The 2024 edition of Parker’s Heritage Collection marks the 18th entry for the brand. The release consists of 128 barrels of 14-year-old malt whiskey, which were aged in the upper floors of Rickhouses O and Q. The whiskey was dumped and re-barreled for 4 months in 56 larger used Cognac barrels that were reconstructed to include a handful of new heavy toast staves. This year’s edition was made in partnership with Master Blender Alain Royer, who Heaven Hill has partnered with on two previous Parker’s Heritage Collection releases.

‍‍‍‍Like all releases starting with 2013’s Promise of Hope, Heaven Hill will contribute a portion of the proceeds from each bottle sold to the ALS Association in honor of the late Heaven Hill Master Distiller Parker Beam.

The unique nature of the finishing barrels definitely shows through in the aroma as the base whiskey is enhanced and elevated all around. Nicely integrated and expressive scents waft from the glass to start the sip. Rich scents of brown sugar and vanilla mingle with aged charred oak and a hint of smoke. Berry jam and dark fruits add a subtle sweetness to the mix, while toasted marshmallow and baked tart add further intrigue. The overall aroma is a great way to start things off and pulls you in over and over to dissect the various scents threaded throughout.

The finishing barrel continues to hold influence as bold, dry, charred oak pulls through. A tingly peppercorn spice pops while the dark fruits from the nose pull over to add a quick hit of sweetness. A dough note also works its way in and mixes with the spice as they push the other flavors aside. It’s an interesting and thoroughly enjoyable combination and plays well to the strength of the mashbill and finishing barrel, however, the dryness of the sip ultimately holds it back from its full potential.

The finish carries over the drier notes of the midpoint, with peppery dry oak and a doughy note bursting forward. A subtle peppercorn spice and leather undertone follows, along with a quick dash of dried apricot. Compared to the nose and palate, the finish is more straightforward and not as deep in composition. It’s a suitable way to end the sip.

This year’s Parker’s Heritage Collection is a combination of past releases to form an all-new mashup. In 2011, Parker’s Heritage Collection: Cognac Finish was released as the 5th edition in the series.  In 2015, Heaven Hill released Parker's Heritage Collection: Malt Whiskey, which was the 9th edition in the series and consisted of 8 year old malt whiskey that utilized the same mashbill as this year’s edition. While not quite the same as a heavy toast, from 2019 to 2021, the 13th-14th editions of the series focused on heavy char barrels.

Pulling from lessons learned in the past results in a combination of mashbill and finishing barrel that hasn’t been seen before from the likes of Heaven Hill or really any American whiskey company for that matter. American malt lovers who missed out 9 years ago have a chance to taste a high aged Heaven Hill malt, while those who enjoy a finished whiskey will be excited by the combination of the Cognac barrels and heavy toast that was applied. However, none of this really matters unless the whiskey itself is able to pull from all of the parts that make it whole.

Parker’s Heritage Collection: Malt Finished in Reconstructed Heavy Toast Cognac Barrels produces an interesting sip. It’s clearly influenced by the Cognac barrels, but tastes different than a traditional Cognac barrel finished whiskey. The heavy toast morphs the Cognac influence, pulling in sweet notes but also more earthy ones to balance them out. Utilizing malt as the base provides an additional layer of intrigue to work through. The sip taken as a whole is well above average, but it’s the willingness of Heaven Hill to combine so many various elements from past collections that make this distinctly unique.

‍

With few exceptions, limited edition releases seem to be going up in price year over year without fail. As a whiskey consumer, it can often be frustrating to see your favorite limited edition continue to rise in price without any real justification. Case in point is this year’s Old Forester Birthday Bourbon.  

The intriguing thing when it comes to the Parker’s Heritage Collection is that the price for any given year varies by the release. In the last 5 years alone, it’s been as low as $120 and as high as $185. The fact that Heaven Hill prices it based on the whiskey used in the release is something that should be commended nowadays. All things considered, while it may seem high at face value, an MSRP of $170 for a 14 year malt whiskey that has been finished in a unique finishing barrel is actually a very reasonable price in today’s market.

This year’s edition of Parker’s Heritage adds another chapter to the often intriguing limited edition series. With each release being completely different from the one that came before it, and a price that fluctuates year to year, consumers are presented each edition with something new to look forward to every year. Parker’s Heritage Collection: Malt Finished in Reconstructed Heavy Toast Cognac Barrels is no exception.

This year’s edition is certainly intriguing, delivering a well aged malt whiskey that has been influenced by its unique finishing barrels. At the same time however, the sip also leaves you wanting just a bit more from it, specifically its finish. Overall, though this is a very solid offering from Heaven Hill, and in a sea of limited edition releases in 2024, it stands out thanks to its unique construction, and in a way, it acts as a celebration of the brand as a whole.