Heaven Hill Distillery
Heaven Hill was my most favorite distillery tour. They are the second largest selling bourbon behind Jim Beam. Between the two makers, they control 48% of the bourbon market. It is still a family owned company and they have the coolest tasting room. I'm not a bourbon fan but I enjoyed Larceny and this tour above all the others.
A bit of history inside the nicely done visitors center
The rickhouses where thousands of barrels lay aging. These rickhouses are not air conditioned. The change in seasons and temperatures allow for the unique natural aging of the bourbon.
Our wonderful tour guide and master brewer
Sit a spell and enjoy some bourbon
Our guide giving us the specifics of charring and barrel aging. Each barrel is first charred before the bourbon is put in. As it ages, the bourbon will pull flavors out of the oak barrel.
Thousands and thousands of aging barrels
When barrels need to be moved out, it's done by hand. Once a barrel is put in place, it is left there for several years until ready for market
The syphon used to test the bourbon
The outside of the tasting room - shaped like an oak barrel
Inside the unique tasting room
Showing the ratio of corn, wheat and rye to make the Elijah Craig. Bourbon is a uniquely American beverage. It must be at least 51% corn, the ratios of wheat and rye will vary at each distillery according to their different recipes. .
Bourbons with a higher ratio of rye have a more bitter peppery taste.
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