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Parkers Heritage Collection

High Strength Gorgeousness

0 394

@MaltActivistReview by @MaltActivist

17th Mar 2014

0

Parkers Heritage Collection
  • Nose
    23
  • Taste
    24
  • Finish
    24
  • Balance
    23
  • Overall
    94

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Distribution of ratings for this: brand user

This is Part 5/5 of a recent Heaven Hill tasting I attended where I tried five bourbons. I also had the chance to meet their international representative Mr. Henry Joe.


Ok so here's the deal. I love Parkers Heritage. And I've managed to put Editions 3,4 & 5 safely on my shelf for all to admire. I remember first purchasing the 3rd Edition wondering what I was getting into and then proceeding to get blown away.

This 2012 Sixth Edition features select barrels of 11 year old Heaven Hill rye-based Bourbons mingled with select barrels of the wheated mashbill Heaven Hill uses for the Old Fitzgerald line, also aged for 11 years.

The rye-based Bourbon was pulled from the 4th floor of Rickhouse “R” in Bardstown, while the wheated Bourbon aged on the topmost 7th floor of nearby Rickhouse “T”.

I've always felt mixing rye with wheat is a tricky exercise because they tend to fight or cancel each other out. But not here.

Nose: BIG. Lots and lots of vanilla and sticky sugar. The sweetness then mellows out and gives way to chocolate almonds and coffee beans which is quite delicately enveloped in a fine mist of rose water.

Palate: The experiment seems to have worked! The rye and wheat manage to stand out independently from each other. There is big oak smeared with dark berries and cocoa dust rubbed with an equally dusty cinnamon clove. The delivery belies the alcohol strength though adding a drop of water gives it a drop of caramel. Quite fantastic actually.

Finish: Very long. Very oaky. Lingering spices.

This is such a class act of balancing high strength alcohol with flavors that truly work. And for me the real joy is seeing those two grains work so well together.

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3 comments

@CanadianNinja
CanadianNinja commented

My friend, I recently opened my bottle of Parker's Heritage Golden Anniversary and it is phenomenal! I can't wait to get my hands on more of the Parker's Heritage expressions...

10 years ago 0

@Victor
Victor commented

Yes, this is the unusual wheat plus rye mixture that works...and works bigtime. This is phenomenal bourbon, and a unique taste treat. Thanks for your review.

10 years ago 0

@Pudge72
Pudge72 commented

This one was one of the favourites of @WhiskyJoe and myself at the recent tasting...thanks so much for bringing it along @Victor! I loved the peanut butter/peanut brittle note that jumped right out at me on the nose and palate.

10 years ago 0