William Heavenhill Bourbon (5th Edition)

Located on the 3rd floor, Rickhouse U, Barrel #2 (filled 2-6-03, emptied 4-20-17) Initially, this hit as one might anticipate from a 115 proof Elijah Craig. Intense cherry and prominent wood. At 14 years, it's certainly more musty wood but harmoniously balanced with vanilla frosting, a touch of heat, and hints of leather and cedar. There's more to it, but if you've sampled an EXBP, you know what to expect. No surprises, just slightly more varnish and aged wood after an additional 2 years. Chewy texture. Not necessarily thick, but the flavors are so concentrated that you experience 2-3 layers as you work it around your mouth. First, musty old oak and allspice, then more clove and fruit, followed by vanilla frosting and pecans, then just caramelized sugar and flan before a very extended wave of old oak, leather, dried figs, cherries, and perhaps even a hint of citrus (like a slightly bitter blood orange) and tobacco. This is akin to an ECBP with smoother edges, yet somehow possessing greater depth. It seemed slightly more fruit-forward than wood-dominated, but it handles its age gracefully. How they determine which mash bills, proofs, and ages qualify for the label remains a mystery, but I would have enjoyed being part of the barrel selection process to know precisely when this one should have been bottled.

The aroma begins with a rich burst of dry oak, floral rye spice, a hint of cherry syrup, as smooth notes of vanilla and brown sugar round it out. It's quite intoxicating to return to as it quickly mellows, offering a deeper exploration of what it has to offer. The palate is chewy and dry, filling the mouth with dry oak and intense rye spice, providing a very peppery sensation. Touches of cinnamon enhance the intensity as it combines with vanilla, creating a quite bold experience. It gradually calms, making the spice more pleasant while allowing for more exploration of the creamier notes. It manages to be smooth and spicy simultaneously, in a nuanced manner. The finish is medium long and tingly, with a lingering creaminess on the tongue. Incredible if savored slowly, allowing appreciation for the depth of flavors.

Tasting: 1.5 oz. (my wife didn't like hers, so I had double) pour into a sampling glen cairn glass at a Heaven Hill tasting event. First neat, then with 2 drops. Nose (4.0): Butterscotch, leather, and tobacco. This is a classic bourbon aroma that was the highlight of this sample. Palate (3.5): Caramel and oak are dominant, with some smokiness on the finish. This is a sweeter tasting bourbon that became a bit too dry for my preference. Finish (3.5): Decent. More oak and a lingering pecan note appear at the end. Overall: I preferred the ECBP A119 over this one during the tasting. At $249 a bottle, I couldn't justify the purchase. It's a good bourbon, not a great one in my view.

I didn't anticipate receiving this gem at the Heaven Hill tasting event, but I'm pleased I did. It's not a top choice, but definitely worth a taste. Butterscotch and toffee on the nose, brown sugar and dark chocolate on the palate, with an oily, smooth, melted dark chocolate finish.

I was expecting more from a bottle that costs $250. Strong burn that wasn't well balanced with water. Decent flavors of oak and smoke but too much spice overshadowed them. Not worth the cost of a bottle at all.

Sampled at the Heaven Hill Connoisseur tasting. Utterly unremarkable considering the age and price. Only slightly better than the EC Barrel Proof I have. I could not justify spending $249.99 on this at all.