Day 212 Drink: Parker's Heritage Wheated Bourbon

Heaven Hill Distilleries is a family owned operation that was founded in 1934 in Bardstown, the center of Kentucky whiskey country.

Heaven Hill Distilleries is releasing the fourth edition of its Parker's Heritage Collection. This one is a cask-strength 10-year-old wheated Bourbon. I was lucky enough to get a tasting sample from the first barrel dump. The whiskey was made at Heaven Hill's Bernheim Distillery, which it acquired in 1999 and began producing a wheated line of Old Fitzgerald. Only about 4,800 bottles will be released of this whiskey, which aged since 2000 on the fourth, sixth and seventh floors of Rackhouse A at Heaven Hill. At $80 it is a bargain addition to the Heritage series.

Parker's Heritage Wheated Bourbon is a rich tarnished copper color. The whiskey has a wonderful caramel and vanilla nose. This non-chill filtered Bourbon has layers of flavor. For 127.8 proof it is remarkably smooth. A nice combination of vanilla, roasted nuts and wood in this one.