New Parker's Heritage Golden Anniversary

[VERITAS]

John Hansell just updated his blog about the next Parker's Heritage release

Gotta say I'm excited for this one... 40 year old bourbon with 6(?) year old bourbon and everyone where in between...

Wondering if its a barrel or two from each decade or what - anybody have more info on this?

Thanks!

Kevin

[jinenjo]

Have they really been keeping a barrel sitting around since 1968?

The impression I got is that the five-decades vatting (from Parker's time there) might be from some aged bourbon that had already been bottled (e.g. made in early '60s, bottled in '68).

They pushed the limit on the 27 year old, I don't see why they'd go into the stratosphere with this one. Now that I think of it, I really admire what they are doing at HH with this line of specialty bottles. Especially since it stands up well to the BTAC and is also quite distinct and unique in comparison.

[jburlowski]

Knowing Parker and his reputation, I'm confident that this will be an outstanding bourbon.

Having said that, it's hard to imagine 40 yo boudon adding anything beyond a sludge of oak and char. Fortunately, the quantity will likely be miniscule compared to the whole. This one has marketing hype written all over it.

[independant]

I would love to know how much comes from each decade but I think that is something we will never know. Has a bottle like this ever been produced in the past? I would think that this will really put Parkers skills to the test having only so much bourbon to work with and being able to blend them together.

That being said I had heard that this one has a suggested retail of 150.00. For that I would have to either sample or hear some outstanding reviews before I dropped that much.

[BourbonJoe]

I'm gonna have to leave this one alone. 150 bucks is just too much for what it is.

Joe :usflag:

[bourbonv]

I like this one better than the 27yo bottling. It is a very good bourbon with a finish that last forever and gets better as it progresses.

I don't know for sure, but I believe that the whiskey from 1968 is some old bottled in bond bourbon added to the tank. There is no regulation against doing that and it is going to be a lot better bourbon than something sitting in the barrel for 51 years. I can not see a 51 year old barrel having anything left in it unless they started with 100 or so barrels and consolidated every ten years.

Mike Veach

[TNbourbon]

...I don't know for sure, but I believe that the whiskey from 1968 is some old bottled in bond bourbon added to the tank...

[OscarV]

In the Hansell blog it says it marries whiskey from the 5 decades Parker worked there, not a 41 year old bourbon but one from 1968.

Not that it is but all 5 bourbons could be 4 years old each from the way he explained it.

I hope HH has it labeled as such and does not try to confuse/fool the consumer. I'm sure they'll have it right.

[bourbonv]

Buddy Thompson had barrels of Mellowmash that he kept after the sale of Glenmore to United Distillers. These barrels were from the late 70s and consolidated a couple of times, and kept on lower floors of the warehouse, but even many of these barrels have gone dry today. I just dont see any barrels from 1968 surviving with bourbon in them. That is why I suspect some of the whiskey is from bottles of 1968 bourbon. With that said, I too would prefer that the whiskey came from barrels and if that is the case, then my hat is off to Heaven Hill. I just don't see that as likely and the carefull wording of the press release accompanying my bottle makes me think I am right in my theory of origin of the 1968 bourbon.

What does count is the fact that Heaven Hill has given Parker a bourbon to be proud of as a Golden Anniversary gift. It seems simple on the nose, but very quickly gets interesting with the first sip and has a finish that is beyond expectations.

Mike Veach

[jburlowski]

I attended a Heaven Hill whiskey tasting at Party Source last night conducted by Craig Beam. As a surprise, we were given an advance tasting of the Golden Anniversary bottling. It was hard to reach any in-depth conclusions from the small tasting we were given but it is rich and deeply flavored, complex, and very well-balanced.

Craig confirmed that all of the bourbon came from barrels, and not from old bottlings, as some have conjectured. He did say that very little (he estimated less than 3%) of the whiskey came from the oldest (1968) barrels.

The price for this limited bottling will undoubtedly be high.... the question will come down to "is it worth the price to own a bit of history?"

[OscarV]

Craig confirmed that all of the bourbon came from barrels, and not from old bottlings, as some have conjectured. He did say that very little (he estimated less than 3%) of the whiskey came from the oldest (1968) barrels.

Well then this certainly makes this bottle very unique.

I got the 2008 Parker's for $180.00, most places were selling it for $199.00 and it is $230.00 at the HH Bourbon Heritage Center.

So now the $150.00 for this new one sounds reasonable.

And BTW, the 2007 at $80.00 and barrel proof was an absolute steal.

[TNbourbon]

...The price for this limited bottling will undoubtedly be high.... the question will come down to "is it worth the price to own a bit of history?"

Well, actually, to me, the question is more is it worth the price to taste a piece of history. Owning it without tasting it just ain't gonna happen here.

I'm a definite maybe to date.

[MGillespie]

Having tasted a sample bottle that HH sent me, I can recommend it without question. It's just as good as last year's 27YO, and when I took some to a charity tasting, it was a unanimous choice as the best whiskey of the evening! I scored it a 96...and I don't give 90+ ratings very often.

Mark Gillespie

[JBeamGold]

I quite like the sound of this one... I have already put my order in for 1 of these....

[onmytrack]

Does anyone know when or if this will reach CA? I figure at $150 per, there is no need to rush out and order via the internet. It could make for some hard choices if it doesn't get here before the '09 BTAC does, however.

Jim

[jburlowski]

It's supposed to be released next week during the KBF. Don't know how long it will take to get to CA.

[Special Reserve]

Listed in the on-line catalogue at $149.95 minimum in MI.

[dgonano]

Picked up a few bottles in Maryland last week. . . .$129.95 per bottle. They had been pre-ordered.

[OscarV]

A fellow SB.com member was looking for Parker's Heritage Golden Anniversary last week in KY during the KBF but it was not out yet.

I stopped at my favorite liquor store today and asked if they would call in to see if it is available.

Yes! The Lady at the LLC said they have 20 3 packs here in MI!!

I have it on order, A & L Wine Castle in Ann Arbor is getting a 3 pack and 2 bottles are for me.

If anyone in the area wants the other one it will be there on Wed Sept 30.

If anyone across this great land of ours wants me to get the 3rd one to ship to you PM me.

The price is $149.95 plus 6% sales tax, plus shipping.

BTW, A & L still has a bottle of last years Parker's at $230.00.

[dgonano]

I guess the Maryland distributor made a boo-boo when he inadvertantly released 2 bottles to my retailer. I assume the market price to be $150. However, I always request Special Orders to be only slightly marked-up...thus the cheaper purchase price.

[p_elliott]

The only place I could find this in KY was at the distillery and they wanted just shy of of $200 I passed.

[ErichPryde]

And BTW, the 2007 at $80.00 and barrel proof was an absolute steal.

There are a bunch of bottles here in Wichita for 76ish. My anniversary is October 14th, and I listed it as something I'd like to try for my wife, as an option. I think she hunted down something else... maybe a four roses mariage, or a van winkle rye. honestly, looking over the list of absurd things I gave her to possibly hunt down, I have no... I have no clue. which is awesome.

anyway, the awesomeness aside for other awesomeness, I guess I'll have to pick up a bottle of the barrel proofer.

[onmytrack]

Couldn't wait for distribution to CA, so I went on-line. Found a store in MO that was selling it for $134.99, I had to pull the trigger. Very good juice with lots of depth. I'm enjoying this very much.

Jim

[TomFischer]

We did a video episode reviewing this Parker's Heritage Golden Anniversary Bourbon that I invite you all to watch on this link

. This rare bourbon has a world of layers of vanilla, wood, a bit of fig and one of the longest finishes ever.

[spun_cookie]

nice you tube video.... not sure I agree with adding the water with the 100 proof stuff.... chances are you are bringing the ethers forward over some of the softer tones as you dilute them... but none the less, well done....