Parker's Heritage 24 Year Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon

A rare unicorn…this time courtesy of an online tasting event ( which I admit , I dozed off because I had such an early morning start to the workday ). Fortunately before I dozed off, I did try this pour. I was shocked by it…I guess the bar is set quite high when it’s a unicorn, and to add—-a bottled in bond 24 yr old! That’s about as rare as it gets. But shocked not in a good way…I just expected more. The best part is the nose. It’s quite delicate considering it’s been in a barrel for 24 yrs. Toasted marshmallow, some orange. Palette is where it fell apart for me. I got all heat to the extent where I couldn’t taste anything else. I was expecting ( and hoping) for more oak. But I got all heat and cinnamon spice. The finish lingers in the heat for a long time. One man’s opinion —You’re better off buying ECBP for a fraction of the price. This goes for $800-1000…just not worth it. But… I might be alone in that opinion considering the average rating for this is high.

Amazing nose, maybe the finest mesmerizing nose in bourbon for me thus far. mouth feel is full The age is apparent based on complexity and smoothness- it has both. You know that much of the “bullshit” evaporate out of this mix years ago. Flavors are mint, clove, oak, vanilla, cinnamon, with a mild Carmel finish. The heat on the finish is about a 5. Try it based on its uniqueness, however- paying $200+ for a bottle seems a bit silly- there are plenty of lower priced options that perform nicely (belle Meade single barrel, weller 12, EC barrel proof, crown rye) Oh, and by the way- all of you online secondary Market price gougers and pappy counterfeiters can kiss my ass.😘

**UPDATE: Allowing my opened bottle to sit with a little extra oxygen has helped to make this an enjoyable pour. I still regret spending so much (retail) per bottle but it is still a special bottle to have in my collection. When you pour, let it breathe before you drink. [Tasting from my 1990, so far this has been a disappointment for my palate. I'm saving an unopened 1990 & 1991 to hopefully trade later down the road because of the rarity. Personally, 24 years is too much time for bourbon. My sweet spot is typically anywhere in the 12-15 year range. Sometimes I even prefer a 7 year when they are high rye.]

The nose is intense with freshly cut wood, spearmint, some allspice and leather. It is a very intriguing nose that gives a lot of curiosity to the palate. As it breathes, it opens up and becomes quite an alluring smell. The palate is very woody, but in a pleasant way. Behind it is black pepper, cinnamon and a touch of cherry. The finish is medium, not nearly as long as you might expect. There is fading oak and vanilla, with the pepper and spices fading quickly. As it breathes even more, the whole experience mellows further. Interesting sipper, but lacking depth.

Great balance of oak, sweetness, spiciness, and old books. Nose: Pecans, Cherries, Walnuts, Cinnamon, Vanilla Fudge, Nutella, Marzipan, Peaches, Leather, Tobacco, Brown Sugar, Old Oak, Oranges, Cloves, Marshmallow, Molasses, Maple Syrup Palate: Oranges, Root Beer, Dark Chocolate, Vanilla, Flat Coke, Pecan Pie, Caramel, Raisins, Maple Syrup, Walnuts, Almonds, Cherries Finish: Vanilla, Brown Butter Cake, Banana Bread, Walnuts, Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Walnuts, Pecans

An annual release from Parker's Heritage Collection is a 24-year-old bottled-in-bond bourbon. It has an aromatic birth with notes of caramel, vegetal oak, dark chocolate, a kick of cinnamon & a hint of orange oil; while a rich & complex life adds notes of dusty oak, leather furniture, Black Forest gâteau & a hint of pepper; that led to a long & balanced death with notes of creamy vanilla. January / May / June 2018 / July 2022