Heaven Hill Distillery in Bardstown, Nelson County, Kentucky has announced the launch of Heaven Hill Grain to Glass. The initial launch features three new mash bills which include a Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Kentucky Straight Wheated Bourbon Whiskey and Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey expressions. The addition to the Heaven Hill family is a collection of Kentucky Whiskeys that highlights Heaven Hill’s long-standing commitment to quality, sustainability, and craft.
The New ‘Grain to Glass’ Series Starts with the Seed
The craft nature of this unique line of Whiskeys starts at the very beginning – the seed. The idea for the line began over 8 years ago as the brainchild of Heaven Hill Executive Chairman Max Shapira. Max’s passion for quality and transparency in whiskey-making lead to a partnership with seed company Beck’s Hybrids – a fellow family-owned and lead operation based in Indiana since 1937.
Each year, our Master Distiller works with Beck’s Hybrids to hand select a unique corn seed varietal that has specific attributes desirable for Heaven Hill Grain to Glass, one of which is choosing seed which is best suited for growth in Central Kentucky. The chosen corn seed varietal is then grown by Peterson Farms on one of two sites in Nelson County, one of which is directly across the street from Heaven Hill’s Bardstown facility. Peterson Farms, a multi-generational family farming company, has been entrusted to take the corn seed varietal and cultivate it into healthy grain that goes into the Heaven Hill Grain to Glass mash bills.
“Over the course of the nearly 90 years, since the founding of Heaven Hill by my Dad and his brothers, we have always been cognizant of viewing our business from the long term, developing products that fit into this broad vision,” said Heaven Hill Executive Chairman Max Shapira. “Heaven Hill Grain to Glass incorporates everything our long history and heritage brings to our producing what we believe is the most unique, transparent offering that we have brought to market in our entire history. And that is saying a lot.”
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The Bourbon and Wheated Bourbon Whiskeys feature mash bills with higher secondary grain content than Heaven Hill’s traditional Bourbon mashbill and Wheated Bourbon mashbill. Bottled at 107 proof, the Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey expression is comprised of 52% corn, 35% rye and 13% malted barley. Bottled at 121 proof, the Kentucky Straight Wheated Bourbon Whiskey expression is made with 52% corn, 35% wheat and 13% malted barley. The Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey expression is bottled at 123.2, the only barrel proof expression of the series. It also features a higher rye content than Heaven Hill’s traditional Rye Whiskey mashbill consisting of 63% rye, 24% corn and 13% malted barley. The distillates have been aged over six years at Heaven Hill’s Cox’s Creek rickhouse site. Each product is non-chill filtered and bottled at the ideal proof to allow the characteristics of each unique mashbill to shine.
Heaven Hill Traditional Mash Bills vs. Grain to Glass Mash Bills
| Spirit | Corn % | Rye % | Wheat % | Malted Barley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Traditional Bourbon | 78 | 10 | – | 12 |
| Grain to Glass Bourbon | 52 | 35 | – | 13 |
| Traditional Wheated | 68 | – | 20 | 12 |
| Grain to Glass Wheated | 52 | – | 35 | 13 |
| Traditional Rye | 35 | 51 | – | 14 |
| Grain to Glass Rye | 24 | 63 | – | 13 |
“Working with Beck’s and Peterson Farms to create Grain to Glass has been an incredible experience,” said Master Distiller Conor O’Driscoll. “We’re proud to have crafted an innovative product – taking it from seed to aged liquid – while still remaining true to the values and legacy of Heaven Hill Distillery.”
The focus on transparency in the Heaven Hill Grain to Glass line extends beyond its local ingredients. The label on each bottle features details of the specific corn seed varietal utilized from Beck’s Hybrids, the unique mash bill, as well as the distillation and released years. The illustrations include a blueprint of Bernheim Distillery, along with custom designs depicting the importance of farming tradition and innovation.
Heaven Hill Grain to Glass Tasting Notes
Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Color: Golden amber
Aroma: Apples and pears with notes of fresh oak
Taste: Plentiful orchard fruit with bright floral and spice notes
Finish: Slight oaky sweetness with peppery spice
Proof: 107 (53.5% ABV)
Age: 6 Years
Rickhouse: W3 on the third, fourth and fifth floors
Corn Seed Varietal: Beck’s 6158
Kentucky Straight Wheated Bourbon Whiskey
Color: Deep auburn
Aroma: Primarily walnuts and almonds with notes of whole wheat bread, cedar and oak
Taste: Toasted whole wheat bread and molasses with a pleasantly surprising peppery spice
Finish: Notes of pepper slowly fade to reveal oak tannins and an echo of sweet molasses
Proof: 121 (60.5% ABV)
Age: 6 Years
Rickhouse: W3 on the third, fourth and fifth floors
Corn Seed Varietal: Beck’s 6158
Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey
Color: Pale mahogany
Aroma: Dried flowers and grasses, toasted oak
Taste: Big butterscotch and caramel notes with dense, complex spices and a touch of cigar tobacco
Finish: The spiciness continues to build with a big cinnamon note. Charred oak with a hint of campfire smoke at the last
Proof: 123.2 (61.6% ABV)
Age: 6 Years
Rickhouse: W3 on the third, fourth and fifth floors
Corn Seed Varietal: Beck’s 6158
The Heaven Hill Grain to Glass Bourbon, Wheated Bourbon and Rye Whiskey each have a suggested retail price of $99.99 for a 700ml bottle. This bottle size allows Heaven Hill to sell in the U.S. and international markets.
Heaven Hill Brands is the largest independent, family-owned and led distilled spirits company in the United States. The company, founded in 1935, is the fifth largest distilled spirits company in the US by volume. The company was founded by Executive Chairman Max Shapira’s father and his four uncles, along with a group of Bardstown-area investors, as “Old Heaven Hill Springs” distillery in 1935, and filled its first barrel on December 13th of that year. Members of the founding family’s second and third generations are now leading the company. Heaven Hill brands include Elijah Craig Bourbon, Larceny Bourbon, Evan Williams Bourbon, Pikesville Rye Whiskey, Rittenhouse Rye Whisky, Parker’s Heritage Collection, and Old Fitzgerald along with its extensive Bottled-in-Bond label collection.
Learn more about Heaven Hill Bourbon Experience.
Learn more about Evan Williams Bourbon Experience.
Learn more about Heaven Hill Springs Distillery.
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