The Details

Rating 95
Style
Whiskey
Produced In Kentucky
United States
ABV 50%
Availability Limited
Price $300.00 
Reviewed By
Review Updated 2025-02-05

Heaven Hill Heritage Collection 19-Year-Old Kentucky Straight Wheat Whiskey Review

The Heaven Hill Heritage Collection is back for 2025, and at 19 years old, it’s the oldest-ever wheat whiskey released by the distillery.

Released each Spring, the Heaven Hill Heritage Collection (HHHC) features expressions from one of the distillery’s six core mash bills: bourbon, wheated bourbon, rye, malt whiskey, corn whiskey, and wheat whiskey. The releases generally alternate, with every other year being a batched bourbon, and the years in between featuring other mash bills. Thus far, HHHC bottlings have all carried at least 17-year age statements, and the brand says the line is designed to stay over 15 years old.

Previous national release expressions have included 17- and 18-year-old bourbons (2022 and 2024) as well as a 20-year-old corn whiskey (2023).

The 2025 release is the first wheat whiskey in the lineup, and at 19 years, it’s the distillery’s oldest-ever wheat whiskey. (To our knowledge, it’s among the oldest-ever straight wheat whiskeys ever released on the American market.) The total release is made up of 277 barrels filled between August and September 2005, all of which were aged on the 5th and 6th floors of Rickhouse Y in Bardstown, Ky.

The whiskey is made from Heaven Hill’s “traditional” wheat whiskey mash of 51 percent wheat, 37 percent corn, and 12 percent malted barley. For those keeping track, that’s the same recipe as the distillery’s Bernheim brand of wheat whiskey, which is aged for around 7 years and released at both 90-proof and cask-strength.

Previously, Heaven Hill’s more experimental Parker’s Heritage line explored the wheat whiskey category, with both 11-year (heavy char barrels) and 13-year cask-strength expressions in 2021 and 2014, respectively. The 2014 release remains a personal favorite.

Speaking exclusively to VinePair about the latest HHHC, master distiller Conor O’Driscoll said his Whiskey Innovation Team first identified the barrels’ potential at 17 years old. When batching the final product, they narrowed proof options down to 107 and 100 before ultimately deciding on the latter. That makes it the lowest-proof HHHC expression thus far.

“All agreed the liquid shined the brightest at 100 proof, and that it was the sweet spot of not tasting over-aged, while still balancing both sweetness and peppery notes,” O’Driscoll says.

O’Driscoll also pointed out that wheat whiskey often carries the stereotype of leaning heavily sweet, but he’s hoping this version helps people rethink preconceived notions about the type.

“Since it’s often softer and less intense than rye or bourbon, some people think wheat whiskey is only for beginners. But there are a lot of complex and nuanced wheat whiskeys out there that can appeal to seasoned whiskey drinkers as well.”

Ultimately, the real test is tasting. Let’s dive in!

 Heaven Hill Heritage Collection 19-Year-Old Kentucky Straight Wheat Whiskey Review

Heaven Hill Heritage Collection 19-Year-Old Kentucky Straight Wheat Whiskey: Stats and Availability

This latest Heaven Hill Heritage Collection release carries a suggested retail price of $299.99, though if previous bottlings are any indication, expect to see this command some markups at both retail and in the secondary market. That said, nearly two-decade-old wheat whiskey is something of a novelty in American whiskey, which could help temper those prices just a bit. By my anecdotal observations, the 20-year corn whiskey from 2023 commanded less of a premium than the 17- and 18-year-old bourbons.

Like all HHHC editions, this wheat whiskey is highly limited in both U.S. and international distribution.

Heaven Hill Heritage Collection 19-Year-Old Kentucky Straight Wheat Whiskey Review

As with all of VinePair’s whiskey reviews, this was tasted in a Glencairn glass and rested for at least five minutes.

Nose

The whiskey is intensely spiced on the nose, and while the ethanol is hardly overpowering, the impact suggests liquid above the bottle’s 100 proof. Clove oil and tanned leather lead, bolstered by a quick hit of richly baked pineapple slices and maraschino cherries. Dark, cooked sugar and dense marzipan are up next. Combined with those aforementioned fruit notes, it’s reminiscent of the top (or perhaps bottom?) of a pineapple upside down cake, the syrup and dough heavily caramelized but stopping an inch or two short of burnt.

It’s a warm and inviting sequence of early aromas, with both tannic and sweet wafting out of the glass in near harmony. I’m picking up a noticeable amount of the cherry-forward spice wheat distillate can carry, but that doesn’t crowd out the more classic, bourbon-adjacent scents that will likely appeal to many drinkers.

That balance eventually leads into pronounced oak on the second, third, and fourth sniffs. On the nose, it’s more dried wood stave than barrel char, which pairs with a light composite of woody menthol, pine sap, and birch bark. I’m reminded of standing in the entryway of one of Heaven Hill’s Bardstown rickhouses: there’s a huge waft of wood, but it’s tempered by some fresh air blowing in off a grassy field next door. Menthol, spearmint, and freshly expressed green mint build just a bit with more time in the glass.

In all honesty, I was initially a little puzzled to see this release at 100 proof, especially given the higher ABVs of previous HHHC releases. But Heaven Hill’s team is on to something here. At 50 percent ABV, this wheat whiskey adroitly walks the line between dark, woody influence and the brighter, sweeter aspects that keep the aromas from getting bogged down. We’ve got a nose that implies the trappings of its age without turning into oak soup. It’s well executed.

Taste

This is practically ancient wheat whiskey, but as with the nose, a first sip generally avoids the pitfalls nearly two-decade-old spirits can fall victim to. A pop of bright red cherry syrup leads, quickly coating the palate in a red, fruity sweetness. The second sip shifts flavors toward both tart and spiced: it’s heavy on clove extract and peach skins, while both gentian and licorice roots lend wood-forward notes without conveying a lot of oak, at least at this juncture.

The midpalate is where this latest HHHC release separates itself from some of its predecessors, namely the well-aged bourbons in the lineup. Sweetness decrescendos from the early sips, less like oaky vanilla and more in the realm of semi-sweet allspice cookie, with even more baking spice extracts (clove, nutmeg, ginger) and white pepper blended in. There’s also a moderately doughy element of — surprise surprise — whole wheat bread, the grain influence kept in check by residual sweetness and tart fruit from earlier on. Naturally flavored mint gum follows toward the back of the tongue (none of the neon green variety here).

Final flavors on the back palate shift once again toward baking spice, particularly ginger, along with toasted coconut flakes. There’s a brief, all-too-fleeting moment where this wheat whiskey tastes very close to Chun Guang’s Ginger Coconut Candy. I found myself wishing it stuck around for a hair longer.

As much as I’m enjoying this at 100 proof, the mouthfeel is a tad less viscous than I might have hoped. It’s potent enough to carry its flavors well, though I would certainly be interested in trying this at the 107 batch proof O’Driscoll and team considered.

Finish

Despite not boasting a particularly thick mouthfeel, HHHC 19 Year Wheat Whiskey lingers well on the finish, though not quite as long as its bourbon predecessors in this series. Wood-forward spice, bright red cherry, and cooling menthol pair with pan caramel for a balanced final act that hits multiple points along the sweet-spiced-tannic spectrum. White pepper and candied ginger stick around until the very end.

Heaven Hill Heritage Collection 19-Year-Old Kentucky Straight Wheat Whiskey Rating

95/100

Recap

Heaven Hill’s latest Heritage Collection release continues the distillery’s efforts to highlight its wheat distillate. That was previously exemplified by two Parker’s Heritage releases, as well as the distillery’s 2023 nationwide expansion of Bernheim Cask Strength. This particular bottling pushes wheat into vastly new age territory, giving drinkers a glimpse of how the distillate holds up after nearly two decades in a barrel.

Most importantly, it’s a delicious, balanced offering most bourbon drinkers — the core target demographic — will enjoy. There’s plenty to enjoy from first sniff to final sip, with flavors that both invite and buttress wheat whiskey as a unique category all its own.

While part of me wishes for more proof (and potentially the lengthier finish that could bring), I admire O’Driscoll and team for showing restraint. They’ve released this at an accessible, welcoming proof that shines especially bright on the nose. If you come across a bottle, I’d recommend taking your time and enjoying the unique sip — I certainly did.

As of 2024, VinePair no longer participates in any affiliate programs. All links included in our content are as a convenience to our readers, not for earning commission — we receive no monetary value from them. Learn more about our tastings & review department here!

95
POINTS
Heaven Hill Heritage Collection 19-Year-Old Kentucky Straight Wheat Whiskey
The Heaven Hill Heritage Collection is back for 2025, and at 19 years old, it’s the oldest-ever wheat whiskey released by the distillery. Released each Spring, the Heaven Hill Heritage Collection (HHHC) features expressions from one of the distillery’s six core mash bills: bourbon, wheated bourbon, rye, malt whiskey, corn whiskey, and wheat whiskey. The releases generally alternate, with every other year being a batched bourbon, and the years in between featuring other mash bills. Thus far, HHHC bottlings have all carried at least 17-year age statements, and the brand says the line is designed to stay over 15 years old. Previous national release expressions have included 17- and 18-year-old bourbons (2022 and 2024) as well as a 20-year-old corn whiskey (2023). The 2025 release is the first wheat whiskey in the lineup, and at 19 years, it’s the distillery’s oldest-ever wheat whiskey. (To our knowledge, it’s among the oldest-ever straight wheat whiskeys ever released on the American market.) The total release is made up of 277 barrels filled between August and September 2005, all of which were aged on the 5th and 6th floors of Rickhouse Y in Bardstown, Ky. The whiskey is made from Heaven Hill’s “traditional” wheat whiskey mash of 51 percent wheat, 37 percent corn, and 12 percent malted barley. For those keeping track, that’s the same recipe as the distillery’s Bernheim brand of wheat whiskey, which is aged for around 7 years and released at both 90-proof and cask-strength. Previously, Heaven Hill’s more experimental Parker’s Heritage line explored the wheat whiskey category, with both 11-year (heavy char barrels) and 13-year cask-strength expressions in 2021 and 2014, respectively. The 2014 release remains a personal favorite. Speaking exclusively to VinePair about the latest HHHC, master distiller Conor O’Driscoll said his Whiskey Innovation Team first identified the barrels’ potential at 17 years old. When batching the final product, they narrowed proof options down to 107 and 100 before ultimately deciding on the latter. That makes it the lowest-proof HHHC expression thus far. “All agreed the liquid shined the brightest at 100 proof, and that it was the sweet spot of not tasting over-aged, while still balancing both sweetness and peppery notes,” O’Driscoll says. O’Driscoll also pointed out that wheat whiskey often carries the stereotype of leaning heavily sweet, but he’s hoping this version helps people rethink preconceived notions about the type. “Since it’s often softer and less intense than rye or bourbon, some people think wheat whiskey is only for beginners. But there are a lot of complex and nuanced wheat whiskeys out there that can appeal to seasoned whiskey drinkers as well.” Ultimately, the real test is tasting. Let’s dive in!  Heaven Hill Heritage Collection 19-Year-Old Kentucky Straight Wheat Whiskey Review

Heaven Hill Heritage Collection 19-Year-Old Kentucky Straight Wheat Whiskey: Stats and Availability

This latest Heaven Hill Heritage Collection release carries a suggested retail price of $299.99, though if previous bottlings are any indication, expect to see this command some markups at both retail and in the secondary market. That said, nearly two-decade-old wheat whiskey is something of a novelty in American whiskey, which could help temper those prices just a bit. By my anecdotal observations, the 20-year corn whiskey from 2023 commanded less of a premium than the 17- and 18-year-old bourbons. Like all HHHC editions, this wheat whiskey is highly limited in both U.S. and international distribution.

Heaven Hill Heritage Collection 19-Year-Old Kentucky Straight Wheat Whiskey Review

As with all of VinePair’s whiskey reviews, this was tasted in a Glencairn glass and rested for at least five minutes.

Nose

The whiskey is intensely spiced on the nose, and while the ethanol is hardly overpowering, the impact suggests liquid above the bottle’s 100 proof. Clove oil and tanned leather lead, bolstered by a quick hit of richly baked pineapple slices and maraschino cherries. Dark, cooked sugar and dense marzipan are up next. Combined with those aforementioned fruit notes, it’s reminiscent of the top (or perhaps bottom?) of a pineapple upside down cake, the syrup and dough heavily caramelized but stopping an inch or two short of burnt. It’s a warm and inviting sequence of early aromas, with both tannic and sweet wafting out of the glass in near harmony. I’m picking up a noticeable amount of the cherry-forward spice wheat distillate can carry, but that doesn’t crowd out the more classic, bourbon-adjacent scents that will likely appeal to many drinkers. That balance eventually leads into pronounced oak on the second, third, and fourth sniffs. On the nose, it’s more dried wood stave than barrel char, which pairs with a light composite of woody menthol, pine sap, and birch bark. I’m reminded of standing in the entryway of one of Heaven Hill’s Bardstown rickhouses: there’s a huge waft of wood, but it’s tempered by some fresh air blowing in off a grassy field next door. Menthol, spearmint, and freshly expressed green mint build just a bit with more time in the glass. In all honesty, I was initially a little puzzled to see this release at 100 proof, especially given the higher ABVs of previous HHHC releases. But Heaven Hill’s team is on to something here. At 50 percent ABV, this wheat whiskey adroitly walks the line between dark, woody influence and the brighter, sweeter aspects that keep the aromas from getting bogged down. We’ve got a nose that implies the trappings of its age without turning into oak soup. It’s well executed.

Taste

This is practically ancient wheat whiskey, but as with the nose, a first sip generally avoids the pitfalls nearly two-decade-old spirits can fall victim to. A pop of bright red cherry syrup leads, quickly coating the palate in a red, fruity sweetness. The second sip shifts flavors toward both tart and spiced: it’s heavy on clove extract and peach skins, while both gentian and licorice roots lend wood-forward notes without conveying a lot of oak, at least at this juncture. The midpalate is where this latest HHHC release separates itself from some of its predecessors, namely the well-aged bourbons in the lineup. Sweetness decrescendos from the early sips, less like oaky vanilla and more in the realm of semi-sweet allspice cookie, with even more baking spice extracts (clove, nutmeg, ginger) and white pepper blended in. There’s also a moderately doughy element of — surprise surprise — whole wheat bread, the grain influence kept in check by residual sweetness and tart fruit from earlier on. Naturally flavored mint gum follows toward the back of the tongue (none of the neon green variety here). Final flavors on the back palate shift once again toward baking spice, particularly ginger, along with toasted coconut flakes. There’s a brief, all-too-fleeting moment where this wheat whiskey tastes very close to Chun Guang’s Ginger Coconut Candy. I found myself wishing it stuck around for a hair longer. As much as I’m enjoying this at 100 proof, the mouthfeel is a tad less viscous than I might have hoped. It’s potent enough to carry its flavors well, though I would certainly be interested in trying this at the 107 batch proof O’Driscoll and team considered.

Finish

Despite not boasting a particularly thick mouthfeel, HHHC 19 Year Wheat Whiskey lingers well on the finish, though not quite as long as its bourbon predecessors in this series. Wood-forward spice, bright red cherry, and cooling menthol pair with pan caramel for a balanced final act that hits multiple points along the sweet-spiced-tannic spectrum. White pepper and candied ginger stick around until the very end.

Heaven Hill Heritage Collection 19-Year-Old Kentucky Straight Wheat Whiskey Rating

95/100

Recap

Heaven Hill’s latest Heritage Collection release continues the distillery’s efforts to highlight its wheat distillate. That was previously exemplified by two Parker’s Heritage releases, as well as the distillery’s 2023 nationwide expansion of Bernheim Cask Strength. This particular bottling pushes wheat into vastly new age territory, giving drinkers a glimpse of how the distillate holds up after nearly two decades in a barrel. Most importantly, it’s a delicious, balanced offering most bourbon drinkers — the core target demographic — will enjoy. There’s plenty to enjoy from first sniff to final sip, with flavors that both invite and buttress wheat whiskey as a unique category all its own. While part of me wishes for more proof (and potentially the lengthier finish that could bring), I admire O’Driscoll and team for showing restraint. They’ve released this at an accessible, welcoming proof that shines especially bright on the nose. If you come across a bottle, I’d recommend taking your time and enjoying the unique sip — I certainly did.

Reviewed On: 02-04-2025
95
POINTS
Heaven Hill Heritage Collection 19-Year-Old Kentucky Straight Wheat Whiskey
The Heaven Hill Heritage Collection is back for 2025, and at 19 years old, it’s the oldest-ever wheat whiskey released by the distillery. Released each Spring, the Heaven Hill Heritage Collection (HHHC) features expressions from one of the distillery’s six core mash bills: bourbon, wheated bourbon, rye, malt whiskey, corn whiskey, and wheat whiskey. The releases generally alternate, with every other year being a batched bourbon, and the years in between featuring other mash bills. Thus far, HHHC bottlings have all carried at least 17-year age statements, and the brand says the line is designed to stay over 15 years old. Previous national release expressions have included 17- and 18-year-old bourbons (2022 and 2024) as well as a 20-year-old corn whiskey (2023). The 2025 release is the first wheat whiskey in the lineup, and at 19 years, it’s the distillery’s oldest-ever wheat whiskey. (To our knowledge, it’s among the oldest-ever straight wheat whiskeys ever released on the American market.) The total release is made up of 277 barrels filled between August and September 2005, all of which were aged on the 5th and 6th floors of Rickhouse Y in Bardstown, Ky. The whiskey is made from Heaven Hill’s “traditional” wheat whiskey mash of 51 percent wheat, 37 percent corn, and 12 percent malted barley. For those keeping track, that’s the same recipe as the distillery’s Bernheim brand of wheat whiskey, which is aged for around 7 years and released at both 90-proof and cask-strength. Previously, Heaven Hill’s more experimental Parker’s Heritage line explored the wheat whiskey category, with both 11-year (heavy char barrels) and 13-year cask-strength expressions in 2021 and 2014, respectively. The 2014 release remains a personal favorite. Speaking exclusively to VinePair about the latest HHHC, master distiller Conor O’Driscoll said his Whiskey Innovation Team first identified the barrels’ potential at 17 years old. When batching the final product, they narrowed proof options down to 107 and 100 before ultimately deciding on the latter. That makes it the lowest-proof HHHC expression thus far. “All agreed the liquid shined the brightest at 100 proof, and that it was the sweet spot of not tasting over-aged, while still balancing both sweetness and peppery notes,” O’Driscoll says. O’Driscoll also pointed out that wheat whiskey often carries the stereotype of leaning heavily sweet, but he’s hoping this version helps people rethink preconceived notions about the type. “Since it’s often softer and less intense than rye or bourbon, some people think wheat whiskey is only for beginners. But there are a lot of complex and nuanced wheat whiskeys out there that can appeal to seasoned whiskey drinkers as well.” Ultimately, the real test is tasting. Let’s dive in!  Heaven Hill Heritage Collection 19-Year-Old Kentucky Straight Wheat Whiskey Review

Heaven Hill Heritage Collection 19-Year-Old Kentucky Straight Wheat Whiskey: Stats and Availability

This latest Heaven Hill Heritage Collection release carries a suggested retail price of $299.99, though if previous bottlings are any indication, expect to see this command some markups at both retail and in the secondary market. That said, nearly two-decade-old wheat whiskey is something of a novelty in American whiskey, which could help temper those prices just a bit. By my anecdotal observations, the 20-year corn whiskey from 2023 commanded less of a premium than the 17- and 18-year-old bourbons. Like all HHHC editions, this wheat whiskey is highly limited in both U.S. and international distribution.

Heaven Hill Heritage Collection 19-Year-Old Kentucky Straight Wheat Whiskey Review

As with all of VinePair’s whiskey reviews, this was tasted in a Glencairn glass and rested for at least five minutes.

Nose

The whiskey is intensely spiced on the nose, and while the ethanol is hardly overpowering, the impact suggests liquid above the bottle’s 100 proof. Clove oil and tanned leather lead, bolstered by a quick hit of richly baked pineapple slices and maraschino cherries. Dark, cooked sugar and dense marzipan are up next. Combined with those aforementioned fruit notes, it’s reminiscent of the top (or perhaps bottom?) of a pineapple upside down cake, the syrup and dough heavily caramelized but stopping an inch or two short of burnt. It’s a warm and inviting sequence of early aromas, with both tannic and sweet wafting out of the glass in near harmony. I’m picking up a noticeable amount of the cherry-forward spice wheat distillate can carry, but that doesn’t crowd out the more classic, bourbon-adjacent scents that will likely appeal to many drinkers. That balance eventually leads into pronounced oak on the second, third, and fourth sniffs. On the nose, it’s more dried wood stave than barrel char, which pairs with a light composite of woody menthol, pine sap, and birch bark. I’m reminded of standing in the entryway of one of Heaven Hill’s Bardstown rickhouses: there’s a huge waft of wood, but it’s tempered by some fresh air blowing in off a grassy field next door. Menthol, spearmint, and freshly expressed green mint build just a bit with more time in the glass. In all honesty, I was initially a little puzzled to see this release at 100 proof, especially given the higher ABVs of previous HHHC releases. But Heaven Hill’s team is on to something here. At 50 percent ABV, this wheat whiskey adroitly walks the line between dark, woody influence and the brighter, sweeter aspects that keep the aromas from getting bogged down. We’ve got a nose that implies the trappings of its age without turning into oak soup. It’s well executed.

Taste

This is practically ancient wheat whiskey, but as with the nose, a first sip generally avoids the pitfalls nearly two-decade-old spirits can fall victim to. A pop of bright red cherry syrup leads, quickly coating the palate in a red, fruity sweetness. The second sip shifts flavors toward both tart and spiced: it’s heavy on clove extract and peach skins, while both gentian and licorice roots lend wood-forward notes without conveying a lot of oak, at least at this juncture. The midpalate is where this latest HHHC release separates itself from some of its predecessors, namely the well-aged bourbons in the lineup. Sweetness decrescendos from the early sips, less like oaky vanilla and more in the realm of semi-sweet allspice cookie, with even more baking spice extracts (clove, nutmeg, ginger) and white pepper blended in. There’s also a moderately doughy element of — surprise surprise — whole wheat bread, the grain influence kept in check by residual sweetness and tart fruit from earlier on. Naturally flavored mint gum follows toward the back of the tongue (none of the neon green variety here). Final flavors on the back palate shift once again toward baking spice, particularly ginger, along with toasted coconut flakes. There’s a brief, all-too-fleeting moment where this wheat whiskey tastes very close to Chun Guang’s Ginger Coconut Candy. I found myself wishing it stuck around for a hair longer. As much as I’m enjoying this at 100 proof, the mouthfeel is a tad less viscous than I might have hoped. It’s potent enough to carry its flavors well, though I would certainly be interested in trying this at the 107 batch proof O’Driscoll and team considered.

Finish

Despite not boasting a particularly thick mouthfeel, HHHC 19 Year Wheat Whiskey lingers well on the finish, though not quite as long as its bourbon predecessors in this series. Wood-forward spice, bright red cherry, and cooling menthol pair with pan caramel for a balanced final act that hits multiple points along the sweet-spiced-tannic spectrum. White pepper and candied ginger stick around until the very end.

Heaven Hill Heritage Collection 19-Year-Old Kentucky Straight Wheat Whiskey Rating

95/100

Recap

Heaven Hill’s latest Heritage Collection release continues the distillery’s efforts to highlight its wheat distillate. That was previously exemplified by two Parker’s Heritage releases, as well as the distillery’s 2023 nationwide expansion of Bernheim Cask Strength. This particular bottling pushes wheat into vastly new age territory, giving drinkers a glimpse of how the distillate holds up after nearly two decades in a barrel. Most importantly, it’s a delicious, balanced offering most bourbon drinkers — the core target demographic — will enjoy. There’s plenty to enjoy from first sniff to final sip, with flavors that both invite and buttress wheat whiskey as a unique category all its own. While part of me wishes for more proof (and potentially the lengthier finish that could bring), I admire O’Driscoll and team for showing restraint. They’ve released this at an accessible, welcoming proof that shines especially bright on the nose. If you come across a bottle, I’d recommend taking your time and enjoying the unique sip — I certainly did.

Reviewed On: 02-04-2025