America’s largest family-owned independent takes 8 medals at the nation’s foremost spirits competition, including “Best Rye Whiskey”
FOR RELEASE: April 8, 2008
BARDSTOWN, KY–Heaven Hill Distilleries, Inc. can brag not only about the quality, but also about the variety, of its American Whiskey portfolio after the results from the 2008 San Francisco World Spirits Competition were announced. Heaven Hill, the nation’s largest independent family-owned spirits supplier and the world’s second-largest holder of aging American Whiskey, is the only US distillery that still produces all the recognized major styles of American Straight Whiskeys–Bourbon, Rye Whiskey, Corn Whiskey and Wheat Whiskey. And having just won Gold Medals for their Bourbon and Wheat Whiskeys, a Silver for their Corn Whiskey, and Double Gold/Best Rye Whiskey for the Rittenhouse Very Rare 23-Year-Old Single Barrel, they can confidently assert that their array of Whiskey styles is world-class throughout.
Highlighting Heaven Hill’s results is Rittenhouse Very Rare 23-Year-Old Single Barrel Rye Whisky, which not only garnered a Double Gold Medal–meaning every judge on the panel awarded it a Gold Medal designation–but was also named “Best Rye Whiskey”. This marks the second time in three years that a Rittenhouse Rye bottling has captured a major award at the San Francisco competition, with the Rittenhouse Bottled-In-Bond expression winning the Double Gold and the Top North American Whiskey Trophy in 2006. Also winning a Double Gold Medal was Elijah Craig 18-Year-Old Single Barrel Bourbon, the oldest Single Barrel Bourbon available today. Additionally, Heaven Hill was awarded a Gold Medal for its unique Bernheim Original Straight Wheat Whiskey, giving the highly-regarded distiller Gold Medals for three different American Straight Whiskey styles–Bourbon, Rye and Wheat. And when you include Heaven Hill’s Mellow Corn Bottled-In-Bond Straight Corn Whiskey, which captured a Silver Medal, it means the company medaled in four distinct styles, an unprecedented accomplishment. In addition, Heaven Hill received Silver Medals for Evan Williams Black Label Bourbon–the country’s number two selling brand of Bourbon–Evan Williams Single Barrel 1998 Vintage Bourbon, Parker’s Heritage Collection Bourbon, and a Bronze Medal for Elijah Craig 12-Year-Old Small Batch Bourbon.
“We are of course very proud of the designation of Rittenhouse 23-Year-Old Rye as the ‘Best Rye Whiskey’ winner, but we are equally proud of the number of medals we won across many different American Whiskey styles,” noted Heaven Hill’s American Whiskey Brand Manager, Susan Wahl. “Given the unprecedented popularity of super-premium Bourbon, and the resultant consumer frenzy to sample other American Whiskey styles such as Rye, we feel this showing in San Francisco not only validates our position as a top Bourbon producer, but also clearly demonstrates our range and commitment to other American Straight Whiskey types.”
The San Francisco World Spirits Competition is the first comprehensive, international spirits judging ever held in the United States on an annual basis. Founded in 2000 by Anthony Dias Blue, the Executive Director of the San Francisco International Wine Competition and Carol Seibert, the Managing Director of the San Francisco International Wine Competition, the Spirits Competition continues to grow each year in entrants as well as in stature within the industry. This year 847 spirits were submitted and evaluated, up from 715 in 2007, and six out of the seven continents (only Antarctica was missing) were represented, making it a globally influential spirits competition.
Founded in 1934, Heaven Hill Distilleries, Inc. (www.heaven-hill.com) is the nation’s largest independent, family-owned marketer and producer of distilled spirits products. Aging in its facilities is the second largest holding of Kentucky whiskey in the world. Heaven Hill’s diversified portfolio includes: The Christian Brothers Brandies; Evan Williams Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey; HPNOTIQ Liqueur; Whaler’s Rum; Burnett’s Gin and Vodkas; Dubonnet Aperitif; PAMA Pomegranate Liqueur; Água Luca Brazilian Rum Cachaça, Scotch Whiskies; Canadian Whiskies; vodka; gins; rums; tequilas; cognacs; liqueurs; cordials; and dessert wines. Heaven Hill is based in Bardstown, KY.
CONTACT:
Larry Kass
Director of Corporate Communications
Heaven Hill Distilleries, Inc.
(502) 413-0220