Heaven Hill Grain to Glass Bourbon Chinquapin Oak (2025 Release)

Intro Last year's Heaven Hill Grain-to-Glass releases were quite surprising, particularly the wheated and non-wheated bourbons; they turned out much better than I recalled. As I approached the 2025 lineup, I thought I'd grabbed the usual Grain-to-Glass versions again, only to find that Heaven Hill actually put out two parallel lines this year: The standard Grain-to-Glass series, and A Limited First Edition, fully matured in Chinquapin oak. What I have here is the First Edition Chinquapin non-wheated bourbon. Given how excellent the Chinquapin Wheated version was, I'm truly eager to see how this one compares, and I'm equally motivated to seek out the non-Chinquapin bottles now that I know they exist. Nose The aroma immediately hits with vibrant, juicy, candy-coated red apple – sweet and a little tart. Underneath, a layer of charred, tannic oak forms, bringing a deeper, darker character. As it breathes, the oak blends with notes of cinnamon-sprinkled pecans, the char giving those pecans a more roasted quality. The nose overall harmonizes fruit, char, and warm spice with remarkable clarity. Taste The palate starts with that same bright and flavorful juicy red apple. It vanishes quickly, yielding to a noticeably dry and spicy middle, revealing the significant rye content in this mash bill. Before the midpoint, the flavor shifts to roasted pecans, followed by a strong surge of tannic oak. It doesn't sting much initially, but the spice builds as the taste progresses. Towards the latter half, the cinnamon finally appears – a warm, tingly spice – alongside a hint of citrus. True to the nose, the citrus is orange zest (not sweet, not bright, slightly bitter), and it complements the drying oak and rye spice well. Finish The finish actually begins with a fleeting return of that juicy red apple, softened by a whisper of sweet honey, but this quickly fades as the rye asserts itself. After that, the finish becomes more tannic, reminiscent of black tea leaves rather than pure oak. It moves into a warm cinnamon layer, concluding with a dry, mildly sharp sensation. It's not exceptionally complex, but it's long, clean, and consistent with a high-rye profile. Conclusion Interestingly, this First Edition Chinquapin-matured non-wheated bourbon is nearly identical in quality to the wheated version, which I didn't anticipate. The bright, vivid apple notes add a unique dimension that distinguishes it and makes the experience genuinely enjoyable to explore. Despite the rye-forward mash bill, it stays balanced and pleasing: dry, spicy, tannic, yet also unexpectedly fruity at key moments. Even as a limited edition, it can still be found at retailers. At $120–$130 SRP, it's not cheap, but the skill and distinctiveness justify the cost. Meanwhile, the regular (non-Chinquapin) 2025 Grain-to-Glass bottles seem to be priced around $100, which is great news, especially now that I'm set on finding those as well. Overall, this is a skillfully crafted, distinctive bourbon that easily merits its place beside the wheated expression. Highly recommended at retail for anyone who likes exploring bourbon characteristics shaped by rye, unusual oak, and prominent fruit flavors.