Heaven Hill Distilleries

American Whiskey

Heaven Hill Distilleries was established in 1934 after Prohibition in Bardstown, Kentucky by five brothers and investors. The Shapira brothers had no inventory or supply to draw from so they had to start from scratch. The company started out with 12 employees. One year after the company had started the first barrel was filled which was to become Bourbon Falls whiskey.

Heaven Hill makes good progress during the first few years could celebrate their one millionth barrel on their 25th year. In 1957 Evan Williams Bourbon is introduced to the market, followed 30 years later by the now popular Elijah Craig Whiskey. During the 1980 -90s the company expands by buying several new brands which are implemented in the portfolio.

During the mid-90s Heaven Hill team up with the Irish whisky producer Colley Distillery -Irelands only true independent distillery. Evan Williams is launched as a Single Barrel in 1995 and quickly becomes a much sought-after whisky.

In November 1996 the distillery is struck by a huge fire. Seven warehouses, each seven stories high, and 90 000 barrels goes up in flames. The fire was as high as a 35 floor building an near-impossible to extinguish; the firefighters were forced to focus on preventing the vast fire to spread. During the rebuilding the company rented warehouses nearby which enabled them to continue the production and limit the financial damage done by the fire

Successful purchases and good PR has made Heaven Hill the seventh biggest distributor of spirits in America. They also have the second largest bourbon stock in the US.

A Selection of Heaven Hill

Online Shops

Evan Williams

2005-09-09

TWE^*

Elijah Craig 12 yo 47%

Evan Williams 1994 43,3%

Heaven Hill 10 år 40%

Evan Williams Single Barrel Vintage

Elijah Craig 18 yo Single Barrel

Short Fact: Widely popular and appriciated bourbons!

Character: Sweet with lots of vanilla and caramellised sugar.

^* Buy Heaven Hill online at Thewhiskyexchange >>

^* Buy whisky online at Internet Wines & Spirits (US customers) >>

Production at Heaven Hill

The Barley, Corn and Rye are all bought from local farmers and ground in a hammer mill. A higher proportion corn is used which imparts a sweet flavor to the whisky. The grain is then mixed in a specific order at a certain temperature in the cooker, which is made of stainless steel. Variations in the temperature are closely monitored since even small changes may affect the taste of the finished whisky.

Mash from a previous round is added to the first mash in the cooker in a process called “sour mash”. After two hours in the cooker the mash is pumped into the stainless steel fermentation vats were the “sour mash” method is used again. After the fermenting process, which normally takes between four and six days, the liquid is called ‘distillers beer’ and holds an alcohol level of about 12 proof. The same kind of yeast has been used by the family for eight generations and is considered an important ingredient. The spirit is distilled twice in column stills, first in a big “beer-still” and the second time in a smaller still called a “doubler”. The twice distilled spirit is called “white dog” and is cut with water to approx 125 proof before it is filled into freshly charred oak barrels. The warehouses are located in Bardstown. As opposed to most other distilleries in the US, Heaven Hill does not regulate temperature in its warehouses.

Contact Heaven Hill

Heaven Hill Distilleries,
1064 Loretto Road
Bardstown, KY 40004
USA

Show on map +local weather(Multimap) >>

Phone: +1 502 348-3921

Master Distiller: Parker Beam.

Visitors: Visitors are welcome at Heaven Hills Bourbon Heritage Centre on Tuesday to Saturday between 10am -l 5pm,and on Sunday between 12am - 4pm (there are unfortunately no tastings on sundays according to Kentucky State Law). Regular guided tours. Shop and catering.

Owner: Heaven Hill Inc.

Heaven Hill Official Webpage >>

Tell a friend about thewhiskyguide.com >>

© Copyright 2005, Chill Communications, all rights reserved.