Parker’s Heritage Collection, 13 Year Wheat Whiskey
For those who love wheated bourbons, this whiskey is for you. Wheat whiskies aren’t all that common but this 8th Edition of Parker’s Heritage from 2014 is some powerfully wonderful wheated goodness.
Parker’s Heritage Collection, 13 Year Wheat Whiskey
Distillery: Bernheim Distillery (Heaven Hill)
ABV: 63.4% // 126.8 proof
Age: 13 years
Batch: #2
Mash Bill: 51/39/10 (wheat/corn/barley)
Rickhouse: Floor Y, top floors
Vintage: September, 2000
Release: 2014
Color: Dark Mahogany
Non-chill filtered, Natural Color
Nose: Decadent. Walking into an old fashioned candy shop whith my father when I was very young. For those that love wheated bourbons, you will love this. 78% dark chocolate reduction covered coffee beans, salted peanut brittle and roasted nuts over constant notes of gorgeous oak. Caramel popcorn, frosted wheat flakes, creme brulee heavily singed, nutmeg and big bold wheat notes are the core of the nose. The back of the nose leading into the finish is all chocolate cacao & creamy vanilla spice. Decadent as hell.
Palate: Intensely rich, oily and again - decadent. Dark coffee & dark chocolate, cashews unsalted, smoky charred oak wood and rich vanilla. Thick dense caramel & thick menthol notes envelope the mid palate with whispers of dark bitter berries and ground coffee beans.
Finish: Long. Bitter chocolate & milk chocolate. Dark mocha, more coffee, oak barrel and heavy tannins. White pepper, oak wood smoke & shelled nuts, likely from the cashews on the palate. The wheat is noticeable as the backbone for this whiskey, from the nose all the way through the finish, underneath all the decadent confectionary notes.
Bourbon and House Rating: 91.5
If I was a bigger fan of wheated bourbons, then I would RAVE over this. If this was a blog soley about wheat whiskeys then I would easily give this a 100. No question. Fortunately that's not the case. This is an incredibly well executed whiskey, from A to Z. No small surprise coming from Bernheim. Their wheat whiskey is arguably unparalleled. Truly phenomenal stuff and an easy ‘A’ grade whiskey.