Attraction Acclaimed as “Beacon for Kentucky Bourbon”
LOUISVILLE, KY – Heaven Hill Distilleries, Inc., the nation’s largest independent family-owned and operated distilled spirits producer and marketer, won the “Visitor Attraction of the Year” award during the presentation of Whisky Magazine’s Worldwide Icons of Whisky on February 28th in London.
The Icons of Whisky are “designed to celebrate the people and places behind the greatest whiskies in the world,” according to the organizers, and the winners are drawn from industry nominations who then are “shortlisted” by an independent editorial panel from which the winners are voted. In order to be considered for the worldwide final, entrants must first win in one of three “regional” finals—in the United States, Scotland and “Rest of the World (including Japan, Canada and Ireland)”. In October, Heaven Hill captured not only the “Visitor Attraction of the Year” in the US Icons of Whisky regional, but also captured “Distiller of the Year” for the United States as well. Winners of the three regional Icon Awards then went on to the worldwide final, announced at a gala awards ceremony at the Hurlingham Club in London coinciding with the opening of Whisky Live London.
Heaven Hill was awarded “Visitor Attraction of the Year” for their Bourbon Heritage Center, which according to the citation, “upon its opening in October of 2004 immediately raised the game for all other visitor facilities along the Kentucky Bourbon Trail.” The Icon of Whisky award further praised Heaven Hill’s Bourbon Heritage Center for “continually educating an increasing number of visitors in its barrel tasting room and offering a wide range of tours to suit novice to expert. It is a beacon for Kentucky Bourbon…in 2007 the Bourbon Heritage Center welcomed nearly 50,000 visitors to Bardstown, making it the most visited attraction in the historic Nelson County city.”
Bardstown-based Heaven Hill, the world’s second-largest holder of aging American Whiskey, produces such critically acclaimed brands as Evan Williams Single Barrel Vintage Bourbon, Elijah Craig Bourbon, Rittenhouse Rye, Bernheim Original Wheat Whiskey, and the Parker’s Heritage Collection of American Whiskeys, all crafted under the watchful eyes of sixth and seventh generation Master Distillers Parker and Craig Beam.
“It was a great honor to have won the Icons of USA awards for both ‘Visitor Attraction of the Year’ and ‘Distiller of the Year’ back in October,” stated Heaven Hill Distilleries Executive Vice President Harry J. Shapira. “But to come back in the worldwide competition and beat out all the spectacular visitor attractions in such traditional regions as Scotland and Ireland is indeed a very exciting accomplishment for us at Heaven Hill.”
Founded in 1934, Bardstown, KY-based Heaven Hill Distilleries, Inc. (www.heaven-hill.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 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, Lunazul Tequila and La Certeza Tequila.
Heaven Hill reminds you to “Think Wisely. Drink Wisely.”
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Cutline: Whisky Magazine Editor Rob Allanson (left) and Contributing Editor Dave Broom (right) present the 2008 Icons of Whisky “Visitor Attraction of the Year” to Heaven Hill Distilleries Bourbon Heritage Center Director of Guest Services Lynne Grant (center).
CONTACT:
Josh Hafer
Corporate Communications Manager
Heaven Hill Distilleries, Inc.
(502) 413-0219
jhafer@heavenhill.com