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Everything you need to know about Heaven Hill Distillery
Most popular bottles from the distillery
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Heaven Hill 7 Year Old Kentucky Bourbon Bottled In Bond£68.99 Inc VAT -
Heaven Hill 10 Year Old Artful Dodger Single Cask Corn Whisky£169.99 Inc VAT -
Old Fitzgerald Kentucky Bourbon 7 Year Old Bottled in Bond£299.99 Inc VAT
A brief History
Heaven Hill Distillery, Kentucky Region, USA. Founded in 1935.
Heaven Hill isn’t a small craft upstart. It’s one of the biggest independent, family-owned distilleries in America — and it has been since 1935. Founded just after Prohibition ended, it began with a group of local investors in Bardstown, Kentucky. The Shapira family still runs it today.
If you drink bourbon regularly, you’ve almost certainly tasted Heaven Hill without thinking about it. They produce a wide range of brands, from affordable everyday bottles to serious aged releases that collectors chase.
Unlike many American whiskey companies that sold out to global drinks giants, Heaven Hill has stayed family-controlled. That independence has allowed it to focus on long-term ageing and maintaining deep stocks. After a devastating fire in 1996 destroyed seven rickhouses, they rebuilt — and expanded.
Heaven Hill isn’t flashy. It’s steady, large-scale, and deeply rooted in Kentucky tradition. If Scotch has Diageo, bourbon has Heaven Hill quietly doing similar heavy lifting.
Taste Profile
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Oaky / Woody |
Sweet | Rich / Chocolatey |
Heaven Hill bourbons follow a classic Kentucky pattern. Expect caramel and vanilla first, followed by baking spice and toasted oak. The texture is often full and warming.
Older expressions bring deeper notes — dark chocolate, roasted nuts, and richer wood character. Bottled-in-Bond releases tend to show more structure and spice, while entry-level bottles are smoother and sweeter.
There’s no peat smoke here. This is corn-forward American whiskey: sweet, bold, and oak-driven.
Top 4 Flavour Profile Ingredients
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Caramel / Toffee |
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Vanilla |
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Cinnamon / Clove |
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Oak / Wood Spice |
Most Popular Bottles
Elijah Craig Small Batch
One of their flagship bourbons. Rich caramel, vanilla, and oak spice. Widely respected.
Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond (7 Year Old)
High proof, structured, classic Kentucky spice. A favourite among enthusiasts.
Larceny Bourbon
Wheated mashbill. Softer, sweeter, rounder texture.
Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond
Premium wheated bourbon, released in limited decanter editions.
Evan Williams Black Label
Affordable and reliable. A staple bourbon worldwide.
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The Distillery
The Distiller: Heaven Hill Distillery
Address: 1311 Gikey Run Road, Kentucky, USA
 Open in maps |
 www.heavenhilldistillery.com |
 +1 502 337 1000 |
Visitor Centre & Opening Times
Yes — Heaven Hill has a large visitor centre in Bardstown called the Bourbon Heritage Center.
Typical opening hours
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Monday – Saturday: 09:00 – 17:00
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Sunday: 12:00 – 17:00
(Hours may vary seasonally)
Tours, tastings, and brand-focused experiences are available.
Ownership History
Current Owner
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Shapira Family (founding family, 1935 – present)
Heaven Hill has remained family-owned throughout its history, which is unusual in modern American whiskey.
Distillery Facts
Overview & History
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Founded in 1935 in Bardstown, Kentucky.
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Established shortly after the end of Prohibition by the Shapira family.
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One of the largest independent, family-owned spirits producers in the United States.
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Operates the Bernheim Distillery in Louisville and ageing warehouses in Bardstown.
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Suffered a major warehouse fire in 1996, losing significant ageing stock.
Production
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Produces a wide range of bourbon, rye, and wheat whiskeys.
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Uses multiple mash bills to create distinct flavour profiles.
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Ages whiskey in new charred American oak barrels.
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Known for large warehousing capacity and long-aged stocks.
Whiskey Style
Typical Heaven Hill characteristics include:
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Rich caramel and vanilla sweetness.
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Toasted oak and baking spice.
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Balanced corn sweetness with rye spice (in high-rye mash bills).
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Fuller-bodied compared to lighter bourbons.
Key Brands
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Elijah Craig – small batch and barrel proof releases.
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Evan Williams – widely distributed and value-focused.
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Larceny – wheated bourbon.
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Henry McKenna – bottled-in-bond bourbon.
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Rittenhouse – rye whiskey.
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Old Fitzgerald – bottled-in-bond decanter series.
Significance
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One of the largest producers of American whiskey.
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Major holder of long-aged bourbon stocks.
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Strong reputation for bottled-in-bond expressions.
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Influential in both premium and value bourbon categories.
Heaven Hill Whisky to Buy
Carefully Packed
& Protected
Every bottle is securely packed to ensure it arrives safely.
Free UK Delivery
Over £99
Secure delivery across the UK. Excludes Highlands & Islands.
Expert Whisky
Advice
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