The Story
11 years. 122 proof. Non-chill filtered. The 15th Edition of Parker's Heritage Collection — Heaven Hill's annual tribute to the late Master Distiller Parker Beam — exploring the interaction of heavy barrel char with a wheat whiskey mashbill.
Each Parker's Heritage edition takes a different approach — mashbill experiments, cask finishes, and barrel char variations have all appeared across the 15-edition history of the series. The 15th Edition is one of the most technically specific: a wheat whiskey mashbill aged on the 6th floor of Rickhouse Y for 11 years, in barrels charred for one minute and 30 seconds at Level 5 — more than twice the duration of the standard Level 3 char (40 seconds) used in most bourbon production.
Only 75 barrels were selected for this release. The heavy char creates a deeper carbon layer inside the barrel, which filters the spirit differently and concentrates certain flavor compounds. In a wheat whiskey — already softer and sweeter than rye-recipe spirits — the Level 5 char produces an unusually rich result: soft sweetness with molasses and butterscotch character, cut to 122 proof and non-chill filtered to preserve the texture and depth.
Tasting Notes
- Appearance: Deep amber from 11 years and Level 5 char contact.
- Nose: Rich and warm — molasses, butterscotch, and a vanilla sweetness from the wheat mashbill.
- Palate: Soft and rich — the heavy char's influence produces a sweetness and texture that standard char levels don't achieve. Molasses, toffee, and warm grain.
- Finish: Long and satisfying — butterscotch and oak spice fading into a warm, clean close.
Specs
- Distillery: Heaven Hill Bernheim Distillery, Louisville, Kentucky
- Style: Kentucky Straight Wheat Whiskey
- Age: 11 years
- Rickhouse: Y, 6th floor
- Char level: Level 5 (90 seconds vs. standard 40 seconds)
- Barrels: 75
- Proof: 122 (61% ABV)
- Bottling: Non-chill filtered
- Size: 750ml
- Series: Parker's Heritage Collection, 15th Edition
Explore the full Parker's Heritage collection or browse all bourbon at Wooden Cork.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the difference between char levels? American bourbon barrels are charred on the inside before filling — typically at Level 3 (approximately 40 seconds). Level 5 is 90 seconds — more than twice as long. The heavier char creates a deeper carbon layer that filters the spirit differently, concentrating certain sweet and smoky compounds while mellowing others. The 15th Edition was designed to explore how this extreme char interacts with a wheat mashbill specifically.
- What is a wheat whiskey vs. a wheated bourbon? A wheated bourbon uses wheat as a secondary grain (replacing rye) within a corn-majority mashbill. A wheat whiskey uses wheat as the primary grain — typically 51% or more wheat. The 15th Edition is a wheat whiskey, not a wheated bourbon, making it rarer and more unusual in the American whiskey landscape.
- Who was Parker Beam? Parker Beam served as Heaven Hill's Master Distiller from 1975 until his ALS diagnosis in 2013. He was one of the longest-serving Master Distillers in bourbon history. He passed away in 2017 at 75. The Parker's Heritage Collection bears his name as a tribute to his four decades of service.
- Is the 15th Edition still available? In limited quantities. Parker's Heritage editions are annual and limited — not restocked once sold out.
Description
11 years. 122 proof. Non-chill filtered. The 15th Edition of Parker's Heritage Collection — Heaven Hill's annual tribute to the late Master Distiller Parker Beam — exploring the interaction of heavy barrel char with a wheat whiskey mashbill.
Each Parker's Heritage edition takes a different approach — mashbill experiments, cask finishes, and barrel char variations have all appeared across the 15-edition history of the series. The 15th Edition is one of the most technically specific: a wheat whiskey mashbill aged on the 6th floor of Rickhouse Y for 11 years, in barrels charred for one minute and 30 seconds at Level 5 — more than twice the duration of the standard Level 3 char (40 seconds) used in most bourbon production.
Only 75 barrels were selected for this release. The heavy char creates a deeper carbon layer inside the barrel, which filters the spirit differently and concentrates certain flavor compounds. In a wheat whiskey — already softer and sweeter than rye-recipe spirits — the Level 5 char produces an unusually rich result: soft sweetness with molasses and butterscotch character, cut to 122 proof and non-chill filtered to preserve the texture and depth.
Tasting Notes
- Appearance: Deep amber from 11 years and Level 5 char contact.
- Nose: Rich and warm — molasses, butterscotch, and a vanilla sweetness from the wheat mashbill.
- Palate: Soft and rich — the heavy char's influence produces a sweetness and texture that standard char levels don't achieve. Molasses, toffee, and warm grain.
- Finish: Long and satisfying — butterscotch and oak spice fading into a warm, clean close.
Specs
- Distillery: Heaven Hill Bernheim Distillery, Louisville, Kentucky
- Style: Kentucky Straight Wheat Whiskey
- Age: 11 years
- Rickhouse: Y, 6th floor
- Char level: Level 5 (90 seconds vs. standard 40 seconds)
- Barrels: 75
- Proof: 122 (61% ABV)
- Bottling: Non-chill filtered
- Size: 750ml
- Series: Parker's Heritage Collection, 15th Edition
Explore the full Parker's Heritage collection or browse all bourbon at Wooden Cork.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the difference between char levels? American bourbon barrels are charred on the inside before filling — typically at Level 3 (approximately 40 seconds). Level 5 is 90 seconds — more than twice as long. The heavier char creates a deeper carbon layer that filters the spirit differently, concentrating certain sweet and smoky compounds while mellowing others. The 15th Edition was designed to explore how this extreme char interacts with a wheat mashbill specifically.
- What is a wheat whiskey vs. a wheated bourbon? A wheated bourbon uses wheat as a secondary grain (replacing rye) within a corn-majority mashbill. A wheat whiskey uses wheat as the primary grain — typically 51% or more wheat. The 15th Edition is a wheat whiskey, not a wheated bourbon, making it rarer and more unusual in the American whiskey landscape.
- Who was Parker Beam? Parker Beam served as Heaven Hill's Master Distiller from 1975 until his ALS diagnosis in 2013. He was one of the longest-serving Master Distillers in bourbon history. He passed away in 2017 at 75. The Parker's Heritage Collection bears his name as a tribute to his four decades of service.
- Is the 15th Edition still available? In limited quantities. Parker's Heritage editions are annual and limited — not restocked once sold out.
