William Heavenhill 13 Year Bottled in Bond (8th Edition)

The aroma is intensely smoky and also carries a very strong pine scent. There's a dusty peanut smell and sweet vanilla present as well. Once the bourbon settles in the glass, I detect a lemon candy aroma. The initial taste is very sweet, featuring vanilla, caramel, and milk chocolate. Towards the end, there's a black pepper and rye spice. It drinks a bit warmer than 100 proof, but the texture is notably oily and coats the mouth. Peanut brittle is also present, adding depth. The finish is quite pleasant and smooth. It provides a gentle warmth and leaves notes of sweet oak, charred barrel, and sweet caramel with traces of vanilla. This is precisely the finish one expects from a high-quality, aged bourbon. I'm very pleased to have acquired a bottle; it truly offers a classic representation of a well-matured bourbon. It's full of dense flavor without becoming overly unbalanced in any aspect.

Nose (neat): caramel, abundant caramel, chocolate, and vanilla. Nuts... water chestnut? Subtle smoke in the background. The smoke became more apparent as this breathed longer. Body: medium to full. Palate: caramel, pepper, vanilla. Finish: exceptionally long and smoky, with smoky caramel and tobacco; that's how a finish ought to be. Note: a sample of 1.5-2 ounces. After a doc swinsons 15 and early timed bib. So I’m feeling good. Also consumed 2 bottles of wine earlier today, so yeah. Tombstone on the TV contributes to this experience, as does being on the north shore of Lake Superior. Anyway, I'm excited for this even though I'll likely never obtain a bottle unless I'm in Kentucky. The dram continued to reveal itself after the first sip. The lingering smoky, tobacco, and burnt caramel notes are my favorite. The palate is classic with a full body, but what makes this special is the prolonged smoky finish.

I have to say, I'm a massive fan of Heaven Hill and was thrilled to get this bottle. Sadly, it didn't meet my hopes. This is my fourth or fifth taste, and each time I hold off on reviewing, thinking I overlooked something and decide to try again. To me, it's just incredibly dull in every way; nothing pops out except possibly a hint of peanut way at the end of the finish. It's not terrible, but it's no match for any Old Fitz or even the Elijah Craig Barrel Proofs. I don't regret buying it, but I wouldn't spend a lot at a bar for a glass either!

The nose presents honey, sweet and smooth peanut butter, with a subtle smoky undertone blending into an earthier, chocolate-sweetened center. Beyond green apple, I'm not detecting much fruitiness, nor vanillas or prominent caramels. On the palate, it's rich and substantial at 100 proof, beginning with sweet oak then transitioning to creamy Heaven Hill peanut butter. A burst of citrus and baking spice appears early, accompanied by soft, silky honey. It concludes with a semi-dry cocoa nib finish that extends, featuring cherries and chocolate.

Carmel, vanilla, barrel char, bing cherry with a touch of heat, but mostly like a candy bar in your mouth. This is divine. A top 5 for me.

Tried this during the Heaven Hill Distillery tour! It was a fantastic bourbon, incredibly smooth and packed with rich flavor. I absolutely recommend it!