Review: Parker's Heritage Collection Cognac Finish

The cognac finished Parker's Heritage Collection bourbon is the 2011 version of this annual bottling. We previously reviewed the 2012 Parker's Blend of Mashbills in this space and figured it was high time to review the 2011 offering. This bourbon uses the Evan Williams Single Barrel mashbill, was aged for 10 years, then aged in cognac barrels for 4-6 months. For a great detailed write-up on this bottle, check out Cigar Aficionado's article.

Parker's Heritage Collection Cognac Finish (2011) - Tasting Notes

Parker's Heritage College - Cognac Finish

Nose: Subtler nose than a typical bourbon, but fairly complex. Rich fruits like plums, grapes/raisins and ripe oranges show themselves at first - likely a direct influence of the cognac finish. After sitting for a while some of the traditional bourbon notes like caramel and maple come out.

Palate: Very sweet, but not sweet like pouring a bag of skittles in your mouth. There are definitely some layers here. Raisins, toffee and syrup with spice (cinnamon and chili) at the end.

Finish: The spice from the palate is prominent at the start then yields to soft, rich sweetness reminiscent of butterscotch, raisins and cocoa. The finish hangs around for quite a while.

Proof: 100 (50% ABV)

Price: ~$90

I really took some time to review this and was fairly hesitant about writing one at all. At first glance this can come across as a fairly pedestrian bourbon if not given the time to show all of its complexity. The first few pours didn't overly impress me but I could tell there was more to this bottle than I was catching. When I really took my time with a glass and tried to enjoy it from nose to finish it unfolded layer after layer of flavor. This is a really good product from Parker Beam and company that should be enjoyed when you have 30-60 minutes to sit back, relax and sip a superb bourbon.

Parker's Heritage Collection Cognac Finish Rating: 9.3/10