About two months ago, Heaven HIll Distillery announced an additiont to their limited edition whiskey lineup - Grain to Glass expressions finished in Chinquapin Oak barrels. The innaugural release offered a Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey, a Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, and a Kentucky Straight Wheated Bourbon Whiskey, all with the Beck's 6225 grain backbone. Chinquapin Oak is a specific type of American white oak, found primarily in Central and Eastern North America. We have a bottle of the "normal" HH Grain to Glass Bourbon in our home bar and we really enjoy that one, so we were really stoked to taste the three expressions that were generously provided by Heaven Hill back to back.
The Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey has a dark brown, almost aged copper appearance and it carries a mash bill of Rye (63%), Corn (24%) and Malt (13%). The bottle suggests this is a 7 year age stated whiskey by the bottled and released years, but specific dates aren't provided so it could be just shy of that mark. Caramel, roasted coffee bean, pepper and sweet vanilla are evident in both the nose and on the palate. This bottle showed some earthy qualities and a very long finish that warms the soul. If he were pressed to select a favorite, Jeff would say this one stood out among the three bottles tasted.
ABV: 53.5% (107 proof)
Distillery: Heaven Hill Distillery
Suggested retail price: $129.99
Drink The Bottles score: 94/100
Mutt, on the other hand, was a huge fan of the Heaven Hill Grain to Glass Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Chinquapin Oak Finish. He felt it was superior to the conventional Grain to Glass release. Golden reddish rust color with lifting aromas of toasted nuts, crème brûleé, oak and vanilla. There's a lot going on with this mouth-coating whiskey, introducing flavors of red fruits, cherry tobacco, pecan sandie and honeycomb. The finish is a little shorter than we expected, but it is sweet and satisfying. There's a richness to this bottle that made this Mutt's favorite of the three. The mash bill on this is Corn (52%), Rye (35%) and Malt (13%).
ABV: 52.5% (105 proof)
Distillery: Heaven Hill Distillery
Suggested retail price: $129.99
Drink The Bottles score: 93/100
The Heaven Hill Grain to Glass Wheated Bourbon Whiskey
Chinquapin Oak Finish rounds out the trio in the allocated release. Similar in color to the straight bourbon whiskey, but with hues of orange. A mash bill of Corn (52%), Wheat (35%) and Malt (13%) lays a foundation to this seven-year beauty with aromas of oak, butterscotch, fresh berry jam and flower boquet. Breakfast pastry, brown sugar, cashew brittle and baking spices are dominant on the palate. A nice little introduction of mild spice kicks in at the finish and for folks who seek out wheated bourbons, this one is solid all around. All three of these releases are bottled in 700mL bottles with a specialty label.
ABV: 52.5% (105 proof)
Distillery: Heaven Hill Distillery
Suggested retail price: $129.99
Drink The Bottles score: 91/100
