Parker's Heritage Collection 2012 Review - Blend of Mashbills

The 2012 Parker's Heritage Collection is a blend of mashbills featuring wheated and rye-based bourbons. The blend includes 11 year old rye-based bourbons (recipe used for Elijah Craig and Evan Williams), along with 11 year old barrels of Heaven Hill's wheated mashbill (used in Old Fitzgerald). You can read the full press release here.

I've tried a couple of past expressions of the Heritage Collection and enjoyed them both. The Golden Anniversary bottle was a nice blend of various barrels and just a tasty, complex bourbon from start to finish. The Cognac finish had a very soft, enjoyable flavor. That one took a couple tastings to truly appreciate as it is more delicate than some other bourbons I've tried. So how did the 2012 Heritage Collection fair?

Parker's Heritage Collection 2012 Blend of Mashbills - Tasting Notes

2012 Parker's Heritage Collection

Nose: The high proof shows itself. Strong notes of spice and wood. After time and a little water, some rich vanilla notes appear.

Palate: Initially sweet sugar on the first taste, likely due to the wheat portion of the bourbon. The sweetness is short-lived however as spice, oak and leather soon take over. A touch of water softens the sweetness and enhances the spice.

Finish: Heavy oak presence and a dry mouthfeel with lingering spice & oak.

Proof: 131.6 (65.8% ABV)

Price: ~$90

This was a bit of a disappointment to me. Maybe my expectations were too high due to the reputation of the line, or maybe it was due to the price. If this were priced around $40, I'd be alright with it, but at $90 I can't give this much of a recommendation. If you like heavy oak & leather this might be for you but it isn't really catered to my palate which prefers a little less leather and a little more sugar & spice.

Parker's Heritage Collection 2012 Rating: 8.0/10