Parkers Heritage Collection

Fiery thick sweet spicy arrival develops a warm vegetable long slow finish.

Drank a glass of this one last night in a bar. I wasn't blown away by it. Personally, I like Bookers more and the Parkers was $22 a glass. Here are my notes:

Not sure which year this was. I think it was the 2013 if I'm not mistaken.

Nose: Butter scotch, artificial cherry cough drop flavor, vanilla, figs, all spice.

Palate: Luxurious thickness and mouthfeel; butter scotch, bitter oak that smoothed out with time in the glass and a touch of water; maple syrup, toasted Challah bread, butter, rye.

Finish: fairly long; cactus syrup, caramel, oak.

This bourbon exemplifies the reason I tend to favor scotch. It just didn't deliver for me. I would have enjoyed even a Highland Park 12 year, Aberlour 12, Glenfarclas 10 or 12, or a Clynelish 14 year more than this premium bourbon. Sorry, it's just one man's opinion.

This said, I really do love Pappy's 15, Bookers, and a few bottles of Buffalo Trace that were absolutely amazing over the past year. So I'm not a complete bourbon "heathen."

This said, I've tasted more Buffalo Traces that disappointed over the past year than enchanted my senses because of a few freakishly good bottles that were as tasty in the basic midrange palate as Bookers although not nearly as complex or lingering in the finish, of course.

Those bottles spoiled me. I'm sorry to say that I didn't own either of them. I came across them in bars in my neighborhood. Last winter/fall seems to have been a very good time to buy B. Trace, at least in Oregon.

As for the Pappy's, well, I will always try to get my hands on a bottle of that, so long as it stays almost as good as the 2011, which blew my socks off. It seems to be slipping a tad in terms of overall bombastic greatness, but not too much.

Parker Beam is a legend in the whiskey industry. He selected a couple of great casks from his 49 warehouses at Heaven Hill and bottles these in a series called Parker’s Heritage Collection. In an interview, Parker told us in his typical Southern drawl: ‘The barrels I have selected for this series represent some of the finest and most diverse whiskeys I have produced in my 45 years as a Master Distiller. I think they will pique the interest of many of today's whiskey aficionados.’ This is the fourth release, by the way, a 10 Year Old wheated bourbon.

The nose is somewhat hot and prickly, but that evaporates rather quickly. Then it turns sweet on young corn, dark bread and vanilla with a nice touch of mint. Hints of maple syrup makes it a bit rummy (is that a word?), as if it contains sugar cane.

The attack is powerful and spicy. Loads of oak, actually. Very sweet again. The rummy character lingers somewhat, which is not a disadvantage. I even get some apple brandy.

The finish is a bit too short to my taste, with an fresh uplift from the mint.

It can take water (the nose becomes a tad less interesting, but the palate remains good), but does not really need it. Thanks, Kris!

This was one of my earlier purchases and I hadn't tasted it in a long time. I just remembered that it was good. How good? I had totally forgotten!

The nose is a massive burst of vanilla, coconut, leather and burnt toast. Just like a good bourbon should be. But what sets this one apart is the crisp intensity of each aroma. Add to this a beautiful mix of ground coffee, a slice of chocolate cake, fresh tobacco and cardamom and you invariably reach for the non-existant six shooter by your side!

The taste is as explosive as the nose with caramel, vanilla, orange liqueur and big cinnamon playing a country song on your palate. Oaky honey and maple syrup cascade in next to round off a lip smacking delivery.

As the long, oily and spicy finish hints of boiled sweets and cigar box you can't help but salivate at the thought of the next sip.

A must-have winter night dram - preferably out in the open fields.

gift sample

Nose: Rather fruity (cherries and other pit fruit) at first. Shaved wood dust and corn sweetness. Honey-maple and dry coconut, and wood. Drop of cinnamon liqueur. Rich. Seems to be more than there is, but what's there is very good. Far softer wood. (with water) It's great, and needs to stay around or over 50% - below that and it loses too much - wood, great, simple wheat sweetness, vanilla, and candied almonds.

Palate: Honey, eggy French toast, dark cocoa, cedar, and cigars. A bit hot, but I really like this in drips and drops. Slightly acidic, leading to a bit of green apple at the mid-palate. (with water) great, simple honey-caramel sweetness, a light dollop of wood, corn, and more French toast.

Finish: Fades to great wood, and has just what a good wheater should have. Dry - not drying - wood finish. (with water) a little spicy and more French toast. some charred wood (ashy and earthy). Not sure whether I prefer it neat. It's got some residual heat, and it's extremely good.

This review is for Parker's Heritage Collection Golden Anniversary Bourbon. Released in 2009, this is the 3rd Edition in the series produced by Heaven Hill Distillery and master distiller Parker Beam.

Golden Anniversary is in celebration of Parker Beam's years of service with spirits from five different decades vatted together to make this a very unique and delicious whiskey. Barrels from the 3rd thru the highest floors of the rick house are represented with the oldest barrels/spirit being from 1968! Only 4500 bottles were released.

Recognized by Whisky Magazine as the "Best New Release" in 2010 and Malt Advocate naming it "American Whiskey of the Year" 2010, the awards and high ratings are well deserved.

Tasting was performed in a 16 oz. snifter, neat.

Nose: A symphony of well blended aromas of rich vanilla, some mint, oak hints, leather, citrus.

Palate: Very smooth and silky oil feel in the mouth, subtle sweet, citrus, then oak, followed with a dash of spice, pepper and again soft sweet notes.

Finish: Long lasting enjoyable smooth finish with a wonderful balance of all the aromas and flavors mingling together artfully. Minty, controlled oak, dancing bliss on the taste buds.

Balance: This is without a doubt one of my favorite whiskey's in my collection. With only 4500 bottles released, it's somewhat hard to believe this expression remains fairly available (the price tag of $150 helps support a longer shelf presence) but inventories are getting thin. I'll be sure to be adding to my two bottles already in the cabinet in order to enjoy this for years to come. SO SMOOTH!

This review is for Parker's Heritage Collection 10 Year Old 4th Edition. A wheated bourbon bottled in 2010, this is the 2nd dump sister of the first offering bottled earlier in the year (as Mr. Parker determined that all the barrels weren't quite ready at the same time). The first dump had slightly more ABV of 63.9%.

Produced by Heaven Hill Distillery, this is an expression pulled together from select barrels by famed master distiller Parker Beam (of the famous Jim Beam Bourbon family).

Dram tested in a 12 oz. snifter, neat, slight hand warming.

Nose: Molten brown sugar, ripe bananas, oak wrapped in vanilla. Ah, smells like freshly made Bananas Foster after a flambe presentation.

Palate: Smooth oily viscosity coats the mouth with well balanced dry sweetness with oak dovetailed in a shake of red pepper giving way to an E-Z dryish fade.

Finish: Nice follow thru package of not overly sweet brown sugar, pepper, vanilla oak covering the tongue evenly as the hints of all gradually release the senses into a calm peaceful place.

Balance: This cask strength non-chilled filtered expression is one smooth bourbon whiskey. For those who like "wheaters", this is a bottle that should be "parked" in the cabinet. With only 4800 bottles produced, this is something special and might want to consider grabbing a couple extras for the bunker.

Drank with 3 ice cubes.

Nose: Vanilla, Hay, Molasses, Chocolate, Leather, Slight Smoke

Body: Full body, chewy mouth feel, SMOOTH

Palate: Delicious! Belgian chocolate, Mexican vanilla, Canadian maple, hay, rain water.