Parker's Heritage 13 Year Wheat Whiskey

A treasure, a gift from Delilah's. This marks my second encounter with a Parker's expression. The first, the Heritage Orange Curacao, was outstanding. The Wheat 13 is equally exceptional. The general flavor profile was as expected - typical wheat whiskey notes. I'll omit the specifics as I would merely be repeating a previous assessment. However, in one aspect, I was genuinely surprised. At 67.5%, I'm quite sure this is the highest proof whiskey I've ever had. Yet, the ethanol was pleasantly integrated. The high proof amplifies the flavors without causing an aggressive burn. Had I not been so eager to try another Parker's, I might have skipped this, assuming a wheat whiskey at this proof would be overwhelmingly hot with muted flavors. Kudos to Heaven Hill! Now, if only they could increase production of these limited releases - they are difficult to find.

The aroma is sweet, floral, and potent, with hints of paper and wood. The proof hits hard, but it's a glorious intensity. Sweet caramel, spice, and notes of nutmeg are present, along with good vanilla. The finish is exceptionally long. It's full and rich in a way that's hard to connect with standard Bernheim. There's some Parker Beam expertise at play here. 6/13/17 It's been a year since my last tasting! Luckily, I managed to get the last available glass at No.9 Park in Boston. Potent aroma, intense sweet clove honey, some vanilla, maybe a faint grassy note. Wow, the palate is mellow, with immediate, persistent tingling spice and a gentle warmth that builds until you acknowledge the proof. You feel the proof in your chest more than your mouth. The floral honey note carries through, accompanied by some pleasant musty wood notes at the end. Truly excellent. Once again, the finish is incredibly long. 6/27/18

Wow, the aroma is absolutely divine. Sweet orange and cherry, warm oak, cinnamon candies, new leather, pie crust, and vanilla frosting. No ethanol detected despite the 63.7% ABV. This should be a candle scent. It has a silky, coating texture with a slow burn. Notes of chocolate chess pie, cinnamon, and the orange and cherry from the nose, with more baking chocolate, oak, and leather lingering for minutes. Truly one of the most complete spirits I've ever encountered. It offers everything. The nose is incredible, the palate is captivating and incredibly smooth, and the finish persists for minutes.

The visual is a deep, vibrant amber, nearly red, with thin legs that coat the glass. The aroma is a delightful blend of oak, cinnamon, vanilla, caramel, brown sugar, and chocolate. The palate is rich and dry, featuring cinnamon and chocolate that coat the mouth, alongside oak, vanilla, caramel, freshly baked bread, and a pleasant creaminess. The finish is long, warm, and spicy, with oak and chocolate that linger as the rest of the palate fades into a nice sweetness.

Sampled neat in a Glencairn at Jack Rose Saloon in DC. A true discovery, and a remarkable bargain, likely due to the menu listing it as a 3-year old instead of 13, resulting in a price far below its actual worth. The aroma is smooth and rich, with sweet caramel, vanilla, and toffee. The taste introduces some warmth and spice to the profile, remaining quite pleasant. It's 126.8 proof. The finish is extensive and pervasive, with notes of cinnamon, nutmeg, and wheat. Excellent. 7/4/19

Nose exhibits less alcohol, with notes of chocolate and cinnamon buns. Palate reveals alcohol, leather, and fruit. Finish is warm, quite hot, with a cinnamon burn that tingles the tongue, leaving a soft ember-like sensation and a slight bitterness/light oakiness. Lost a close blind tasting against Old Fitz 11 year. Parker's lacked the complexity of nose found in Old Fitz, and its finish was superior. Still a solid choice if you can locate it.