Heaven Hill White Label Bottled In Bond 6 Year

Here is one of most sought out bottom shelf bourbons of all time. It is Heaven Hill 6 Year Old Bottled in Bond. This one has been discontinued by Heaven Hill but I still see it at several places in Kentucky when I am there. Distributors must have a ton of it still in there warehouses. It also was/is a Kentucky area release only. It used to be about 9-12 bucks all day long. Now when I do see it, it runs 20-23 bucks. It is the standard Heaven Hill mashbill 75% corn, 13% rye, and 12% malted barley. The color is brownish amber. The legs are thin and start to run fast but then slow down. The nose is sweet corn, vanilla, and lots of oak. The palate is the same as the nose but with some alcohol. But as you sip on it the alcohol dissipates and it is just enjoyable. It coats your mouth very nice with a almost creamy sensation. The finish is medium to long and the flavors linger with the oak hanging in there. I would say since this one is getting very hard to find a great alternative is the Evan Williams Bottled In Bond which I have already reviewed but added it below. It is a solid bourbon that is available everywhere.

100 proof - a 6 year old Bottled in Bond. Discontinued by Heaven Hill back around the Summer of 2018. “Replaced” by a 7 year BIB that’s much more expensive. N: Oranges, pralines, seasoned oak, cinnamon rolls, allspice. P: Oranges and pralines, candy corn, marshmallows, cinnamon, licorice. F: Oranges and pralines die off and are replaced by barrel char. Dominated by oranges and pralines with some cinnamon on the side. This is a decent bourbon, and it’s fantastic if you consider the price. You used to see this for about $10 a bottle in Kentucky until it was discontinued. You used to see this all over Kentucky until it was discontinued back 2018. This is not complicated at all. It has some nice sweet candied notes balanced with some citrus (oranges). It has the praline thing going on with it as well, like some other lower end Heaven Hill products (i.e. JW Dant Bonded). The finish is the least appealing aspect with this - short and tannic. All in all, this WAS one of the best bourbon values around.

Sadly, Heaven Hill 6-Year Bottled-in-Bond was too good for this world. Farewell, sweet whiskey unicorn! This expression was a long-time Kentucky exclusive that nailed a rare trifecta for that lucky state's bourbon lovers: high quality, great value, and a clear age statement. In fact, it was such a good value that many people claimed that it was Heaven Hill Distillery's small "thank you" to the people of its home state. Compared to other Heaven Hill expressions, this one is a little different. It combines what I think of as Jim Beam funk -- roasted peanuts and anise -- with Buffalo Trace fruitiness -- orange rinds, tangerines, and mandarins. Yes, it's almost every orange-colored fruit in the citrus family in a dense and heady mixture. Light honey and those orange citrus fruits dominate the palate by far, along with some cereal grain and corn. The most notable absence in this bourbon is vanilla. If someone served this to me over an ice cube, I'd assume it was an Old Fashioned.

This bottle is discontinued as Heaven Hill opted to release a premium 7-year line for much more than this former bottom shelf $15 gem. I’ve never tasted the new bottle. Nose: a very sweet almost cedar-like wood dominates the nose. It’s one of the most unique noses in bourbon I’ve tried the last five years. Taste: sweet toffee with rich & oily light peppermint notes. A very dessert-like whiskey. Finish: medium with little bite and a little more sweet fruits and candy. Until this was yanked from the shelves this was my favorite bottom shelf whiskey ever. It’s a shame that it’s gone for now, but demand on HH’s bourbon stocks has been insane the last decade. It’s one of the sweetest bourbons I’ve ever tasted if that’s your thing. If, for some reason, you come across a dusty white label Heaven Hill 6-year *bonded* bourbon and it’s not insanely priced, buy!!

Medium amber in the glass. Legs start quickly but linger. Moderate viscosity. A mild nose. Vanilla with a hint of peanut. Traditional bourbon smell, especially HH products. Starts sweet. Green apple, peanut, a touch of char, nice splash of mint and proof spice on the edges of the tongue and then building through the long finish. Lingering cinnamon, cedar, and minty iodine. Impressive, bold, balanced, and nuanced for the price point. Plenty of character without ever being rough. Would stand up beautifully in a spirit-forward cocktail. A lost gem - we’ll see what its 7-year replacement is and costs soon!

Nose- Ethanol initially, then a wave of cinnamon spice, cocoa powder, caramel, walnuts, and granny smith apples Palate- Wave of caramel, walnuts, rye spice, washed over by alcohol Finish- Short, mouth tingling finish with notes of caramel and a bit of wet oak The nose is the most impressive aspect of this bourbon, albeit covered up with ethanol. The palate is pretty one dimensional, with a good amount of heat, and the finish is short. Yes, this is cheap, but there are much better buys. 10/10 I would pay $5-10 more for a bottle of buffalo trace.