Parker’s Heritage Collection Original Batch Wheat Whiskey

A little background

The Parker’s Heritage Collection is produced by Heaven Hill as an honorarium to Parker Beam. In 1975, Beam continued the tradition when he was named the 6th generation Master Distiller at Heaven Hill Distillery. Parker Beam was diagnosed with ALS in 2010 and passed away after a 7-year battle with the disease. In 2014, Heaven Hill released a wheated mash bill whiskey that was stated at 13 years old and had two different proofs, 127.4 proof and 126.8 proof. This particular review is based on the 127.4 proof variant. The exact mash bill is undisclosed, as are most things from Heaven Hill).  Parker’s Heritage Collection Original Batch Wheat Whiskey carried a very reasonable $90 MSRP.

(Tasted neat from a Glencairn Glass)

Color

Dark Orange Rust

Nose

The nose is magnificent. It is like if you pulled a loaf of warm, baked cherry bread right out of the oven and gave it a whiff. Upon a heavier nosing, I get sugar-coated dried cherries, a hint of sweet oak, and dark leather. The baked-bread note is very unique in a way that it doesn’t smell like a young whiskey, but an older whiskey that has a more complex yet similar nose profile of a younger one.

Palate

The palate is thick. I immediately get dark notes of cherry, baked bread, oak spice, cola, and leather. The cherry notes are thick and almost syrupy, and while doing the “Kentucky chew”, the whiskey thickens up even more on the mid-palate. It is not incredibly complex, but it does not need to be, as the flavors mentioned are so incredibly full that they leave no room for anything else.

Finish

The finish is long. I pick up notes of dark leather, the spice of a cigar box, oak spice, and cherries: all of which coat every single aspect of the palate. I could take several minutes between sips.

In closing

Parker’s Heritage Collection Original Batch Wheat Whiskey is nothing short of an outstanding whiskey. I could drink many bottles of this and never get tired of it. It hits all the notes and could be enjoyed by bourbon drinkers of any level. I only wish that I had been around when this got released to buy many bottles, as this is one of my favorite wheated whiskies to date. It definitely is a contender with the likes of William Larue Weller!

NOTE: The sample used for this review was provided at no cost courtesy of Heaven Hill Distillery. We thank them for the sample and for allowing us to review it with no strings attached.