William Heavenhill 4th Edition Green Label Bourbon (2015)

If you like unicorn bottles, the Heavenhill line is right up your alley. Check out my post on the 7th Edition (Purple Label) for more info about the lineup, and also check out this post from The Bourbon Exchange for a batch tracker. Also check out my post on the 8th Edition (2020) for a lower-proof, bottled-in-bond edition.

This batch is, to date, the highest proof by a full 10.2 proof points, clocking in at a breathtaking 144.6 proof and 15 years old. This batch is specifically called “cask strength”, whereas the 7th Edition (Purple Label) is called “barrel proof” at a still-hot 134.4 proof and 12 years. This doesn’t really mean anything, but it does show how flexible those terms are, even within a single product line.

The 4th edition was smaller than the third (although still considerably smaller than the 30-45 barrels used for editions 5-8). All five ‘larger than normal size’ barrels were from Rickhouse I. The size comment is intriguing - rickhouses are designed around barrel sizes, mostly 53-gallon barrels for the US. This means that if, for instance, a 60-gallon barrel were used, it couldn’t be simply slipped into one of the rick spaces. You’d need a rick either specifically designed for that size of barrel or you’d have to age it in a different location off the racks. This being William Heavenhill, there’s not much clarity, but those are really the only options.

Using larger barrels might’ve been the best thing Parker could’ve done for this liquid. At 15 years old, bourbon really starts to turn woody in the Kentucky climate. I start tasting that even earlier, to be honest, and only a few American whiskies at that age or older have ever garnered a more-than-meh review from me. With this edition, despite a decade and a half in wood, the oak was barely present, adding a bit of creaminess and some peppery spice.

You’ll definitely want to read my notes on this, but if you don’t have the time (seriously?) know this: this is one of the best bourbons, whiskies, high-proofers, or American whiskies I have ever tried. These are going for around $3,000 on secondary right now, and I’m still considering saving up for one. It’s that damn good. It's one of those pours that you need to have someone next to you in order to fully appreciate it, since you’ll be sighing in bliss and turning to them to say “I never want this to end.” I know if I ever get my hands on a bottle, it’ll be the only one I get, so to the top of my list it goes.

William Heavenhill 4th Edition Green Label Bourbon (2015): Specs

Classification: Bourbon

Origin: Heaven Hill Distillery

Mashbill: 78% Corn, 10% Rye, 12% Malted Barley

Proof: 144.6 (72.3% ABV)

Age: 15 Years Old

Location: Bardstown, Kentucky

William Heavenhill 4th Edition Green Label Bourbon (2015) Price: Nope.

No Official Website

William Heavenhill 4th Edition Green Label Bourbon (2015) Review: Tasting Notes

Eye: One of the most gorgeous colors I’ve ever seen. Dark, dark cherrywood, almost opaque garnet. No rims, tons of small droplets.

Nose: The proof is there for sure. Distilling ECBP even higher and aging it more. Intense red fruit tartness and sweetness. Proof keeps growing, oloroso sherry and dark barrel char. Reminds me of the ECBP Pre-Batch. The nose just doesn’t quit.

Palate: Grabs hold of my tongue - damn that’s hot, but SO MUCH CHOCOLATE. No hint of wood, just peppery spice and cocoa. Stays hot, but the flavor is incredibly deep. Mouthfeel is slightly thin, if only because of the proof (alcohol feels thinner than water), but it coats and won’t let go, with white pepper, whole cloves, black cherries and plums with a hint of star anise on the end.

Finish: Long, raspberry hot chocolate dark and spiced.

Overall: Wow. Just. Wow. This is damn near flawless. There is so much flavor, intensity, and complexity, with a ridiculous color to match. The mouthfeel is coating and white-hot, but if you’ve warmed up your palate it’s an orange flame rather than a blue one. If you try this without warming up? Vaya con dios.

Final Rating: 9.6

10 | Insurpassable | Nothing Else Comes Close (Blanton’s Straight from the Barrel)

9 | Incredible | Extraordinary (GTS, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof B518 and B520)

8 | Excellent | Exceptional (12+YO MGP Bourbon, Highland Park Single Barrels)

7 | Great | Well above average (Blanton’s Original, Old Weller Antique, Booker’s)

6 | Very Good | Better than average (Four Roses Small Batch Select, Knob Creek 14+ YO Picks)

5 | Good | Good, solid, ordinary (Elijah Craig Small Batch, Buffalo Trace, Old Grand-Dad Bottled-in-Bond)

4 | Sub-par | Many things I’d rather have (A.D. Laws Four Grain, Compass Box “Oak Cross”)

3 | Bad | Flawed (Iron Smoke Bourbon, Balcones)

2 | Poor | Forced myself to drink it (Buckshee Bourbon and Rye)

1 | Disgusting | Drain pour (Virginia Distilling Co. Cider Cask)

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