We’re Recapping Chilled 100 ELEVATE 2023, with Heaven Hill’s Bottled-in-Bond Luncheon

After returning from an outing, we entered the ballroom with tables set for tasting and lunch.

Our host, Bernie Lubbers, presented a gift from Heaven Hill, a bartender’s backpack manufactured by Cocktail Kingdom, that was at each of our seats. While we marveled at the generous gift, we noticed immediately the tab had the “Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond” logo engraved on the leather.

Bottled-in-Bond designation mandates that brands adhere to strict regulations. The spirit must be aged at least four years and be 100 proof, produced by one distillery during one season, and aged in a bonded warehouse, among other requirements. Heaven Hill is a leader in the bottled in bond category – creating whiskies with this designation since its founding in the 1930s.

Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897

In the 19th century the production of whiskey through questionable and often illegal means was common. Traders would adulterate spirits with substances like prune juice, tobacco-infused water, or even kerosene. To ensure whiskey quality, Congress enacted the Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897. This legislation was the first consumer protection act that mandates that Bottled-in-Bond bourbon adheres to specific regulations.

It must originate from a single distillery and be distilled within a single season spanning from January to June or July to December. Furthermore, the whiskey must age for a minimum of four years and be bottled at precisely 100 proof. Additionally, it must display the name and number of the Distilled Spirits Plant (D.S.P.) where it was distilled, and if applicable, the D.S.P. number of the bottling facility.

History of Heaven Hill

Founded in Kentucky by the Shapira family in 1935, Heaven Hill Distillery continues its legacy as one of the foremost American Whiskey producers. Heaven Hill has cultivated the traditions and history of America’s Native Spirit with its fierce independence, passionate family ownership, dedication to quality, and thoughtful innovation. Today Heaven Hill is the fifth-largest spirits supplier in the United States and the second-largest holder of aging Whiskey in the world with an inventory of more than 2 million barrels.

While Heaven Hill put its first whiskey into barrels in 1935, it was not until four years later, in 1939, that the first Old Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon was released. It not only served as a platform for Heaven Hill to demonstrate its dedication to quality and its high standards but also swiftly rose to become the top-selling Bourbon in the state of Kentucky.

Tragedy Struck

After decades of success as an American spirits powerhouse, Heaven Hill would sadly endure a terrible tragedy. On November 7, 1996, a fire started at the distillery. As 70 mph winds gusted, flames from Warehouse I spread to nearby rickhouses. Though Bardstown’s fire department had arrived quickly, putting out the raging inferno was impossible. The firefighters’ only choice was to go on the offense and pour torrents of water on nearby rickhouses to keep them cool. By evening, the Bardstown distillery and seven rickhouses were destroyed or still aflame.

The estimated loss was $30 million, 92,000 barrels of aged whiskey. It was feared the all-important strain of yeast used since 1935 was lost. However, entrance was gained to the 5th-floor refrigerator holding the yeast. To the joy of all, the refrigerator was still cold, and Heaven Hill was assured it could continue to maintain its brands.

During the weeks and months after the fire, Max Shapira ensured that his employees had a place to work, preventing anyone from being laid off because of the tragedy. Other distilleries rallied around the company, allowing Heaven Hill to continue to produce their products at neighboring facilities for years to come.

Sale of Bernheim

As Heaven Hill’s recovery continued, the Shapiras weighed the benefits of building a new distillery or buying an existing plant. Either way, they wanted Heaven Hill to return to distilling its own goods. In 1999, United Distillers, owner of the Bernheim Distillery, contacted Heaven Hill about a possible sale of their plant. Heaven Hill decided to go for it and the sale closed later that year.

Over the past three decades, many improvements to the Bernheim Distillery have taken place. In the early 2000s, when it became clear there was no end to the American Whiskey boom in sight, a third 70 foot column still and four more fermenters were added, boosting annual production to 400,000 barrels.

Now in its third generation of family leadership, Heaven Hill is poised for even greater success with the building of a brand-new distillery. The company broke ground on the Heaven Hill Springs Distillery in June of 2022 which will return the company’s distilling capabilities to Bardstown near where the original distillery once stood. Once complete in late 2024, Heaven Hill Springs will have the capacity to produce approximately 150,000 gallons of whiskey per year. In the coming years, the distillery will increase its capacity to approximately 400,000 gallons per year, which will match that of the Bernheim Distillery and in effect double the company’s output.

Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond

Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond pays homage to the distillery’s original Bottled-in-Bond release while encapsulating its rich history and legacy. Aged for an impressive 7 years, surpassing the mandatory 4-year requirement for all bottled-in-bonds, this expression exemplifies the commitment to quality and craftsmanship that has defined Heaven Hill for generations.

True to its heritage, every bottle of Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond reflects the meticulous attention to detail and adherence to tradition established by the Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897. From the selection of the finest ingredients to the precise aging process and diligently selected barrels, each step is guided by the same principles that have guided Heaven Hill for over a century.

Recognized for its outstanding quality and craftsmanship, Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond has garnered numerous accolades, including the prestigious title of “The World’s Best Bourbon” bestowed by the Bartender Spirits Awards. This recognition serves as a testament to the unparalleled dedication and passion that infuses every bottle of Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond.

Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond offers a harmonious blend of flavors and flair. Its proof lends a solid structure, presenting a distinct beginning, middle, and end in each sip. With a rich roundness that gracefully envelops the palate without overwhelming, delicate spice notes from the rye emerge beautifully. This makes it an ideal companion for the featured cocktail of the lunch, the Boulevardier. A twist on the classic Negroni, the Boulevardier shines with Bourbon, adding nuanced complexities. It embodies a delightful interplay of spirit, sweetness, bitterness, florals, tannins, and aromatics.

Our tasting included

Mellow Corn Straight Whiskey— 100 Proof. Aged 4 years. Made from 80% corn and aged in bourbon barrels to provide a full-bodied spiced sweetness.

Rittenhouse Rye— 100 Proof. Aged 4 years. Made with 51% rye for distinct, spicy flavor.
Evan Williams Bottled-in-Bond— 100 Proof. Aged 4 years. Flavor profile showcases as citrus on top of vanilla with black pepper, hints of vanilla, oak and barley

Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond—100 proof. Aged 7 years. Flavor profile showcases notes of vanilla, honey, and a rich caramel sweetness with a subtle rye spice note.

Today, Heaven Hill remains family-owned and operated. The company is now the largest independently owned and led bourbon producer in the world and has the world’s second-largest aging whiskey inventory.