A little background

Parker’s Heritage Heavy Char 10 Year Bourbon is the 14th edition of the annual premium release, which continues the distillery’s commitment to support ALS research and patient care. The late Heaven Hill Master Distiller Parker Beam, for whom the acclaimed series is named, was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (also called ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease) in 2010. Parker’s Heritage Heavy Char 10 Year Bourbon uses the traditional Heaven Hill Bourbon mashbill of 78% corn, 12% malted barley and 10% rye. The 102 barrels that went into making this release spent 10-years aging in level 5 charred barrels (Level 3 is the standard Heaven Hill char level) on the sixth floor of rickhouse Y. This limited release bourbon is non-chill filtered, bottled at 120 proof, and has a suggested retail price of $120.

(Tasted neat from a Glencairn Glass)

Color

Darn Gold

Nose

Caramel, chocolate, maple syrupy, and a touch of corn bread. Slight hints of spearmint and red fruits as well. A truly beautiful nose!

Palate

Baking spice, cinnamon, caramel, syrup, and chocolate. The palate is quite warm and isn’t overly thick/viscous.

Finish

The heat from the palate really comes through onto the finish. Plenty of classic notes of Carmel, spice, cinnamon, dried wood, and smoke. The finish is long and a bit drying.

In closing

The nose on Parker’s Heritage Heavy Char 10 Year is one I could sit and smell for hours. It’s complex and a treat for the senses. The alcohol burn on the palate and finish is bit distracting . However, pleasant layers of spice, cinnamon, and chocolate and long finish really help to balance things out. For me, this is a perfect bourbon to enjoy in the cooler months outside by a fire. We love seeing bourbon being used to support a good causes, and the Parker’s Heritage Collection does that. At $120 Parker’s Heritage Heavy Char 10 Year Bourbon is a fantastic value and one we’d love to have on our shelf.