comparison

	Evan Williams Bourbon	Jim Beam Bourbon
Type	Bourbon Whiskey	Bourbon Whiskey
Mash Bill	78% corn, 12% malted barley and 10% rye	75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley
ABV	43%	43%
Colour	Dark reddish gold	Golden Mahogany
Nose	While it has the traditional bourbon notes of toasty oak and vanilla on the nose, there is an element of corn syrup floating around. The nose is very one-dimensional and not layered or complex.	Subtle vanilla, spice, pine forests, toasted oak and lemon zest with hints of toffee. Sticky pudding and caramelized fruit.
Palate	It offers little complexity. Toasty oak, vanilla and bits of spice. All kinds of rough edges and alcohol notes. It has a light body and mouthfeel. Adding water does little to increase the complexity. It unlocks notes of chilli and bitter orange peel.	Spicy with toasted oak and mint freshness. Hints of dry paper and pepper. A faint hint of vanilla. Water brings more citrus and pepper. It has a light body and is not very complex.
Finish	A bit rough and fortunately does not linger too long.	Long and dry with citrus and pepper.
My Rating	Good	Very Good
Price	$12	$15

It was not difficult to choose the one I prefer. Even in our blind tasting, the difference between the Jim Beam and the Evan Williams is noticeable. The Evan Williams is more bourbon-y, meaning that it has the expected textbook bourbon notes that I was looking for with toasted wood and vanilla.

However, it was very one dimensional and had raw alcohol notes that were not pleasant. The sweetness was also more corn syrup and less warming caramel. The finish was short and has a lot of raw alcohol notes.

The Jim Beam was less bourbon’y, with the oak and vanilla notes being less prominent. However, the sweetness was more caramel, and the taste was a bit more complex. There was notes of mint, lemon zest and caramelised fruit. It also had a bit more of a pepper bite. The Jim Beam gets my vote in this round.

At the price point, you get what you pay for. These are some of the cheapest bourbons available, and if you want to experience bourbon, I would instead add a couple of bucks and look at the Buffalo Trace or Wild Turkey. If you are looking for an affordable drink to add to your cola or lemonade, this will work very well.

The last comparison in this three some is where I looked at the Evan Williams vs Jack Daniel’s whiskey.

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Sazerac Rye vs Rittenhouse Rye Whiskey

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 10/28/2019

In Whisky Comparison

Comparison: Sazerac Rye vs Rittenhouse Rye whiskey side by side
It is exciting to see more and more rye whiskies becoming available in South Africa. It adds a rich dimension to the whiskey tasting options available. Rye whiskey in South Africa is still relatively unknown, but slowly I am getting the opportunity to taste more and more of these spicier drams.

Today I am looking at a comparison between Sazerac rye vs Rittenhouse rye whiskey. From one of the first rye whiskies that I tried, the Rittenhouse rye to the latest rye whiskey I have tried, the Sazerac rye whiskey

Before Prohibition in the USA, rye whiskey distilleries dotted the Pennsylvania landscape. Rye was a popular grain in America. Rye grain is easy to grow and durable. Surplus rye was fermented and distilled, which was a cheaper option than transporting it to other areas. Rye has a more spicy palate compared to bourbons.

Sazerac Straight Rye Whiskey

Review and tasting notes: Sazerac Rye Whiskey with glass Comparison: Rittenhouse Rye vs Sazerac Rye Whisky
Sazerac rye whiskey is produced at the Buffalo Trace distillery. Other brands in the Buffalo Trace portfolio include WL Weller bourbon, Eagle Rare bourbon, Blanton’s bourbon and Fireball Cinnamon.

Sazerac Straight rye whiskey is aged for around 6 years and the mash bill is not disclosed. It is suggested that the mash bill is the minimum required, around 51%. I love the old school bottle shape that stands out compared to the other standard bottles on my whisky shelf.

Rittenhouse Rye Whiskey

REview and Tasting notes: Rittenhouse Rye whiskey with glass comparisong rittenhouse Rye vs Sazerac Rye whiskey
Produced in the tradition of the classic Pennsylvania or “Monongahela” rye whiskies, Rittenhouse Straight rye whiskey is an acclaimed rye enjoying a comeback throughout the USA.

Heaven Hill Distilleries produce Rittenhouse rye. It is aged for 4 years. The mash bill is not disclosed.

Sazerac Rye vs Rittenhouse Rye Whiskey

Sazerac Rye vs Rittenhouse Rye Whiskey Comparison

	Rittenhous Rye Whiskey	Sazerac Rye Whiskey
Type	Rye whiskey	Rye whiskey
ABV	40%	45%
Colour	Dark Gold	Dark gold with hints of red.
Nose	Spicy and rich. Notes of nutmeg, eucalyptus and vanilla. Faint hints of fresh cut grass, lemon blossom and liquorice.	Sweetness blended with a variety of spices. Bits of pepper, nutmeg and cinnamon. Woody notes with red berries, vanilla and caramel.
Palate	Freshly baked lemon and sugar biscuits and spices. Adding water releases more vanilla notes. Rich spices including warming pepper with a hint of dry oak. Medium Body.	Toasted oak notes with spices mixed with red berry and orange flavours, bits of toffee. Cinnamon, nutmeg and pepper heat with a vanilla and caramel creaminess. Medium body. Water tones down the spicy heat and makes it very drinkable.
Finish	Medium length that end in spicy lemon pepper notes .	Medium length ending in pepper spice and orange sweetness.
My Rating	Excellent	Excellent
Comments	Delicious and different.	Smooth and easy drinking.
Price	$30	$35
Pairs well with	Milk chocolate, ribs and savory cornbread	Aged cheddar, jambalaya

If I had to do a blind taste test between these two rye whiskies, I don’t know if I will be able to tell them apart. They are so incredibly similar. From the colour to the spicy notes, these two rye whiskies are very much alike.

What the side by side tasting has shown, is the subtle differences between them, which was interesting.

The Rittenhouse rye whiskey has a more lemony profile. Hints of nutmeg, eucalyptus and rye spices mingle with fresh cut grass and vanilla.

The Sazerac rye whisky has a more orangey profile. Caramel, cinnamon and oak mixed with red berries and black pepper.

Looking at only the oak notes, these also differ slightly from dryer oak notes in the Rittenhouse Rye to more toasty oak notes in the Sazerac.

I prefer the Sazerac Rye when I have these two side by side. The Sazerac Rye is somewhat smoother and more drinkable, but only marginally.

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Also Read: Pikesville Rye Whiskey