For years there were just two releases in this ultra limited series. Now there’s a third.
Heaven Hill
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Heaven Hill makes several very affordable, and at least in some states, widely available bourbons that whiskey fans obsess over. The company’s Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bonddecanter series sits on the opposite side of the brand’s offering spectrum.
This limited run typically includes two annual releases: a spring, green-labeled bottle and a fall, black-labeled bottle. Both releases on their own are coveted by collectors and have ranged in age from 8 years to a whopping 19.
But occasionally, a third, even more exclusive “VVS” release is offered.
VVS stands for Very Very Special Release for good reason. These red-labeled bottles have appeared only twice in the line’s seven years of existence until this year.
Celebrating the a company’s saving grace after one of the biggest disasters in bourbon-making history.
The newly revealed third edition in the Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond VVS Decanter Series celebrates the brand’s acquisition of the historic Bernheim Distillery in April of 1999.
As mundane as that event sounds, the acquisition saved the company. In 1996, some of Heaven HIll’s whiskey warehouses in Bardstown, KY, mysteriously caught fire, setting off an epic blaze. As Max Shapira, executive chairman of Heaven Hill Brands, shared, the disaster destroyed about 100,000 barrels of bourbon worth roughly 30 million dollars. What’s worse, it also destroyed the company’s distillery. The event remains the largest distillery fire disaster in U.S. history.
In Shapria’s words, “The Bernheim Distillery became the lifeblood of Heaven Hill after the setback from the fire and has been ever since.”
Heaven Hill
What Old Fitzgerald shares in common with Pappy Van Winkle
Like the hyped-to-death Pappy Van Winkle, Old Fitzgerald is one of the relatively few bourbons on the market made with wheat as a secondary grain and bourbon’s mandatory corn. Specifically, Old Fitzgerald is made from Heaven Hill’s wheated mashbill – i.e., the particular proportion of ingredients – which consists of 68% corn, 20% wheat, and 12% malted barley.
Wheat in bourbon is generally known to add a smoother and sweeter taste to the whiskey, especially compared to those made with a higher rye content.
I, as well as at least one of other bourbon fan, tend to think wheated bourbon can taste very raw when young. “Wheaters” that have aged for 10+ years, though, usually taste glorious, and unfortunately, there are very few bourbons on the market that are both aged to that point and made with a wheated mashbill.
That’s another reason why The Old Fitzgerald line, especially the decanter series, is such a rare treat to drink.
Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond 25th Anniversary Edition Details
The 100 proof, 13 year old whiskey inside this release was originally barreled in September of 1999, just six months after Heaven Hill acquired the new distillery.
It will be sold at at MSRP of $299.99 select retailers within Kentucky as well as at Heaven Hills’ distillery.
If you manage to find a bottle of this bourbon unicorn somewhere at it’s suggested retail price, buy it.
Heaven Hill