Tag

Beer, Wine and Spirits. Tastings and Travel. News and Events. Classic Flavors from Breweries, Wineries and Distilleries Across the Drinks World.

Tuesday, April 29, 2008

Tuesday Tasting: Heaven Hill Export Bourbons


Tuesday Tasting is a regular feature of Lyke2Drink that explores some of the best beers, wines and spirits on the market. This week we try some Kentucky whiskies that you cannot find on the domestic market.

At WhiskeyFest in Chicago one of the highlights was the chance to sit in on a presentation by Craig Beam, seventh generation Master Distiller at Heaven Hill Distilleries, and Larry Kass, Heaven Hill Director of Communications. The title of the presentation, "A Taste of Heaven: The Rare Export Bourbons of Heaven Hill Distilleries," was right on target.

Beam and Kass walked a room full of whiskey lovers through a set of four small batch Bourbons only available -- except in rare cases -- on the export market. If you travel internationally, you will want to check out the duty free shop on your trip back to the U.S.

Virgin Bourbon 7-Year-Old: You can find this whiskey in Australia and Japan, plus on a limited basis in Alabama, North Carolina and Kansas. Amber red color with a well developed oak base. This 101-proof Bourbon has nice smoky notes throughout. This drinks more like a 10-12 year old spirit.

Virgin Bourbon 10-Year-Old: Available in Australia and Japan, this is a very smooth Bourbon. The flavor profile is slightly on the calm side, but it does have some nice vanilla notes and good sweetness.

Evan Williams 12 Year Old: This 101-proof whiskey is available in Japan. Deep amber color with tons of appealing rye character. Nice caramel flavor note at the finish. A great whiskey for sipping.

Evan Williams 23 Year Old: Available in Japan, France and the United Kingdom -- and the Heaven Hill Bourbon Heritage Center in Kentucky at $350 a bottle -- this 107 proof spirit is a bright copper color with a firm flavor. Plenty of oak, sweet toffee and spice.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Never have liked the drink. I see in news of late that Japan has been voted the best of the best in their whiskey contribution.