Heaven Hill Distillery has introduced its 7-Year-Old Bottled-in-Bond Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey to the UK, a release that marks the company’s 90th anniversary and revives one of the most significant traditions in American whiskey.
The Bottled-in-Bond designation is a cornerstone of Bourbon heritage. Established by the Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897, it guaranteed quality and transparency at a time when adulterated whiskey was widespread. To qualify, a whiskey must come from one distilling season at one distillery, be aged for at least four years in a federally bonded warehouse and bottled at 100 proof. These strict standards remain unchanged and still offer consumers traceability, authenticity and a consistent flavour profile. Maintaining such consistency also requires foresight in inventory, as only barrels from a single January to June or July to December distilling season may be batched together.
For Heaven Hill, Bottled-in-Bond is more than a regulatory term. One of its founding brands carried the designation and the company has since acquired and preserved numerous historic Bottled-in-Bond labels. Today, Heaven Hill produces more Bottled-in-Bond whiskeys than any other distillery, supported by a vast ageing inventory that ensures each release meets the designation’s exacting requirements.
The new 7-Year-Old expression draws on that heritage. It is crafted from Heaven Hill’s traditional mashbill, mingled in small batches and bottled at 100 proof, with the D.S.P. numbers of the Bernheim Distillery and the Bardstown bottling house displayed on the label. The front label also features an illustration of the Old Heaven Hill Springs Distillery from 1935, underscoring the brand’s long lineage.
In the glass, the 7-Year-Old Bottled-in-Bond offers a golden amber hue with aromas of vanilla, honey and caramel. The palate is smooth and sweet with hints of rye spice, caramel, honey and oak, leading into a long, warming finish. The bottle is now available in the UK for £61.75 at The Whisky Exchange.
Founded in Kentucky in 1935 by the Shapira family, Heaven Hill is one of America’s foremost whiskey producers, with more than two million barrels ageing across over seventy warehouses. Its award-winning portfolio includes Elijah Craig, Larceny, Evan Williams, Pikesville Rye, Rittenhouse Rye, Old Fitzgerald and the extensive Bottled-in-Bond collection. The distillery holds multiple recent industry accolades including consecutive Whisky Magazine Distillery of the Year titles in 2023 and 2024.
Further information can be found at www.heavenhilldistillery.com
