Parker’s Heritage Collection Malt Whiskey Review

Over the years, Parker’s Heritage Collection has been an array of really interesting whiskeys. A cognac finished bourbon, a wheated bourbon, a 27 year old bourbon, and a cask strength wheat whiskey are some of the highlights of what is usually a very solid annual release. While all of the whiskey nerds were desperately hoping for something like a higher aged/proofed Rittenhouse rye for the 2015 release, what we got instead was a Kentucky straight malt whiskey. As expected, the collective response in bourbon circles was pretty much WHAT THE FUCK?

While the majority of the bourbon neckbeards were hurling their angst as furiously as they could on social media in opposition to this grave injustice, I actually thought it sounded pretty good. I’ve enjoyed the few other American malt whiskeys I’ve had like Stranahan’s Diamond Peak and Balcones Single Malt. Given that this one was much older than those, highish proof, and had the solid reputation of Parker’s Heritage Collection behind it, I was willing to give Heaven Hill the benefit of the doubt and seek out a bottle.

Aged 8 years; 54% ABV; $90

Nose: Breaths hotter than it should for 108 proof. Once you get over the heat it’s mostly wood notes like caramel, vanilla, and some unpleasant wood varnish. I feel like the heat is masking indications it’s a malt whiskey.

Taste: Much like the nose in that the wood notes are very dominant with typical vanilla, caramel, and honey flavors. Also like the nose, it drinks a lot hotter than it should given the proof. The corn influence is very noticeable and gives it the semblance of fresh bourbon new make or “distiller’s beer” if you’ve ever tasted that at a distillery. The corny taste along with the malt gives it something I would liken to cornflakes cereal.

Thoughts: I can’t get over how hot this drinks for something that is only 108 proof. I find that usually some air time in the bottle with higher proof whiskeys tends to improve them but I feel that hasn’t helped here at all. I also can’t get over how young and raw this tastes to be aged stated at 8 years. Tasted blind, I would have guessed this was a ~5 old whiskey. It’s not the worst whiskey I’ve ever had but I wouldn’t call it good which by Parker’s Heritage Collection standards makes it rubbish.

Rating: C-

Value: As always, I don’t factor price into my ratings. While it is commendable that a portion of the proceeds here goes towards ALS research, I wouldn’t be comfortable recommending this release at any price.

Parker’s Heritage Collection Wheat Whiskey Batch 1 & 2 Reviews

There was a time years ago when I liked the standard offering of Bernheim’s Wheat Whiskey. These days though I suppose my tastes have matured because I find it too light and ripe for my liking. That shouldn’t be surprising though because one of the primary influences of adding wheat to a mashbill is that it tends to both sweeten and soften up the final product. That additional sweet and softness has the added benefit of allowing it hold up better to bitter barrel tannins that can come with more years in the wood. Because of that I was elated when it was announced that the 2014 Parker’s Heritage Collection would be the original batch of Bernheim Wheat Whiskey aged at 13 years and bottled at cask strength. My hope was that the wheat would tone down the heat that comes with that much proof and the extra years in the wood would add some nice depth. The following is a review of both batches released in 2014 compared in a blind side by side to address any batch variation. Special thanks to /u/hispes for his assistance in locating batch 1 of this which seemed to be the harder to find of the two.

63.7% ABV (Batch 1) and 63.4% ABV (Batch 2); Aged 13 Years; ~$100

Nose: A lot of sweet candy caramel, light cinnamon, a soft woodiness, and slight furniture polish. After letting it air out for about 30 minutes the furniture polish note subsided. 
Batch Variation: None that I can tell.

Taste: A salty caramel bomb with heaps of sweetness and a lot of wood. It tastes like someone sat a bowl of sugar daddy candies by a campfire. It drinks pretty warm and leaves a hot cinnamon tingle in the finish but I think the wheat is doing a fair job of softening things up. Everything about this one is sweet and bold oak. Adding a few drops of water really opens it up even more bringing forward some dark fruity flavors like dates to the mid-palate. The addition of water also rounds out the somewhat hot finish turning it into more of a sugary cinnamon toast crunch cereal. 
Batch Variation: Minimal at best. The second sample was slightly richer at times and had some more pronounced cinnamon flavors in the nose and finish. My guess was that sample two was the first batch (63.7%) and sure enough it was. At the end of the day I would rate them the same.

Thoughts: This whiskey was everything I had hoped it would be when it was announced. If I had to be picky I would say it is a bit too hot in the finish but adding a few drops of water seems to put it in a great place. If you aren’t a fan of sweet flavors, don’t like a lot of heat, or don’t care for some woodiness then this one is not for you. If you are like me though and those things sound like a fantastic combination then this is a really good whiskey.

Rating: A-

Parker's Heritage Collection Promise of Hope Review

Up tonight is a review of another bottle from last season that is getting kicked out of the bunker in order to make room for the impending bourbon avalanche (fall release season) nearly upon us. I'm feverishly knocking out bottles to make room on my shelves and while I am at it I figure I will review each bottle when it's cashing out. Up tonight we have a bottle that has been generally well received but I feel maybe doesn't get all the accolades it deserves. I knew I liked it but my opinion of it was boosted considerably when it finished second only to the 2013 Four Roses Small Batch LE in my whiskey group's blind tasting against other 2013 allocated items earlier this month.

48.0% ABV; Aged 10 years; $90

The nose is pretty typical of a well rounded bourbon. The ethanol alcohol is contributing to a faint furniture polish scent but mostly it's all the other stuff you really want - pervasive oak and lots of sweet wood sugars. The sweetness comes in the form of classic caramel and maple syrup.

The taste is sweet and creamy with slight hints of spice. Up front there is honey, vanilla, and lots more of the syrups from the nose. All of that is intermingled towards the backend with less sweet notes of cinammon rye, light barrel char, and an earthiness like mowed grass. The finish lasts for a good bit and has deeper resounding sweet notes.

It's an extremely balanced bourbon but I wouldn't go so far as to say it's that complex. I don't feel like this one has any tricks up its sleeve - everything with it is just all out on the table. It's not going to bowl you over with outstanding individual characteristics. It's just a straight up, classic, well rounded, no bullshit bourbon. Ironically for me I find that is what does make it outstanding, if that makes any sense.

Rating: A-