There are Bourbons that carry stories, and then there are Bourbons that seem to embody entire chapters of Kentucky history. The new Heaven Hill Master Distillers Unity belongs squarely in the latter category. Released to commemorate the grand opening of the new Heaven Hill Springs Distillery in Bardstown, this once-in-a-generation bottling is as much a tribute to the people who built America’s largest independent, family-owned distilling company as it is a toast to its future.
A Bourbon Decades in the Making
At the heart of Unity is a singular barrel: the last remaining cask distilled at the original Old Heaven Hill Springs Distillery in 1991, under the hand of legendary Master Distiller Parker Beam. Aged for 34 years, it represents not just a rare survivor of a different era, but a liquid time capsule of pre-fire Heaven Hill.
That whiskey was mingled with carefully chosen barrels of 14-year-old, 8-year-old, and 6-year-old Bourbon made at Bernheim Distillery by Beam, Denny Potter, and current Master Distiller Conor O’Driscoll. The result is a blend that unites three decades of craft, binding the past, present, and future in liquid form.
“This release represents both a tribute to our past and a toast to our future,” said O’Driscoll. “By uniting the last available barrel from the Old Heaven Hill Springs Distillery with carefully chosen selections from Bernheim, we are weaving together generations of dedication, artistry, and vision.”
A Return to Bardstown
Born from just 27 barrels, the release coincides with Heaven Hill’s return to Bardstown—the Bourbon Capital of the World—where its new, state-of-the-art Heaven Hill Springs Distillery has begun operation. The symbolism is unmistakable: the old and the new meeting in one of whiskey’s most sacred geographies.
Only 4,000 bottles of Unity will be available, bottled at 107 proof, the same entry proof once used at the original distillery. Each carries a suggested retail price of $225 and follows the distillery’s traditional mashbill of 78% corn, 12% malted barley, and 10% rye.
Tasting Notes
In the glass, Unity pours a deep copper, glowing with the kind of richness that comes only from age. The nose opens with sweet oak layered over warm spice. On the palate, it turns lush and intricate: butterscotch, chocolate, and caramel mingle with toasted nuts—pecans and almonds—before gliding into a long finish of aged oak and lingering spice.
The balance between youthful vigor and the profound depth of the 34-year component makes this a Bourbon that feels both rooted and forward-looking, an embodiment of Heaven Hill’s philosophy.
A Living Legacy
For Heaven Hill, Unity is more than another limited edition. It is a symbolic bridge, linking the final barrel of the old distillery with the opening of the new. In that sense, the bottle becomes not just a collector’s item but a document of American whiskey history, distilled and sealed.
“This is a rare opportunity to share a Bourbon that tells the story of where we’ve been, while also celebrating where we are going,” O’Driscoll said. “Heaven Hill Master Distillers Unity is not just a bottle—it is a living legacy.”
For more information, head over to the brand’s official website.
Last week, the distillery announced the release of the Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond Artist Series Collection.
