Heavy charred oak | Vanilla | Slight rye spice & caramel | Bold ethanol | Every scent is amplified including the ethanol

Sweet caramel | Vanilla | Baking spices | Peppercorn | Slight hint of dark cherries | Barrel char | Punchy spice

Caramel | Flashes of dark fruits | Charred oak | Dry leather | Big bold spice | Long & full of heat

Parker’s Heritage Heavy Char Bourbon is the 14th edition of this annual release. Following up on the heels of last year’s release of Heavy Char Rye, the company once again is focusing on the utilization of a char Level 5 to be the distinguishing factor of this release. This differs from the customary Level 3 that Heaven HIll normally uses. Unlike last year though, Heaven Hill has chosen to amplify the age and proof even higher, resulting in a 10 year 120 proof bourbon.

Where last year’s Parker’s Heritage edition was an overall disappointment, the bourbon version of Heaven Hill’s heavy char experiment thankfully is redemption for this often lauded and popular brand. While heat and char are still big factors, they thankfully don’t drown out the other flavors or make things too lopsided. Instead, the end result is a big bold high proof bourbon that balances its age and heavy char flavor profile against traditional bourbon flavor profiles and bold spice. This year’s  Heavy Char Bourbon isn’t the best Parker’s Heritage Collection bottle ever released, but it’s a big upgrade from last year’s rye release and one that is sure to please those looking for a bold high proof pour.