Parker's Heritage 8 Year Heavy Char Rye Whiskey

So I "won" the right to buy this one...I shoulda selected better bottles. We'll get to the review but I'm still shocked at myself for spending 150 bucks on an 8 year old whisky. Nose - A lot of typical rye notes. I do get a bubble gum note at first. I'm getting spice, charred oak (deep char), some cinnamon, some vanilla. After a bit i'm getting a baked apple pie with some dusty wood. With each nosing I get a different version of this, always rye forward, always with a lot of oak, but the sweetness levels and the fruits just keep changing. A drop of water brings out vanilla cream, actually really nice, but it kills some of the spice and oak. I think I like the water better here. Taste - I had the parker's bourbon just the other day and I was surprised that it reminded me so much of their rye. Today, I'm not getting those same associations, but I fully believe there is an element to the brand that seems to come through on the spirits. It's a brand sadly due to price and availability that I am unlikely to get to explore in depth anytime soon. This is sweet, fruity, and then it goes into spices, then into rye flavors and then into oak and barrel notes. There are at least 4 distinct transitions in here. This is as sweet as a bourbon. It has as much of that barrel char as a good aged bourbon. It however has that unique rye note and comes full force with rye spices. I don't get dill btw...so that's a huge win. There is a note near the end I can't place it. It's almost chocolate but it isn't and it is almost butter but it isn't. It's somewhere between the two, very enjoyable. Water I'm not sure it does a lot. I think it brings out a bit more sweetness up front and the finish is taking on a bit more chocolate vs that butter. Overall the whole mid game of spice and oak and sweet playing into transitions are all pretty similar. OK - this is fantastic whisky. This is an absolute home run, so in my face for turning my nose up at 8 years. I am not a rye guy, this is not my wheel house, and I would not buy again. That said I'm going 4 stars. This is one of if not the best rye I have had, outside of the 23 year kentucky vintage. I would buy again at 100 just as I don't like spending over 100 on rye whisky, though I do to continue to educate myself.

Neat. Sample. I had a chance to buy this when it came out but I just spent $200 at the prior liquor store. A few reviews indicated this was a bit overrated at first so I felt alright about the decision. Those same reviewers revisited the bottle and were amazed how well it opened it and called the best rye of the year. Whiskey regret sucks. A friend heard my story and got me a sample. Whiskey friends are the best. Okay this smells so different than I was expecting. I’m assuming this is a barely legal rye since it’s Heaven Hill because it doesn’t present it self as a rye. Very sweet, the rye is subtle. Additionally, 8 year and heavy char I was expecting a darker nose. Bright and sweet. Very floral. I feel bad sipping on this on a dreary cold day like today. This would be great for a sunny, spring day. Very floral. Vanilla ice cream. Drizzled in cherry sauce. May go with a creme brûlée actually, getting those charred sugars and caramel too. I’m beginning to find the rye but I don’t think I would find them blind. This nose is delicious but not spectacular. Lovely, silky texture. Flavorful immediately. Cinnamon rolls and frosting on the tongue even before the swallow. The cinnamon and vanilla frosting escalate mid palate and it does transition into a beautiful creme brûlée. Getting these nice apples and raspberries mid palate too. I am starting to get eucalyptus on the finish but that is the only place this presents itself as a rye to me, on the finish. The rye really comes through on the finish. This would be a doozy to pick apart blind. The heavy char aspects are coming through on subsequent sips. Reminds me of a baked Alaska with the flamed meringue. Lovely vanillas throughout. Yep, should have purchased that dang bottle. This is worth every cent. This is the best barely legal rye I have ever had but I find it unfair to compare to more classic rye. Other than the finish, nothing about this is a rye.

Very interesting to say the least. Love the nose If you are a diehard Bourbon Drinker you will appreciate the complexities of this 8 Year Rye. The 105 proof is a mouthful and really does not disappoint if anything it presents itself as a higher proof and not as excessive heat...Proof and heat balanced I love that a portion of the proceeds of every bottle of all Parker's releases to date benefits ALS research the disease that Parker suffered from and unfortunately sadly lost his battle to. Therefore drinking any Parker's release to me is special and i might add .25 just for the love of drinking any Parkers release as I am a HUGE FAN. The #5 Char is spicier and not as sweet as the traditional #3. Try not to compare it...just enjoy it What i mean is some might say Pikesville is less money or whatever whiskey one "might" compare but Pikesville or... is not a #5 Char Parker's Heritage Rye This for me is very good, not a daily drinker assuming retail price and unlimited availability, yeah i know lol just sayin, So for me there are some ryes i do enjoy more, however definitely Parker's Rye is a very worthy, different, only Parkers Rye ever, so it is a special pour especially a great pour to share with friends.

Letting this open up for a few minutes did it wonders and the higher ABV along with the kick of the rye gives it a nice little punch! I tend to prefer barrel proofs anyway so this is right up my alley. The good part is sometimes when a whiskey packs some heat the flavor is lost which is not the case here. I found the finish to be very long and lingering which I was really impressed with. It may be hard to justify the price tag because you can get multiple other bottles of great stuff at this price point but I do feel this one is unique enough and still a winner in my book! Would I go grab another bottle at this price, probably not, but I don’t regret adding it to my collection. Either way, I thoroughly enjoyed this pour!

Another belated mess of thoughts. This was pleasant, rich and checked many of the boxes for a good rye (brown sugar, vanilla, rye-raisin toast, chocolate). Nose and palate came together with few surprises and the finish was medium long, warm and packed with brown sugar sweetness and a hint of spice. I would drink this any day but don’t know that I’d pay MSRP, let alone secondary, to have another go at it. Definitely appreciate the chance to try it though and anyone who scored a bottle is unlikely to have regrets. It’s all together a great rye but not one that stands apart for me.

Very good, loaded with cinnamon, cloves, chocolate, vanilla, dark fruits, and marshmallows. Nose: Cinnamon, Cloves, Vanilla, Marshmallows, Maple Syrup, Pecan Pie, Apple Pie, Morello Cherries, Raspberries, Milk Chocolate Palate: Cloves, Vanilla, Blood Oranges, Big Red Gum, Tobacco, Nutella, Peaches, Root Beer, Raisins, Honey Finish: Mocha, Toffee, Vanilla, Toasted Marshmallows, Mexican Hot Chocolate, Cinnamon, Cloves