Category: Awards

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Heaven Hill Takes Home Most Awarded U.S. Distillery, Top Honors at 2024 San Francisco World Spirits Competition

More than 90 medals were presented to Heaven Hill including multiple Best in Show wins across the portfolio of brands

BARDSTOWN, Ky. (October 15, 2024) – Heaven Hill is proud to have been the named the Most Awarded U.S. Distillery by the prestigious San Francisco World Spirits Competition, as well as the recipient of multiple Best in Show wins in the Bourbon and Spirits categories. Category wins include Best Single Barrel Bourbon – 11 Years & Older to Elijah Craig 18-Year-Old Single Barrel, Best Straight Bourbon to Elijah Craig Barrel Proof C923, Best Wheated Bourbon to Larceny Barrel Proof A124, Best in Show Unaged White Spirit and Best Mezcal going to Mezcal Vago, and Best Hard Tea to Deep Eddy Vodka.

“We’re honored to be recognized on a global stage by the San Francisco World Spirits Competition,” said Kate Latts, Co-President and third generation family member of Heaven Hill Brands. “Building beloved brands has always been a hallmark of Heaven Hill’s portfolio and we’re very grateful for these awards recognizing our commitment to authentic, high-quality products in the craft that we do.”

The two most awarded Bourbons from the Heaven Hill Distillery portfolio were Evan Williams and Elijah Craig. Each brand took home 7 and 6 medals, respectively, with the highest distinctions of Best Straight Bourbon going to Elijah Craig Barrel Proof C923, Best Single Barrel Bourbon – 11 Years & Older to Elijah Craig 18-Year-Old Single Barrel, and Double Gold going to Evan Williams Bottled-In-Bond. Larceny Barrel Proof A124 was also honored as the Best Wheated Bourbon. Other big wins came from FEW and Widow Jane who collectively took home an additional 12 medals.

The leadership of master distiller Conor O’Driscoll contributes greatly to the multitudes of praise for Heaven Hill. Under his guidance, Heaven Hill continues its nearly nine decades of unwavering commitment to quality whiskey production and aging. This high standard has been a hallmark of Heaven Hill since it was founded by the Shapira family in 1935 and continues to apply today to a stock that includes more than two million barrels.

Honored with Best in Show Unaged White Spirit along with Best Mezcal, Mezcal Vago is a collection of fine, traditional mezcals from deep within the southern mountains of Oaxaca, made by multi-generational producers – artists in their own right. Vago provides one of the most diverse assortments of mezcal available, representative of four producer styles and a multitude of agave varietals, both cultivated and wild. The brand was also recently named Best of Category and received Double Gold as well as an award for Packaging Excellence at this year’s New Orleans Spirits Competition.

The San Francisco World Spirits Competition was founded in 2000 and has become a premiere tasting competition judging more than 6000 spirits this year. All spirits were tasted over four days through a controlled blind tasting by expert panelists. No information on brand, producer, or price point is given out prior to tastings to ensure each is judged fairly and without bias. For more information on the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, check out the website at www.thetastingalliance.com.

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 led spirits producer and marketer, the world’s second-largest holder of Kentucky Bourbon, and a 2024 Best Managed Company as appointed by Deloitte Private and the Wall Street Journal. Heaven Hill’s diversified portfolio of brands includes Heaven Hill, Evan Williams, Elijah Craig, Larceny, Old Fitzgerald, and Henry McKenna Bourbons; Rittenhouse Rye Whisky; Deep Eddy Vodka; Admiral Nelson’s Rum; Black Velvet Canadian Whisky; Lunazul Tequila; HPNOTIQ Liqueur; Carolans Irish Cream Liqueur, plus the Samson & Surrey portfolio.

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

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IMAGES: Download here

MEDIA CONTACT:
Kaitlynn West
Heaven Hill Brands
kwest@heavenhill.com

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Heaven Hill Distillery Wins Back-to-Back Whisky Magazine Distiller of the Year Awards  

The 2024 American Icons of Whisky celebrates the largest, independent distillery as best in country at World Whiskies Awards

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (February 15, 2024)– The Whisky Magazine American Icons of Whisky Awards announced Heaven Hill Distillery, the world’s largest, independent American Whiskey distillery, as the 2024 Distiller of the Year at their annual awards banquet in Louisville, Ky. last Thursday. The award marks back-to-back wins for Heaven Hill in this globally acclaimed category. Sustainability Director Rachel Nally was also recognized as Highly Commended in the Sustainability Officer category. This was on top of being named as Sustainable Distiller of the Year in 2023.

The sequential wins emphasize Heaven Hill’s stature in the industry as the largest, independent distillery dedicated to quality and heritage. With more than two million barrels aging across 70 rickhouses, the distillery’s Bernheim facility in Louisville produces over 440,000 barrels of whiskey per year, in excess of 29 million proof gallons. The recognition also showcases Heaven Hill’s continued commitment to the whiskey industry, investing more than $200 million in the new Heaven Hill Springs Distillery in Bardstown, Ky. slated for operation by the end of 2024. Initial production is slated for 10 million proof gallons (over 150,000 barrels) a year and will have capacity to increase production to 450,000 barrels annually. This will be in addition to the company’s current distilling capacity at Bernheim in Louisville.  

The new Heaven Hill Springs Distillery celebrated a major milestone last August with the installation of the first of three stills, crafted in Louisville by Vendome Copper. At 60 feet tall and weighing more than 22,000 pounds, this still is capable of producing 35,500 proof-gallons per day which is equal to more than 500 barrels per day. Crafted from copper, a material celebrated for its role in distillation due to its exceptional heat conductivity, the still represents a marriage of traditional and modern technology. Three Vendome stills of similar size have been operational at Bernheim since the last expansion of the distillery in 2017.

“As the largest, independent distillery, Heaven Hill is proud to carry forth the tradition of distilling American Whiskey and has been since 1935,” said Conor O’Driscoll, Heaven Hill Master Distiller. “The back-to-back Distiller of the Year award is emblematic of our distilling legacy and commitment to producing the best American Whiskeys across all styles.”

The World Whiskies Awards are the global awards selecting the very best in all the international recognized styles, awarding and promoting the world’s best whiskies to consumers and trade across the globe. In 2023, Heaven Hill was honored to win Distiller of the Year, Sustainable Distiller of the Year, and saw National Spirits Special Lynn House recognized as American Whiskey Brand Ambassador of the Year. Also in 2023, Master Distiller Connor O’Driscoll was recognized as Highly Commended Master Distiller along with wins in the categories of World’s Best Small Batch Bourbon and Best Kentucky Small Batch Bourbon for Elijah Craig Barrel Proof C922. In 2022 the Heaven Hill Bourbon Experience won Visitor Attraction of the Year along with Director of Kentucky Visitor Experiences Jeff Crowe winning Visitor Attraction Manager of the Year. National Brand Ambassador Bernie Lubbers is also a past winner having taken home the prize for American Whiskey Brand Ambassador of the Year three previous times.

“Being recognized as the best in the industry is an immense honor for Heaven Hill as the largest, independent distillery,” said Chief Marketing Officer Matt Blevins. “We congratulate our colleagues in the industry on their awards and wish everyone the best at the World’s Best competition later this year.” 

Sustainability Director Rachel Nally joined Heaven Hill in 2019 and leads the company’s Environmental and Sustainability Team. An expert in the areas of cultivating sustainable practices and creating highly efficient and compliant operations, Rachel works tirelessly to ensure Heaven Hill is on track to reach milestones in the company’s 2030 Sustainability Goals. Most recently, Rachel’s efforts lead to Heaven Hill achieving not one, but two of the Environmental Protection Agency’s first ever ENERGY STAR certifications for the Bernheim Distillery and the Deep Eddy Vodka Distillery in Buda, Texas.

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Heaven Hill Takes Home Top Honors in Ultimate Spirits Challenge Awards, ASCOT Awards, San Francisco World Spirits Competition and Bartender Spirits Awards

Heaven Hill and Samson & Surrey brands shine bright on the international stage

BARDSTOWN, Ky. (June 30, 2023) – Heaven Hill Brands is honored to have received multiple category wins in recent awards competitions. Newly announced results from the Ultimate Spirits Challenge, ASCOT Awards, San Francisco World Spirits Competition and Bartender Spirits Awards prove Heaven Hill’s portfolio stands strong when stacked up against competition from around the globe.

Heaven Hill received multiple Chairman’s Trophies in this year’s Ultimate Spirits Challenge along with more than 30 other brands receiving the coveted recognition of 90 points or higher. Henry McKenna 10-Year-Old Single Barrel Bottled-In-Bond, Carolans Salted Caramel Irish Cream Liqueur, PAMA Mandarin Orange Pomegranate Seltzer and Tequila Ocho Añejo each received the highest honor of Chairman’s Trophy. The Ultimate Spirits Challenge recognizes and promotes the unmatched quality of spirits across the globe. Their esteemed panel of judges invoke innovative, exacting methodology through rigorous judging to determine the highest-rated products, and award coveted citations of excellence.

After several hours of critical judging, Heaven Hill was awarded several top prizes in the 2023 ASCOT Awards. The awards included Best Special Barrel-Finished Bourbon for Parker’s Heritage Collection 16th Double Barreled Blend, Best Wheated Bourbon for Larceny Barrel Proof A123, Best Canadian Whisky for Black Velvet, Best Whiskey Club Barrel Pick for Naptown Bourbon Club’s Elijah Craig Single Barrel.  Importantly, Larceny Barrel Proof A123 is still in the running for overall Best Straight Bourbon. In addition to these category wins, Heaven Hill received 10 Double Platinum awards, 15 Platinum awards and 19 Gold awards. The international spirits competition was created by Fred Minnick, spirits personality and a veteran tasting judge, to provide a unique opportunity for distillers to have their products recognized through Minnick’s media channels.

Across the portfolio, Heaven Hill also took home several medals from the San Francisco World Spirits Competition. The Competition was founded in 2000 and has become a premiere tasting competition judging more than 3,000 spirits this year. William Heavenhill 9th Edition Bourbon was awarded the high honor of Best of Class in the Straight Bourbon category. Also receiving category finalist designation was Tequila Ocho Reposado for Best Reposado Tequila and Elijah Craig 18-Year-Old Single Barrel Bourbon for Best Single Barrel Bourbon – 11 years and older. Rittenhouse received Platinum distinction for three consecutive years as a Double Gold winner. Eleven Heaven Hill products also received Double Gold status at this year’s awards.  

“We’re incredibly proud of these wins across multiple categories in the Heaven Hill and Samson & Surrey portfolios,” said Heaven Hill Chief Marketing Officer Matt Blevins. “While we certainly enjoy the recognition of our brands, it is a nod to the passion of our teams who bring these products to market which gives us the most satisfaction. They deserve all the credit.”

Lastly, Heaven Hill is honored to take home the Grand World Whisky of the Year prize in this year’s Bartender Spirits Awards for Heaven Hill Bottled-In-Bond. This recognition is especially great because of the competition’s judging panel consisting of some of the most renowned names in the U.S. bar industry, all of them with extensive expertise within the on-premise industry. When speaking about Heaven Hill Bottled-In-Bond, judges remarked, “Its unrivaled flavors and unmatched quality have made it a favorite among whisky enthusiasts worldwide.” Heaven Hill is also proud to receive a dozen Gold awards for other members of the portfolio along with this top prize.

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 led 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 Vodka; Admiral Nelson’s Rum; Black Velvet Canadian Whisky; Lunazul Tequila; HPNOTIQ Liqueur; Carolans Irish Cream Liqueur, plus the newly-acquired Samson & Surrey portfolio. 

MEDIA CONTACT:

Kaitlynn West 
kwest@heavenhill.com 

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Heaven Hill Distillery Named 2023 Global Icon of Whisky Distiller of the Year

Elijah Craig Barrel Proof named World’s Best Small Batch Bourbon

The Whisky Magazine Icons of Whisky awards announced Heaven Hill Distillery as the 2023 Global Distiller of the Year. The award was announced in London on March 30 at the Whisky Magazine Awards 2023, celebrating the very best people and places in the industry. Elijah Craig Barrel Proof C922 was previously named World’s Best Small Batch Bourbon at the American Icons of Whisky Awards on February 9 in Louisville, Ky.

Previously announced as a 2023 American Icon of Whiskey Distiller of the Year, Heaven Hill Distillery was voted amongst an esteemed panel of judges to best this year’s finalists. Since 1935, Heaven Hill has cultivated the traditions and history of America’s Native Spirit with its fierce independence, passionate family ownership, dedication to quality, and thoughtful innovation. Today, Heaven Hill Distillery maintains over 1.9 million barrels aging in more than 70 warehouses throughout Nelson and Jefferson Counties. It is home to an award-winning collection of American Whiskeys including Elijah Craig Bourbon, Larceny Bourbon, Evan Williams Bourbon, Pikesville Rye Whiskey, Rittenhouse Rye Whisky, Parker’s Heritage Collection, Heaven Hill Heritage Collection and Old Fitzgerald along with its extensive Bottled-in-Bond collection including its namesake Bourbon. Heaven Hill also invites more than 200,000 visitors per year through the Heaven Hill Bourbon Experience and Evan Williams Bourbon Experience.

Announced in June 2022, Heaven Hill is celebrating a return to distilling in Bardstown after breaking ground on the Heaven Hill Springs Distillery. Initial production at the state-of-the-art distillery is slated for 150,000 barrels a year after opening in 2024, 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.

“We’re honored to celebrate our contributions to distilling tradition, as well as continue to make an impact in innovation as we invest in the future of American Whiskey with the new Heaven Hill Springs Distillery,” said Conor O’Driscoll, Heaven Hill Distillery Master Distiller. “I’m proud to salute our legacy of distillers who helped build our brands over the years and look forward to the next generation of craft and quality from Heaven Hill Distillery.”

As noted by Christopher Coates, editor of Whiskey Magazine, “The 17th annual Icons of Whisky awards saw the stiffest competition yet. The experiences offered by the top whisky bars, retailers and attractions today are truly world-class – and have become bywords for hospitality and tourism excellence beyond just the drinks sphere.”

Several Heaven Hill brands were also recognized during the American World Whiskies Awards and Icons of Whisky presentation. Notable awards include Sustainable Distillery of the Year, Lynn House as American Whiskey Brand Ambassador of the Year, and Connor O’Driscoll as Highly Commended Master Distiller. More information, including silver and bronze medalists, can be found at www.worldwhiskiesawards.com.

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

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Heaven Hill Distillery Wins Distiller of the Year, Top Awards from 2023 American Icons of Whisky

Elijah Craig Barrel Proof named World’s Best and Best Kentucky Small Batch Bourbon

The Whisky Magazine Icons of Whisky Awards announced Heaven Hill Distillery as Distiller of the Year at their annual awards banquet in Louisville last Thursday.  Heaven Hill also took home top honors for all its nominations including Sustainable Distiller of the Year, Lynn House as American Whiskey Brand Ambassador of the Year, Connor O’Driscoll as Highly Commended Master Distiller, World’s Best Small Batch Bourbon and Best Kentucky Small Batch Bourbon for Elijah Craig Barrel Proof C922. As winners and finalists for these categories, Heaven Hill will be considered for the upcoming World’s Best competition in London in late March.  

“This year’s awards were hosted with a difference, bringing the industry’s great and good to Louisville, Kentucky’s The Brown Hotel to announce the winners and commend the people, places and products that stood out from the crowd,” said Phoebe Calver, Editor of American Whiskey Magazine. “It is no mean feat to achieve these accolades and as always it is a joy to share in those moments of success.”

The World Whiskies Awards are the global awards selecting the very best in all the international recognized styles, awarding and promoting the world’s best whiskies to consumers and trade across the globe. In 2022 the Heaven Hill Bourbon Experience won Visitor Attraction of the Year along with Director of Kentucky Visitor Experiences Jeff Crowe winning Visitor Attraction Manager of the Year. Brand Ambassador Bernie Lubbers is also a past winner having taken home the prize for American Whiskey Brand Ambassador of the Year three previous times.

Recognized as 2023 American Whiskey Brand Ambassador of the Year, Lynn House adds to her long list of accomplishments in the spirits industry. As Heaven Hill’s National Spirits Specialist and Portfolio Mixologist, Lynn is responsible for supporting the entire Heaven Hill Portfolio with emphasis on on-premise focused brands. Among Lynn’s many awards, last year she was also named “Best U.S. Brand Ambassador” at the 16th Annual Spirited Awards by the Tales of the Cocktail Foundation.

Master Distiller Conor O’ Driscoll was recognized as Highly Commended in the Master Distiller Category. He joined Heaven Hill Distillery as Master Distiller in 2019, then a fifteen-year veteran of Kentucky’s Bourbon industry. Conor leads the distilling and warehousing teams at the Bernheim Distillery in Louisville, the largest independent, family-owned Bourbon distillery in the world. Conor also oversees Heaven Hill Distillery’s portfolio of historic brands, which reflects the rich heritage and tradition of American Whiskey.

Heaven Hill was also honored with the award for Sustainable Distillery of the Year. Director of Environment and Sustainability Rachel Nally and Chief Compliance Officer and General Counsel Jes Pendergrass accepted this exciting award which acknowledged the already impressive strides made towards Heaven Hill’s 2030 Sustainability Goals. These goals will be an integral part of the Heaven Hill Springs Distillery set to open at the end of 2024. The $135 million dollar, 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. It 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 also 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.

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

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Heaven Hill National Spirits Specialist and Portfolio Mixologist Lynn House named “Best U.S. Brand Ambassador” at the 2022 Spirited Awards Ceremony in New Orleans

Yesterday, the Tales of the Cocktail Foundation recognized Heaven Hill’s Lynn House as the “Best U.S. Brand Ambassador” at the 16th Annual Spirited Awards in New Orleans. Since its founding in 2007, the Spirited Awards is one of the industry’s most outstanding awards events, recognizing premier beverage professionals, products, establishments, journalists and media across the multi-faceted spirits and cocktail community.

“I love being a part of the Heaven Hill Brands family where I have the unique pleasure of being my authentic self,” said Lynn. “In my role, I have been able to collaborate with individuals and groups around the country. This job has also given me a platform to promote visibility, inclusion and create opportunities for the generations to come.”

The Spirited Awards are composed of both U.S. and international industry accolades, media awards, and a few highly esteemed awards that are accessed in a global scale, transcending regionality. The “Best U.S. Brand Ambassador” honor is awarded to an individual whose creative use of brand communication and exceptional personality has had a prominent impact on the promotion of drink brands through engaging the trade and executing compelling educational seminars. Recipients of this award are assessed on their trade engagement, quality of education and seminars, creativity in brand communication and their title as a Brand Ambassador in the field with a focus on education for the trade. Learn more about the 2022 Spirited Awards winners here.

Lynn House is Heaven Hill’s National Spirits Specialist and Portfolio Mixologist. She is responsible for support of the entire Heaven Hill Portfolio with emphasis on on-premise focused brands. Specifically, she implements brand and spirit category education, cocktail development for both national and local programming and identifies current and upcoming cocktail trends. Lynn is a resource and mentor to external distributors and trade personnel as well as internal field sales and brand teams, working on programs like Elijah Craig Old Fashioned Week.

Previously at Heaven Hill, Lynn has served as the PAMA Liqueur Brand Ambassador and the National Brand Educator, covering all Heaven Hill Liqueur brands. She was a finalist for “Best American Bar Mentor” in the 2020 Spirited Awards. In 2017 and 2018, she was recognized as a finalist in the Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Awards Best American Brand Ambassador category. Additionally, Lynn is an inaugural inductee to the Dame Hall of Fame and has been featured in many industry publications. Her knowledge of Heaven Hill’s large and diverse portfolio of brands and her dedication to education of various spirits has led Lynn to great success in this field. She is creative, diligent and serves as a strong resource and mentor to all who she works with.

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MEDIA CONTACT:

Lauren Newcomb

Heaven Hill Brands

lnewcomb@heavenhill.com

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Heaven Hill Distillery Wins Top Awards from 2022 American Icons of Whisky

Heaven Hill Bourbon Experience, Jeff Crowe recognized as winners

The Whisky Magazine Icons of Whisky awards announced the Heaven Hill Bourbon Experience as Visitor Attraction of the Year and Jeff Crowe as Visitor Attraction Manager of the Year. In a virtual presentation hosted on both Whisky Magazine and American Whisky Magazine’s Facebook pages, the visitor center and Crowe were announced as winners and finalists in the upcoming World’s Best competition in London on March 24.

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.

First joining Heaven Hill in 2013, Crowe now serves as the Director of Kentucky Visitor Experiences for Heaven Hill Distillery. Crowe oversees the development and management of teams and programs at both the Evan Williams Bourbon Experience in Louisville, Ky. and the Heaven Hill Bourbon Experience. Through the difficult circumstances of the past two years, Crowe’s patience and perseverance in development and training led to the successful opening of the new Heaven Hill Bourbon Experience, along with continued success at both visitor centers. His continued involvement and leadership in trade, tourism, and hospitality organizations have paved the way for innovative, inclusive and strategic partnerships throughout the industry.

“I am humbled and grateful for the recognition, one that would not be possible without the support of my team and partners in the industry,” said Crowe. “We get to showcase the best of Kentucky Bourbon and the Commonwealth every day and I’m honored to work for Heaven Hill Distillery to shine a light on our tourism and hospitality.”

As noted by Phoebe Calver, editor of American Whiskey Magazine, “This year’s winners have proven themselves to be a shining light in the industry during tough times. It’s such a pleasure to be able to watch the development of the American whiskey industry and the way that distillers are challenging perceptions, while pushing standards higher and higher.”

Several Heaven Hill brands were also recognized during the World Whiskies Awards segment of the presentation, including brands within the recently acquired Samson & Surrey portfolio. Notable awards include 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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Henry McKenna Single Barrel Awarded ‘Best in Show Whiskey’ at 2019 San Francisco World Spirits Competition

Heaven Hill Distillery takes home numerous medals across the historic American Whiskey portfolio

BARDSTOWN, Ky. – Heaven Hill Distillery’s Henry McKenna Single Barrel Bourbon was announced as the “Best in Show Whiskey” at the 2019 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, only the second time a Bourbon has won the top prize amongst all whiskeys from around the world, including Scotch. The only other Bourbon to win was the 2008 Parker’s Heritage Collection 27-Year-Old, a testament to Heaven Hill Distillery’s dedication to the craft of producing quality American Whiskey since 1935.

Consistency, a hallmark of Heaven Hill Distillery, is on full display for the award-winning Henry McKenna Single Barrel. The Bottled-in-Bond, 10-year-old Bourbon also received Best Single Barrel Bourbon and Best Bourbon, the exact award designations the brand received just last year in the 2018 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Given the barrel to barrel nuances that come with the single barrel designation, maintaining the incredible taste profile year in and year out demonstrates the expertise of Heaven Hill’s master tasting team.

According to editor-in-chief of Bourbon+ Magazine, Wall Street Journal best-selling author and San Francisco Spirits Captain Fred Minnick, Henry McKenna scored higher than the best Single Malt Scotch, Irish Whiskey, and Single Malt Whiskey, products that range in retail price from $70 – $150 per bottle. Henry McKenna is an unbeatable value as a world’s best whiskey, one Minnick describes as “delicate, complex and an extraordinary Bourbon whiskey.” For insight on the controlled blind tastings used in the judging process, Minnick chronicled Henry McKenna’s path to Best in Show Whiskey on Forbes here.

“Quality and consistency are two values that have persisted across Heaven Hill since our company began distilling American Whiskey in 1935,” said Heaven Hill President Max L. Shapira. “Henry McKenna, and our entire American Whiskey portfolio, is a shining example of the tradition instilled by our late Master Distiller Parker Beam and carried forth by our unrivaled team at Heaven Hill Distillery. While we certainly enjoy the recognition of our passion, it is the commitment of our people who bring these products to life that gives us the most satisfaction.”

From every day Bourbons, to special releases, to Kentucky-only products, the art of selecting the right barrels from more than 1.5 million in inventory requires tremendous experience and awareness of warehouse locations and the resulting impact on flavor. Across the portfolio, Heaven Hill also took home several other medals from the premiere tasting competition:

  • Double Gold, Elijah Craig 18-Year-Old Single Barrel Bourbon
  • Double Gold, Old Fitzgerald 9-Year-Old Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon
  • Double Gold, Pikesville Straight Rye Whiskey
  • Double Gold, Larceny Barrel Proof Small Batch Bourbon
  • Double Gold, William Heavenhill 6th Edition 16-Year-Old Bourbon
  • Double Gold, Evan Williams Master Blend Bourbon
  • Gold, Elijah Craig Small Batch Bourbon
  • Gold, Evan Williams Single Barrel Vintage 2011 Bourbon
  • Gold, Rittenhouse 4-Year-Old Bottled-in-Bond Straight Rye Whiskey
  • Gold, Evan Williams 12-Year-Old Bourbon
  • Gold, Heaven Hill Select Stock 18-Year-Old Wheated Bourbon

The San Francisco World Spirits Competition was founded in 2000 and has become a premiere tasting competition judging more than 3,000 spirits this year. All spirits were tasted over four days through a controlled blind tasting by expert panelists. No information on brand, producer, or price point is given out prior to tastings to ensure each is judged fairly and without bias. For more information on the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, check out the website at https://sfspiritscomp.com/, as well as the August 2019 issue of the Tasting Panel Magazine.

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CONTACT:
Lauren Cherry
Heaven Hill Brands
(502) 413-0217
lcherry@heavenhill.com

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Simmons College of Kentucky, Heaven Hill Brands Announce Charitable Partnership

Donation of  $30,000 goes to support students and programs

(Louisville, KY) – Heaven Hill Brandsm is proud to announce a charitable partnership with Simmons College of Kentucky.  This new partnership will donate student scholarships, support of the West Louisville Forum, and funding of a new food service program – a value of $30,000. Community members gathered today at Simmons College to unveil the partnership and announce the first scholarship recipients.

“Heaven Hill is proud to give back to the community in which our facility has been located since 1871 and support the students of Simmons College of Kentucky,” said Max Shapira, President, Heaven Hill Brands. “We see this as building a relationship between our two organizations as our footprint grows in the West End community.”

The details of the donation include funding for two (2) student Heaven Hill Scholars scholarships to help increase retention rate of students and encourage degree completion. Martious White of Louisville, Ky. and Terri Turner of Nashville accepted the scholarships. Applicants for the scholarships must meet specific requirements, including a 3.0 GPA, an essay on the topic of “How to Help My Community,” and full-time enrollment.

The donation also includes support for the West Louisville Forum and a new food service program for students.  The West Louisville Forum takes place every first Wednesday of each month at noon and highlights community issues and concerns of the West Louisville community. Funds for the food program will help ensure that students are provided the convenience of having a stable meal each day.

“Investment in Simmons College of Kentucky and our students is exactly what’s needed to turn things around in the West End community,” said Dr. Kevin Cosby, President of Simmons College of Kentucky. “Our students live in a food desert in the West End. We are delighted that business leaders in our community, such as Heaven Hill Brands, understand the significant impact they can make for positive change in the West End.”

 

About Simmons College of Kentucky

 Simmons College of Kentucky was founded in 1879 by former slaves.  The mission of Simmons College is to educate students in the urban context.  Simmons College of Kentucky is the 107th Historically Black College & University (HBCU) and holds degrees in General Studies, Business (Entrepreneurship), Communications, Sociology, and Religious Studies.  It is the only private HBCU in the state of Kentucky and prides itself in graduating students with no Federal student loan debt.

 

About Heaven Hill Brands
Founded in 1935, Bardstown, KY-based Heaven Hill Brands (www.heavenhill.com) is he 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 include Evan Williams Bourbon; Larcency, Elijah Craig and Henry McKenna Bourbons; Deep Eddy Vodka; Burnett’s Vodkas and Gin; Admiral Nelson’s and Blackheart Rums; HPNOTIQ Liquer; The Christian Brothers Brandies; PAMA Pomergrante Liquer; Domaine de Canton Ginger Liquer; Lunazul Tequila; and Rittenhouse Rye Whiskey.

 

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Heaven Hill Brands Awarded Kentucky Governor’s Safety and Health Award at Bourbon Heritage Center

Ceremony followed by Governor Matt Bevin signing House Bill 100

Bardstown, KY – The Labor Cabinet of Kentucky today presented Heaven Hill Brands with the Governor’s Safety and Health Award at the annual Governor’s Safety and Health Conference. Presentation of the award took place at Heaven Hill in Bardstown, Ky. with Gov. Matt Bevin. Immediately following the safety award, Gov. Matt Bevin signed House Bill 100, signifying the Commonwealth’s commitment to continuing as the authentic home of Bourbon and distilled spirits.

With more than 600 employees, Heaven Hill qualified for the Safety and Health Award after completing one million production hours without a lost-time incident throughout 18 months. A first for any Heaven Hill facility, the award recognizes the safety procedures and trainings developed for a major Kentucky facility that has provided significant economic development to the commonwealth for over 80 years. As of May 1, the facility had attained 1,277,036 production hours without a lost-time incident since October 2015.

“Heaven Hill is proud to be recognized as a safe workplace for our employees who produce Kentucky’s native spirit every day,” said Heaven Hill Environmental, Health & Safety Manager Kim Harmon. “As an independent, family-owned and operated company located in the heart of Kentucky, we strive to ensure that each employee has the necessary training to produce high-quality work in a healthy environment.

Through implementing proven safety training programs with the managers and supervisors, such as the STOP for Supervision program developed by DuPont, Heaven Hill facility employees are better equipped to identify potential hazards and take corrective measures. The next phase of implementation will include proactive safety training for all employees.

The signing of House Bill 100 by Gov. Bevin strengthens production standards for Kentucky whiskey, allows distillers to sell by-the-drink at fairs and festivals, and permits the licenced sale of vintage spirits for resale and on-premise retail locations. Bill sponsor Representative Chad McCoy (R-HD 50), Kentucky Distillers’ Association officials, elected officials and Heaven Hill and industry leadership were also on-site to celebrate the official legislation with a toast following the ceremony.

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 Bourbon; Larceny, Elijah Craig and Henry McKenna Bourbons; Deep Eddy Vodka; Burnett’s Vodkas and Gin; Admiral Nelson’s and Blackheart Rums; Hpnotiq Liqueur; The Christian Brothers Brandies; PAMA Pomegranate Liqueur; Domaine de Canton Ginger Liqueur; Lunazul Tequila and Rittenhouse Rye Whisky.

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CONTACT:

Lauren Cherry
Heaven Hill Brands
(502) 413-0217
lcherry@heavenhill.com

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