Author: Heavenhill Admin

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A Bourbon Capital Homecoming: Heaven Hill Springs Distillery underway in Bardstown; name honors distillery lost in 1996 fire

Family-owned spirits company expanding production with $135 million state of the art distillery

The Bourbon industry marked a special homecoming today as Heaven Hill broke ground on a $135 million distillery in Bardstown – with a name paying tribute to the family-owned company’s original distillery that burned in a devastating fire in 1996.

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear joined Heaven Hill President Max Shapira and Master Distiller Conor O’Driscoll to commemorate the start of construction and reveal the new distillery’s name: Heaven Hill Springs Distillery.

“We’re honored to celebrate this homecoming with a return to distilling in Bardstown to augment our overall bourbon-making capacity, as well as continue to make an impact in the Bardstown community,” Shapira said. “I’m proud to salute our history and the many Bardstown men and women who helped build our brands over the years by naming our new facility in honor of the original Old Heaven Hill Springs Distillery that my father and uncles founded in this community nine decades ago.”

The new, state-of-the-art Heaven Hill Springs Distillery is being built in the heart of the “Bourbon Capital of the World” at 1015 Old Bloomfield Pike, off KY 245, and is expected to be operational by the end of 2024. Initial production is slated for 150,000 barrels a year, and over time will have capacity to ramp up to producing 450,000 barrels annually. This will be in addition to the company’s distilling that occurs at the historic Bernheim Distillery in Louisville, which will continue to operate at full capacity of 450,000 barrels annually.

As part of Heaven Hill’s 2030 Environmental Sustainability Strategy, the new distillery has been designed to create a more environmentally conscious distilled spirits industry and ensure a thriving environment for generations to come. Heaven Hill Springs Distillery has been engineered to minimize water use to below industry benchmarks and reuse certain water streams. The site will use native plants and natural systems to manage stormwater runoff and improve habitat on the property. The distillery will include a wastewater pretreatment system to ensure discharged water exceeds environmental standards and greatly reduces the load on the city’s treatment plant. Heaven Hill also will plan to utilize energy creation and recovery, lessening the distillery’s demand on the city’s electrical grid.

The new distillery adds at minimum 38 jobs to the company’s 381 people already working in Bardstown at Heaven Hill’s Loretto Road bottling, aging and tourism facilities.

“This is a significant day for Heaven Hill and Kentucky. The return of distilling operations to Nelson County is a return to the company’s roots, and the investment highlights the continued growth of bourbon and spirits in the commonwealth,” Gov. Andy Beshear said. “I am incredibly happy for the residents of Bardstown and the surrounding area, and I want to thank the leaders at Heaven Hill for this commitment to create new job opportunities and build the company’s presence in our state.”

Heaven Hill and Bardstown: ‘a shared and storied history’

Max Shapira’s father and four uncles, along with a group of Bardstown-area investors, founded “Old Heaven Hill Springs” distillery in 1935, and filled its first barrel on December 13 of that year.

The company grew over the years and added several acclaimed brands, including Evan Williams, Elijah Craig, Larceny, Henry McKenna and more, which have earned numerous spirits-industry accolades. Master distillers of the Old Heaven Hill Springs Distillery over the years included Joe Beam, Harry Beam, Earl Beam, Parker Beam and Craig Beam.

In 1996, a fire resulted in the loss of the distillery, seven rickhouses and almost 100,000 barrels of whiskey. After the fire, Heaven Hill moved distilling to the historic Bernheim Distillery in Louisville. However the bottling and aging of whiskey along with other functions proudly continued in the Bardstown area where they remain today. In addition, in 2004, the company dedicated the Heaven Hill Bourbon Heritage Center—most recently expanded and renamed to the Heaven Hill Bourbon Experience—that has become an award-winning focal point for the region’s bourbon tourism and has greeted millions of visitors over the years.

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Media Contact:
Lauren Newcomb
Heaven Hill
lnewcomb@heavenhill.com

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Evan Williams Bourbon announces 2022 class of American-Made Heroes to be featured on limited-edition bottles nationwide

Evan Williams American Hero bottles feature one of six veterans selected for their acts of service

A select group of veterans are the new Evan Williams American-Made Heroes, recognized as those who are making a difference in their communities and across our country.

Evan Williams Bourbon announced today the 2022 class of veterans selected as American-Made Heroes to be featured on the limited-edition Evan Williams American Hero bottles. Each of the six veterans are affiliated with organizations that were recipients of the 2021 Veteran Community Action Grants awarded by the Evan Williams American-Made Heroes Foundation Fund.

First established in 2020, the American-Made Heroes Foundation Fund continues the brand’s support of veteran communities since launching the Evan Williams American-Made Heroes program and limited-edition label in 2015. To date, Evan Williams has recognized 48 veteran heroes on its American Hero Edition bottles and has donated $450,000 to nonprofits supporting the veteran community across the country.

“As an American-made and American-owned Bourbon, we are proud to celebrate the heroic stories of military veterans, chosen for their selfless acts of service at home and abroad,” Julie Cole, Evan Williams Bourbon Senior Brand Manager said. “The purpose of the foundation is not only to provide a platform for sharing their inspiring stories, but also raising public awareness for causes impacting the veteran community and supporting nonprofit organizations that help veterans and their families.”

The 2022 Evan Williams American-Made Heroes are:

Chris Reder

Warner, S.D., 

Petty Officer, U.S. Navy

Chris joined the U.S. Navy and graduated from the U.S. Military Intelligence School, where he trained to be a Cryptologic Naval Intelligence Operator. After later sustaining a traumatic brain injury and being medically separated from the Navy, Chris returned to his South Dakota roots to establish what is now the DTOM 22/0 Foundation and Veterans Ranch, a safe place for healing and recovery for military service members, veterans, and their families. To learn more about the DTOM 22/0 Foundation and Veterans Ranch, visit https://dtom220.org/.

Alan White

Waco, Texas

Gunnery Sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps

Alan first enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and later joined the U.S. Marine Corps where he worked with a total of five military service dogs during his 11 years there. Feeling restless in his retirement, Alan continued to pursue his passion of working with canines and in 2018 he founded WhiteHaven Canine Evaluators, a nonprofit organization that currently serves 15–24 veterans annually by selecting and training dogs to be life-saving Emotional Support Animals. To learn more about WhiteHaven Canine, visit https://whitehavencanine.org/.

Shirley Dominick

Haymarket, Va.

Major, U.S. Air Force (RET.)

Shirley worked in communications for the U.S. Air Force for 22 years, leading critical initiatives at the Pentagon and across Europe. Upon retirement, she continued to help others by volunteering with her church which led to co-founding the organization Serve Our Willing Warriors and later opening the Warrior Retreat Center at Bull Run, providing a much-needed break for recovering service members at military hospitals. To learn more about Serve Our Willing Warriors and Warrior Retreat at Bull Run, visit https://www.willingwarriors.org/

DeAndria L. Hardy

Spartanburg, S.C.

Corporal, U.S. Marine Corps

DeAndria served as an Ammunition Tech and Squad Leader as part of Operation Western Accord in 2012. She was later honorably discharged and struggled to find the support she needed as a female veteran. DeAndria continued to fight to improve her circumstances and launched the BattleBetty Foundation in August 2018. BattleBetty is South Carolina’s first Women Veteran Resource Center providing emergency shelter, a clothes closet, and empowerment workshops to female veterans. To learn more about the BattleBetty Foundation, visit https://battlebettyfoundation.com.

Marilyn Kelly-Cavotta

Bethlehem, Pa.

Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army (RET.)

Marilyn deployed to Iraq as a full-time U.S. Army medic, where she assisted in providing medical care to over 4,000 troops. She served for 13 years before untreated Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) led to her medical retirement. She then became involved with Shamrock Reins, a specialized equine therapy center offering complimentary services to military veterans. Marilyn joined the board in 2015 and remains committed to the ongoing success of the organization and assisting fellow service members in their transition to civilian life. To learn more about Shamrock Reins, visit https://shamrockreins.org.

Mike Arena

Shalimar, Fla.

Master Sergeant, U.S. Air Force (RET.)

After numerous deployments around the world as an Operational Medic with the U.S. Air Force, Mike was diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). He was medically retired after serving for more than 23 years and joined a program that paired service dogs with veterans. The restorative therapy Mike received from his own service dog, Orion, became the genesis for Healing Paws for Warriors (HP4Ws), a nonprofit organization Mike co-founded. Healing Paws for Warriors provides rescue to trained service dogs to combat veterans faced with PTSD, TBI and/or MST at no cost to the veteran. To learn more, visit https://www.healingpawsforwarriors.org.

The limited-edition American Hero bottling is adorned with red and white stripes and stars.  Displayed on the side of each bottle is one of the brand’s key taglines “American Owned, American Made, American Proud” celebrating Evan Williams’ legacy as Kentucky’s first commercial distiller. Each bottling prominently features one of the American-Made Heroes on the side of the label along with their story of service.

More than 400,000 bottles of the Evan Williams American Hero Edition are available nationwide, bottled at 86 proof for a suggested retail price of $24.99 for the 1.75L.

To learn more about each of the 2022 American-Made Heroes and the American-Made Heroes Foundation Fund, visit https://american-madeheroes.com/.

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ABOUT EVAN WILLIAMS

The flagship Bourbon of Heaven Hill Distillery, Evan Williams is among the leaders in the rapidly growing American Whiskey segment as the world’s second largest-selling Bourbon. Evan Williams is a proud sponsor of Major League Baseball and the World Series, first forming a partnership with the national pastime in 2016. As an American-made and American-owned brand, Evan Williams has recognized true American heroes through their exceptional stories of honor and bravery on special edition American-Made Hero labels for the past seven years, now supported by the American-Made Heroes Foundation Fund. The Evan Williams Bourbon Experience (www.EvanWilliamsBourbonExperience.com) celebrates the legacy of Evan Williams through an immersive visitor’s center experience which brings to life the history and tradition of Kentucky’s native spirit as an official stop on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail.

ABOUT THE AMERICAN-MADE HEROES FOUNDATION FUND

Evan Williams is honored to broaden its support of veteran communities across the country through the launch of the American-Made Heroes Foundation Fund, announced in April 2020. The American-Made Heroes Foundation Fund was established to show Evan Williams’ pride in being American-made and owned, and to give back to those who served. Our purpose is: to provide a platform for sharing inspiring veteran stories; to raise public awareness for causes impacting the veteran community; and to support nonprofit organizations that help veterans through a specialized grant program.

Photo and video assets can be downloaded here

Lauren Cherry Newcomb

Heaven Hill Distillery

lnewcomb@heavenhill.com

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Heaven Hill to build new American Whiskey distillery in Bardstown

Family-owned company marks a homecoming with a return to distilling in Bardstown

Nine decades since first operating a distillery in Bardstown, Kentucky, the nation’s largest independent, family-owned and operated distilled spirits supplier is deepening its bourbon roots in its home community.

Heaven Hill Distillery today announced plans for a new, $135 million distillery to open by 2024. The state-of-the-art distillery will augment Heaven Hill’s distilling capacity to meet increased global whiskey demand and marks the company’s return to distilling in Bardstown since a 1996 fire when Heaven Hill lost its onsite distillery, seven rickhouses, and almost 100,000 barrels of whiskey. After the fire, Heaven Hill’s distilling moved to the historic Bernheim Distillery in Louisville, while bottling, aging of whiskey and other functions continued in the Bardstown area where they remain today.

“The people of Bardstown have helped us create and build our brands over all these many years, so it’s a special homecoming to bring distilling back to this community,” said Max Shapira, President of Heaven Hill. “Our new distillery will honor our long-time Bardstown roots while applying state-of-the-art equipment and processes to produce the highest quality American Whiskey and build upon our meaningful partnership with Bardstown and the Commonwealth of Kentucky.”

Heaven Hill will build the new distillery on a vacant 61-acre site at 1015 Old Bloomfield Pike, off KY 245. Construction is slated to begin this spring and the distillery will be operational by the end of 2024. Initial production is slated for 10 million proof gallons a year, or 150,000 barrels, and will have capacity to ramp up to producing 30 million proof gallons, or 450,000 barrels, over time. Heaven Hill will continue to age bourbon at existing locations and the Bernheim distillery in Louisville will continue to operate at full capacity.

“Bourbon making is an old art, but we are applying forward-thinking approaches to ensure we are environmentally conscious and a good neighbor,” said Conor O’Driscoll, Heaven Hill Distillery Master Distiller. “Heaven Hill’s tradition of distilling with attention to detail, quality and craftsmanship will now be even more accessible as we grow our distilling heritage in Bardstown.”

Heaven Hill and Bardstown: ‘a shared and storied history’

The five Shapira brothers and a group of Bardstown-area investors founded “Old Heavenhill Springs” distillery in 1935 and filled its first barrel—labeled Bourbon Falls—on December 13 of that year. Since that time, Heaven Hill has added several acclaimed brands, earned numerous industry accolades including “Whiskey of the Year” and “Distillery of the Year,” and attracted millions of bourbon tourists to its visitor experiences, along its way to filling more than 9.5 million barrels in its history.

The Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority approved incentives to support the Heaven Hill distillery project at its April meeting.

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Heaven Hill Bourbon Experience Named Global Icon of Whisky Visitor Attraction of the Year

Widow Jane Bourbon named World’s Best Small Batch Bourbon

The Whisky Magazine Icons of Whisky awards announced the Heaven Hill Bourbon Experience as the Global Visitor Attraction of the Year. The award was announced in London on March 24 at the Whisky Magazine Awards 2022, celebrating the very best people and places in the industry. Widow Jane 10-Year-Old Bourbon also received World’s Best Small Batch Bourbon during the ceremony.

Previously announced as a 2022 American Icon of Whiskey Visitor Attraction of the Year, the Heaven Hill Bourbon Experience was voted amongst an esteemed panel of judges to best this year’s finalists. Unveiled on June 14, 2021 as the Heaven Hill Bourbon Experience, the expansion and renovation of Heaven Hill Distillery’s visitor center in Bardstown are the culmination of a multi-year $125 million investment in Kentucky’s signature industry and model for the future of tourism since 2018. The state-of-the-art experience received a $19 million upgrade to become an interactive, educational space offering signature exhibits unique to the Heaven Hill Bourbon Experience. First opened on Oct. 15, 2004 as the Bourbon Heritage Center under the guidance of the late Harry Shapira, Heaven Hill’s presence as one of the first visitor centers on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail has played an instrumental role in establishing Kentucky as a top tourist destination.

“The Heaven Hill Bourbon Experience is a showcase example of the perseverance and commitment Heaven Hill has made to the future of this industry,” said Jeff Crowe, Director of Kentucky Visitor Experiences, Heaven Hill Distillery and 2022 American Icon of Whiskey Visitor Attraction Manager of the Year. “Our team navigated the last several years with determination and grace to eventually welcome back visitors from across the world to experience the best of Kentucky Bourbon and spectacular Commonwealth. We are honored to be recognized as a leader in tourism.”

As noted by Christopher Coates, editor of Whiskey Magazine, “The global whisky industry has taken the challenges of the past few years in its stride, and the strength of the entries we’ve received to our Icons awards for 2022 reflects this perfectly.”

Widow Jane 10-Year-Old was also recognized as the World’s Best Small Batch Bourbon, previously receiving Best Non-Kentucky Small Batch Bourbon at the American World Whiskies Awards. Heaven Hill Brands acquired Samson & Surrey on Feb. 1, 2022, including its portfolio of brands and facilities like Widow Jane. The acquisition of Samson & Surrey further extends Heaven Hill’s portfolio with six high-growth, super-premium brands in several of the industry’s fastest growing categories.

Several Heaven Hill brands were also recognized during the American World Whiskies Awards and Icons of Whisky presentation. Notable awards include Jeff Crowe named as Visitor Attraction Manager of the Year, Widow Jane 10-Year-Old winning Best Non-Kentucky Bourbon, Widow Jane Oak & Apple Wood Aged Rye winning Gold in the Rye category, and Henry McKenna winning Gold in the Bourbon category. More information, including silver and bronze medalists, can be found at www.worldwhiskiesawards.com.

Heaven Hill reminds you to “Think Wisely. Drink Wisely.”

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To download images relevant to this release, please visit here.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Lauren Cherry Newcomb
Heaven Hill Distillery
lnewcomb@heavenhill.com

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Lunazul Tequila Launches 2022 Spring Campaign with Discovery Featuring Josh Gates

Award-winning tequila debuts social and digital ad spots with Discovery GO and Discovery+

Lunazul Tequila embarks on its latest adventure this spring with a new marketing campaign featuring Josh Gates, host of Discovery’s Expedition Unknown. In a four-part series across Discovery GO and Discovery+, Gates will ‘Toast to Tradition’ as he discovers the history and heritage of Lunazul in Jalisco, Mexico.

The national media program will debut new social and digital ads featuring Gates venturing through the agave fields and Family Estate to uncover the eight generations of family heritage. Known for his unique brand of humor and deep-rooted passion for off-the-map adventures, Gates will showcase the hand-crafted quality of the Lunazul distillery from the field to the bottle. Fans can also follow along in the adventure through Gate’s social media platforms on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Additionally, Lunazul will sponsor one week of Expedition Unknown to bring fans limited commercial interruption. The video series will be seen on connected TV ads across Discovery+ and Discovery GO, and on the Discovery Channel website here. Throughout the series, Lunazul is expected to garner 27 million impressions from January through April 2022.

“Lunazul Tequila has a rich history of cultivating a family legacy built on quality and craftsmanship,” said MaryCrae Brotzge, Senior Brand Manager, Heaven Hill Brands. “We are excited for fans to see Josh Gates uncover the stories and traditions behind Lunazul and discover the authentic culture and passion that bring this brand to life.”

Lunazul will support the Discovery series at retail with point-of-sale displays featuring a QR code directing to the Discovery microsite. Fans can follow Lunazul on Facebook and Instagram, as well as lunazultequila.com. 

For eight generations the Beckmann family has carried on the desire to create the highest-quality Tequila from using only the best ingredients and classic techniques. Born between the foothills of the Tequila Volcano and the deep valley of the Rio Grande River in Jalisco, Mexico, the Tierra de Agaves estate, where Lunazul is crafted, is home to the oldest dynasty of tequila producers. Since announcing the joint venture between Heaven Hill and Tierra de Agaves, Lunazul Tequila has enjoyed tremendous growth and notoriety. Across the portfolio, Lunazul has received a Chairman’s Trophy at the Ultimate Spirits Challenge; Best in Class, Platinum and Consumers’ Choice at the SIP Awards, Double Platinum and Best Blanco Tequila at the ASCOT Awards, and Best Blanco from the World Tequila Awards.

Lunazul Tequilas (SRP $19.99-29.99) are available in five varieties, Blanco, Reposado, Añejo, Primero and El Humoso.  Blanco and Reposado are available in 1.75 liter, 1.0 liter, 1.0 bar liter, 750 ml, 375ml and 50 ml sizes, while the Añejo, Primero, and El Humoso are available in the 750ml size only.  All are bottled at 40% alcohol by volume.

Founded in 1935, Bardstown, KY -based Heaven Hill Brands (www.heavenhill.com) is the nation’s largest independent, family-owned and operated spirits producer and marketer and the world’s second-largest holder of Kentucky Bourbon. Heaven Hill’s diversified portfolio of brands includes Evan Williams, Elijah Craig, Larceny, and Henry McKenna Bourbons; Rittenhouse Rye Whisky; Deep Eddy and Burnett’s Vodkas; Admiral Nelson’s and Blackheart Rums; Black Velvet Canadian Whisky; Lunazul Tequila; The Christian Brothers Brandies; HPNOTIQ Liqueur; Carolans Irish Cream Liqueur; PAMA Pomegranate Liqueur; Domaine de Canton Ginger Liqueur.

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Evan Williams American-Made Heroes Foundation Fund Opens 2022 Grant Applications

The Evan Williams American-Made Heroes Foundation Fund application period for the 2022 Veteran Community Action grants is now open. Eligible nonprofits that serve the veteran community can apply now through April 1, 2022 for the one-time grants.

As an American-made and American-owned Bourbon, Evan Williams is proud to support U.S. military veterans through the American-Made Heroes Foundation Fund. First established in 2020, the fund continues the brand’s support of veteran communities since launching the Evan Williams American-Made Heroes program and limited-edition label in 2015. To date, Evan Williams has recognized 42 veteran heroes on its American Hero Edition bottles and donated $450,000 to nonprofits. For the third consecutive year through the American-Made Heroes Foundation Fund, Evan Williams will be donating up to $75,000 to veteran causes with each grant totaling between $4,000 to $6,000.

The purpose of the foundation is to provide a platform for sharing inspiring veteran stories, raising public awareness for causes impacting the veteran community, and supporting nonprofit organizations that help veterans and their families through a specialized grant program. To learn more about the organizations eligible for support, or to apply for a Veteran Community Action grant, visit https://american-madeheroes.com/grant.php.

ABOUT EVAN WILLIAMS: The flagship Bourbon of Heaven Hill Distillery, Evan Williams is among the leaders in the rapidly growing American Whiskey segment as the world’s second largest-selling Bourbon. Evan Williams is a proud sponsor of Major League Baseball and the World Series, first forming a partnership with the national pastime in 2016. As an American-made and American-owned brand, Evan Williams has recognized true American heroes through their exceptional stories of honor and bravery on special edition American-Made Hero labels for the past seven years, now supported by the American-Made Heroes Foundation Fund. The Evan Williams Bourbon Experience (www.EvanWilliamsBourbonExperience.com) celebrates the legacy of Evan Williams through an immersive visitor’s center experience which brings to life the history and tradition of Kentucky’s native spirit as an official stop on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail.

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MEDIA CONTACT:
Lauren Cherry Newcomb
Heaven Hill Distillery
lnewcomb@heavenhill.com

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Heaven Hill Distillery Announces Spring 2022 Edition of the Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond Series

Heaven Hill Distillery announced today the release of the spring 2022 edition of Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey at 17 years old. Comprised of barrels produced in fall of 2004, and bottled in spring of 2022, the ninth national release ushers in the latest hallmark series to the bottled-in-bond legacy.

Bottled in an ornate decanter, the spring edition denotes a green label, consistent across all spring releases. As was the case for the past editions, this edition’s tax strip, which has always been a signature of transparency on bottled-in-bond products, will disclose when the liquid was produced and bottled. The Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond spring edition will be available in the 750ml size on an allocated basis. It meets the strict requirements of a bottled-in-bond: the product of a single distillery from a single distilling season, aged a minimum of four years, and bottled at 100 proof or 50% alcohol by volume. The edition is available at a suggested retail price of $185.

The spring 2022 edition of Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey is the first 17-year-old of the nationally released series and features Bourbon pulled from across three floors of rickhouse V at Heaven Hill Distillery’s main campus. As a leader of the Bottled-in-Bond category, Heaven Hill is proud to offer a premium, allocated product within this special class that showcases the authenticity and quality of the American Whiskey portfolio. Acquired in 1999 by Heaven Hill, the legendary Old Fitzgerald line is well-known for its distilling pedigree and intriguing story behind its namesake, John E. Fitzgerald.

Heaven Hill reminds you to “Think Wisely.  Drink Wisely.”

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MEDIA CONTACT:
Lauren Cherry Newcomb
Heaven Hill Distillery
(502) 413-0217
lnewcomb@heavenhill.com

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Heaven Hill Distillery Launches New, Ultra-Premium Heaven Hill Heritage Collection

First edition features 17-year-old barrel proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Heaven Hill Distillery announced today the release of Heaven Hill Heritage Collection 17-Year-Old Barrel Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, the first edition of the new Heaven Hill Heritage Collection. Each spring, this annual, highly limited release will feature some of the distillery’s oldest inventory of aging whiskey, heralding the exacting standards Heaven Hill Distillery has practiced since 1935.

The Collection, a testament to Heaven Hill’s patience and ultra-aging techniques, will feature one of the six traditional American Whiskey mashbills produced by Heaven Hill, the only heritage distillery to produce this range. The first edition features Heaven Hill’s Bourbon mashbill comprised of 78% corn, 10% rye, and 12% malted barley, and bottled at a barrel proof of 118.2. With an age statement of 17 years, this release is made up of 28% 20-year-old barrels, 44% 19-year-old barrels, and 28% 17-year-old barrels pulled from Deatsville, Glencoe, Schenley, and Heaven Hill main campus warehouse locations. Attributes will vary by release as deemed worthy of bottling.

“Over many years, we have been quietly aging some exquisite whiskeys to be introduced under a new collection within our Heaven Hill Distillery portfolio,” said Max L. Shapira, Heaven Hill President. “Of our 1.9 million barrels resting across six rickhouse sites, our master craftspeople have kept watchful eyes on this limited stock of special barrels and we are finally ready to release the first edition.”

Heaven Hill Heritage Collection joins its more experimental counterpart, the Parker’s Heritage Collection, to form the “Heritage Collection.” The Heaven Hill offering will be released in the spring, while Parker’s will continue to be released every fall. Releases from both collections offer a glimpse into the long-term plan across Heaven Hill’s American Whiskey stock and commitment to quality, craft, and innovation.

Each Heaven Hill Heritage Collection 750ml bottle will be accompanied by a premium box in signature Heaven Hill blue with the double-H insignia stamped in gold to signify Heaven Hill. As will become a signature of the Collection, specific attributes such as warehouse site locations, production dates, mashbill percentage, and other designations will be noted prominently on the packaging.  Heaven Hill Heritage Collection 17-Year-Old Barrel Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey will launch nationally on a limited basis with an SRP of $274.99.

Heaven Hill reminds you to “Think Wisely. Drink Wisely.”

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To download images relevant to this release, please visit here.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Lauren Cherry Newcomb
Heaven Hill Distillery
lnewcomb@heavenhill.com

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Evan Williams Bourbon Experience Releases Annual Limited Edition Kentucky Derby Festival Bourbon Bottle

The 2014 Vintage, 117 proof Bourbon is dipped in gold wax and features the 50th Edition Gold Pegasus Pin on the bottle neck

As an official sponsor of the Kentucky Derby Festival for the sixth consecutive year, the Evan Williams Bourbon Experience today released a special edition bottle of Evan Williams Single Barrel Bourbon with a commemorative 50th Edition Gold Pegasus Pin sealed in wax on the neck.

Dipped in a gold wax, the bottle features a special face label with the coordinating gold Kentucky Derby Festival logo and includes an official 2022 Pegasus Pin in an envelope attached to each bottle. Evan Williams Bourbon Experience Artisanal Distiller, Jodie Filiatreau, and Kentucky Derby Festival President and CEO, Matt Gibson, unveiled the official 2022 pin and limited-edition bottle at the Evan Williams Bourbon Experience by personally hand-dipping two of the 750 limited-edition bottles.

Beginning February 24, the Bourbon will be available for purchase at the Evan Williams Bourbon Experience for $79.99 and at select area retailers while supplies last. The limited edition 2014 vintage is bottled at 117 proof, commemorating both the 67th Kentucky Derby Festival plus the 50th year for the Pegasus Pin. Each bottle of Evan Williams Single Barrel Vintage Bourbon contains the exact day it was put in an oak barrel to age, the barrel number, and the date it was bottled.

“The Evan Williams Bourbon Experience is proud to partner with the Kentucky Derby Festival and celebrate a milestone year for the Pegasus Pin, which represents the unique Kentucky spirit that makes this time of year so exciting in the Bluegrass State,” said Evan Williams Bourbon Experience Artisanal Distiller Jodie Filiatreau. “Join us as we raise a toast to Kentucky’s heritage and usher in the 2022 Kentucky Derby Festival.”

The Bourbon is matured in natural open-rick warehouses under the careful supervision of Heaven Hill’s Master Distiller, who monitors the progress of each year’s vintage to ensure it maintains its intended flavor profile and superb quality. Evan Williams Single Barrel Vintage has won five “Whiskey of the Year” awards and is one of the most critically acclaimed specialty Bourbons produced by Heaven Hill Distillery, the world’s second largest holder of aging Bourbon.

“Celebrating the 50th year for the Pegasus Pins will make this year’s Kentucky Derby Festival even more special,” said Matt Gibson, KDF President & CEO. “Like the pins, we know Festival fans will want to add this special edition Evan Williams bottle to their collection too.”

Bringing the community together since 1956, the Kentucky Derby Festival has grown to become a whirlwind of more than 70 special events leading up to the big race in May. The Kentucky Derby Festival runs this year from March 16 – May 1. Pegasus Pins, which allow entry to many Derby Festival events, may be purchased exclusively at the Evan Williams Bourbon Experience through March 2, prior to being available at other local retailers.

ABOUT THE EVAN WILLIAMS BOURBON EXPERIENCE:

The Evan Williams Bourbon Experience® (www.EvanWilliamsBourbonExperience.com) celebrates the legacy of Evan Williams, Kentucky’s first commercial distiller, through an immersive visitor’s center experience which brings to life the history and tradition of Kentucky’s native spirit. An official stop on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail®, the facility offers guests a historical glimpse back in time to see Evan Williams’ original distillery through high definition video recreations of the Louisville wharf and Main Street in the late 18th Century, plus recreations of Whiskey Row building facades along Main Street from the 1890’s through the present. Meanwhile, visitors learn the essential differences between distilling during Evan Williams’ era and Heaven Hill’s modern Bernheim Distillery operations.

ABOUT THE KENTUCKY DERBY FESTIVAL: Since 1956, the Derby Festival has worked to bring the community together in celebration. The Festival is an independent community organization supported by 4,000 volunteers, 400 businesses and civic groups, Pegasus Pin sponsorships and event participation. This involvement has made the Festival the largest single attended event in Kentucky and one of the leading community celebrations in the world.

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MEDIA CONTACT
Emily Gahafer

Heaven Hill Brands

To view or download more images from this release, click here.

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Louisville nonprofit New Roots benefits from Heaven Hill Brands’ employee-driven fundraising campaign

The donation is part of the company’s annual philanthropy project which supports local 501c3 organizations nominated by their employees

Each year, Heaven Hill Brands engages its employees to nominate and submit local organizations who could greatly benefit from their annual employee-driven, collaborative fundraising project. Today, New Roots received the 2021 $10,793.50 campaign donation which will help further the organization’s mission to ignite community power for fresh food access.

Philanthropy is an important part of Heaven Hill’s mission of enhancing the local communities through both charitable donations and community partnerships. Through several fundraising initiatives between September and December of 2021, Heaven Hill employees worked together to raise these funds which were then matched at $5,000 by the company.

This year’s recipient, New Roots, was nominated by Heaven Hill Quality Specialist Abby Long, who is based at the Bernheim Distillery in West Louisville. Long recognized the important impact this nonprofit makes by providing access to fresh, organic foods to all income brackets.

“As a long-time volunteer with New Roots, I’ve seen firsthand the impact their initiatives have to provide fresh food to some of our most vulnerable neighborhoods in and around Louisville,” said Long. “I’m humbled my fellow employees supported this philanthropy project to provide more opportunity for New Roots to expand their mission.”

New Roots makes fresh food available for all through the Fresh Stop Markets – farm-fresh food markets located in fresh food-insecure neighborhoods. The markets are active every two weeks from June through November at local churches, business, and community centers. There are currently eight Fresh Stop Markets that operate under New Roots’ umbrella: seven in Metro Louisville, one in Southern Indiana, and an independent Fresh Stop Market in Hazard, Ky.

“We are thrilled to receive this donation from Heaven Hill employees and look forward to investing this back into our communities to expand fresh food opportunities,” said Travis Brown, New Roots Operations Manager. “With the support of our partners, we are able to provide organic produce through our innovate share model, support local farmers, and create better health outcomes for our neighbors.”

Past recipients of this donation have included The Food Literacy Project, Feeding America, Portland Elementary School, Flaget Memorial Hospital’s Project Hope, Ronald McDonald House Charities, and Coalition for the Homeless. This is the sixth year for the company’s fundraising project and one of many ways that Heaven Hill and their employees contribute to their communities year-round.

To learn more about New Roots, and how you can support their efforts, visit newroots.org.

About Heaven Hill Brands

Founded in 1935, Bardstown, KY -based Heaven Hill Brands (www.heavenhill.com) is the nation’s largest independent, family-owned and operated spirits producer and marketer and the world’s second-largest holder of Kentucky Bourbon. Heaven Hill’s diversified portfolio of brands includes Evan Williams, Elijah Craig, Larceny, and Henry McKenna Bourbons; Rittenhouse Rye Whisky; Deep Eddy and Burnett’s Vodkas; Admiral Nelson’s and Blackheart Rums; Black Velvet Canadian Whisky; Lunazul Tequila; The Christian Brothers Brandies; HPNOTIQ Liqueur; Carolans Irish Cream Liqueur; PAMA Pomegranate Liqueur; Domaine de Canton Ginger Liqueur.

Heaven Hill reminds you to “Think Wisely. Drink Wisely.”

About New Roots

Just like air and water, fresh food is a basic human right. The idea for New Roots began when founder Karyn Moskowitz and a group of friends were frustrated with farmers markets’ inability to offer fresh, organic food to all income brackets and neighborhoods. New Roots was established to support this need by igniting community power for fresh food access with a vision that affordable, fresh, organic food is available year-round in all neighborhoods. This mission is accomplished through the establishment of Fresh Stop Markets operating across all cultural and economic landscapes working as part of one whole community.

Media Contact:

Lauren Cherry Newcomb

Heaven Hill Brands

lnewcomb@heavenhill.com