Earlier this yr, Heaven Hill dropped three distinctive expressions that take a step away from the distillery’s present product line — with new mashbills and an method that focuses foremost on the underlying grains. The launch of the Heaven Hill Grain to Glass sequence consists of three Kentucky whiskeys (at the very least to start out), together with a straight (rye-heavy) bourbon, wheated bourbon, and rye — throughout 6 years outdated. (All three of those samples have been distilled in 2017, so they could be as much as 7 years outdated.)
Let’s enable Heaven Hill to offer us the deets:
The craft nature of this distinctive line of Whiskeys begins on the very starting – the seed. The concept for the road started over 8 years in the past because the brainchild of Heaven Hill Government Chairman Max Shapira. Max’s ardour for high quality and transparency in whiskey-making result in a partnership with seed firm Beck’s Hybrids – a fellow family-owned and lead operation primarily based in Indiana since 1937. Every year, our Grasp Distiller works with Beck’s Hybrids at hand choose a novel corn seed varietal that has particular attributes fascinating for Heaven Hill Grain to Glass, one among which is selecting seed which is greatest suited to progress in Central Kentucky. The chosen corn seed varietal is then grown by Peterson Farms on one among two websites in Nelson County, one among which is immediately throughout the road from Heaven Hill’s Bardstown facility. Peterson Farms, a multi-generational household farming firm, has been entrusted to take the corn seed varietal and domesticate it into wholesome grain that goes into the Heaven Hill Grain to Glass mashbills. Since its founding in 1935, Heaven Hill has prided itself on crafting the very best high quality Kentucky Whiskeys. Heaven Hill Grain to Glass honors this legacy and the cherished partnerships which have been constructed on handshakes, not contracts.
“Over the course of the practically 90 years, for the reason that founding of Heaven Hill by my Dad and his brothers, now we have all the time been cognizant of viewing our enterprise from the long run, creating merchandise that match into this broad imaginative and prescient,” mentioned Heaven Hill Government Chairman Max Shapira. “Heaven Hill Grain to Glass incorporates all the pieces our lengthy historical past and heritage brings to our producing what we consider is essentially the most distinctive, clear providing that now we have dropped at market in our complete historical past. And that’s saying quite a bit.”
The Bourbon and Wheated Bourbon Whiskeys characteristic mashbills with larger secondary grain content material than Heaven Hill’s conventional Bourbon mashbill and Wheated Bourbon mashbill. Bottled at 107 proof, the Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey expression is comprised of 52% corn, 35% rye and 13% malted barley. Bottled at 121 proof, the Kentucky Straight Wheated Bourbon Whiskey expression is made with 52% corn, 35% wheat and 13% malted barley. The Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey expression is bottled at 123.2, the one barrel proof expression of the sequence. It additionally encompasses a larger rye content material than Heaven Hill’s conventional Rye Whiskey mashbill consisting of 63% rye, 24% corn and 13% malted barley. The distillates have been aged over six years at Heaven Hill’s Cox’s Creek rickhouse web site. Every product is non-chill filtered and bottled on the best proof to permit the traits of every distinctive mashbill to shine.
“Working with Beck’s and Peterson Farms to create Grain to Glass has been an unbelievable expertise,” mentioned Grasp Distiller Conor O’Driscoll. “We’re proud to have crafted an progressive product – taking it from seed to aged liquid – whereas nonetheless remaining true to the values and legacy of Heaven Hill Distillery.”
Nicely, I’m excited. Let’s see how all that pans out.
This assessment was final up to date in 2025 with the addition of the second version of Grain to Glass Bourbon. (Wheated bourbon and rye weren’t reissued.)
Heaven Hill Grain to Glass Straight Bourbon 1st Version (2024) Evaluate
52% corn (Beck’s 6158 varietal), 35% rye, 13% malted barley. Aged 6 years in rickhouse W3 on the third, 4th, and fifth flooring. Fairly toasty and oaky, with fragrant overtones of roasted grains, combined contemporary herbs (significantly rosemary), and pink apple skins. Some nutty walnut shell components come up with time in glass, together with a considerable tobacco leaf high quality. Fairly hearty on the palate, with a considerable peanut high quality mixing with apple and spice notes — virtually like applesauce. The oak stays sturdy right here, as does the rye affect, ultimately giving the whiskey an intensely grassy high quality and an natural pop. There’s loads of lingering peanut butter pushing effectively into the end, together with a wholesome grind of black pepper and a reprise of clove-heavy baking spice. Very a lot a frontier-style whiskey that lets the grain do the speaking. 107 proof. B / $100 [BUY IT NOW FROM FROOTBAT]
Heaven Hill Grain to Glass Straight Bourbon 2nd Version (2025) Evaluate
Comparable method, with the identical mash of 52% corn, 35% rye and 13% malt, however the corn seed is varietal Beck’s 6225. Nonetheless 6 years outdated, aged on the Cox’s Creek rickhouse. Word that proof is down 2 ticks to 105. Fairly corn-heavy and toasty on the nostril, with ample barrel char evident, adopted by notes of rosemary and mint. Time in glass actually will get the inexperienced natural notes going, and shortly sufficient they overtake all the pieces else. The palate is good and earnest — Corn Pops with honey, a contact of charry burnt marshmallow and a fruitiness that takes its time to construct — cinnamon spiced apples, then cherry jam, with a strong caramel punch on the again finish, ringed with milk chocolate. Ample char informs the end, including a little bit of grit to what’s in any other case a fairly rockin’ whiskey — and one which, except for just a few similarities, doesn’t actually resemble the rocky 1st Version a lot in any respect. Particularly missing is that huge peanut punch within the 2024 model, and the daring cereal qualities within the first version are decidedly tempered right here. Is it the corn varietal? The rickhouse? The barrel picks? I acquired nothing, however I might recommend selecting this up when you’ve got the first Version readily available (sadly, I don’t) to do a facet by facet comparability. 105 proof. A- / $100 [BUY IT NOW FROM FROOTBAT]
Heaven Hill Grain to Glass Wheated Bourbon Evaluate
52% corn, 35% wheat, 13% malted barley. Fairly a distinct animal, and instantly rather more approachable and engaging. The nostril options muted spices towards an immersive backdrop of honey butter, fresh-cut grass, and cracked black pepper. More and more nutty because the whiskey develops in glass, however wholly missing any overt oakiness. The palate is good and, once more, loaded with peanut butter and honey notes, with any sense of wooden all however hidden away. A light-weight layer of baking spice lingers over a delicate top-note of toasted marshmallow, as a warming warmth soothes the throat, evoking notes of scorching cocoa. Only a contact of char on the end. This isn’t a very complicated bourbon, nevertheless it’s a pleasant alternative for cocktailing — or for deep-diving into what wheated bourbon is all about. I’m not alone right here, as that is the one whiskey within the assortment that’s seeing its value being pushed up. 121 proof. A- / $150 [BUY IT NOW FROM FROOTBAT]
Heaven Hill Grain to Glass Rye Evaluate
63% rye, 24% corn, 13% malted barley. Take the pungency of the straight bourbon above and double it, and also you’re within the realm of this rye. The nostril is a pushy powerhouse, intensely natural and peppery, like strolling by way of a subject of just-cut inexperienced grass — backed up by a lumberyard that’s been calmly torched across the edges. No surprises on the palate: The influence of the rye is heavy and rapid, and all-encompassing. Lots of the bourbon’s similar taste components seem right here however in variations, most of them scorching on the tongue: Rosemary and thyme, burnt pie crust, closely browned butter, and only a ton of cloves and black pepper to shut issues out. Whereas the bourbon hints at fruit components, the rye doesn’t, tamping them down into near-oblivion. It’s as aggressive a rye as you’ll encounter round these components — and if the concept was to let the grain do all of the speaking, that has succeeded admirably. 123.2 proof. B / $100 [BUY IT NOW FROM FROOTBAT]
Heaven Hill Grain to Glass Wheated Bourbon
$150
Visited 1,902 instances, 29 go to(s) at present
