Earlier in 2009, BourbonBlog.com released our bourbon review video episode below of The Parker’s Heritage Collection Golden Anniversary Bourbon. We told you that it has a “unforgettable flavor and one of the longest finishes ever.” Mike Veach also shared his review on this outstanding Bourbon on BourbonBlog.com. We aren’t alone in loving this Bourbon as it was just awarded the highest honor being named “American Whiskey of the Year” in the 16th annual Malt Advocate Whisky Awards, given yearly by Malt Advocate Magazine publisher and editor John Hansell.
According to the organizers, “The Malt Advocate Whisky Awards exist to recognize excellence in the world of whisky. Now in their sixteenth year, these awards are the oldest and longest-running annual whisky awards program. They honor the world’s greatest whiskies and distilleries, and the individuals who make and promote them.” In awarding the American Whiskey of the Year to Parker’s Heritage Collection Golden Anniversary Bourbon, the organizers praised it as “…a fabulous whiskey; seamless, incredibly complex, with an impeccable marriage of youth and maturity.”
With the awarding of Malt Advocate’s American Whiskey of the Year, the annual series of whiskeys bottled under the Parker’s Heritage Collection, while only in their third release, have already garnered two of the biggest available industry awards. Last year’s second release, a 27-year-old Bourbon, was the first American Whiskey ever named “Best of Show, Brown Spirits” at the prestigious San Francisco World Spirits Competition. The series is a limited edition collection of American Whiskeys, produced by Heaven Hill Distilleries, named for and honoring 6th generation Master Distiller Parker Beam. This year’s Golden Anniversary edition commemorated Parker’s 50 years at Heaven Hill, the nation’s largest independent family owned and operated spirits producer and the world’s second largest holders of aging Bourbon, by marrying barrels from each decade of Parker’s 50 years with Heaven Hill. The Golden Anniversary is available in limited quantities until next Fall, bottled at 100 proof and at a national average retail price of $150 for a 750ml bottle.
Malt Advocate also announced its worldwide “Top Ten New Whiskies for 2009”. This list included not only the Parker’s Golden Anniversary Bourbon, but also Heaven Hill’s Rittenhouse Very Rare 25-year-old Single Barrel Rye.
Hansell, one of the world’s leading authorities on whiskies/eys, specifically praised the Golden Anniversary bottling as “…a classic bourbon that’s very complex, yet very drinkable.” In his review in Malt Advocate Magazine, he scored the Bourbon as a 97 out of 100 points, making the Parker’s Heritage Collection Golden Anniversary the highest rated American Whiskey ever in the publication’s nearly 20 year history.
“It’s quite an honor to win this award from John and Malt Advocate Magazine,” Parker Beam tells BourbonBlog.com. “Just having this edition recognizing my 50 years at Heaven Hill was a thrill, and this just makes it more so.”
Founded in 1934, Bardstown, KY-based Heaven Hill Distilleries, Inc. is the nation’s largest independent, family-owned and operated spirits producer and marketer and the world’s second-largest holder of Kentucky Bourbon. For our archives of coverage relating to Heaven Hill Brands on BourbonBlog.com, click this link. Heaven Hill’s diversified portfolio of brands includes The Christian Brothers Brandies; Evan Williams and Elijah Craig Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskeys; Burnett’s Vodkas and Gin; Hpnotiq Liqueur; PAMA Pomegranate Liqueur; Lunazul and Two Fingers Tequilas, and Dubonnet Aperitif.
Special thanks to Firefly Southern Grill and Cinephreak Pictures on the video above.
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