Parker’s Heritage Heavy Char Rye Whiskey Review (2019)

By Richard Thomas

Rating: A-

The ongoing Parker’s Heritage Collection is known for its interesting and aged spins on whiskeys. Even if half the releases thus far have been relatively normal bourbons (especially by limited edition standards), the other half has included some of the oldest bourbons of their class; the oldest wheat whiskey released in modern times; and a well-aged American malt.

Now Heaven Hill has added the first-ever rye whiskey to Parker’s Heritage, as the Collection’s 13th installment. The choice was far from unlucky. Although merely a mature rye (aged 8 years, 9 months), the whiskey was aged in barrels given an especially heavy charring. They call it Char 5, but in truth anything beyond Char 4 is so rarely used that it’s more descriptive to use duration of burn to explain what that means: Heaven Hill usually uses burns its barrels for 35 seconds (Char 3), and the famous “Alligator Char” (Char 4) is 55 seconds; Heaven Hill burned the insides of these barrels for 85 seconds. That translates into more breakdown of wood compounds and fibers, deeper penetration of whiskey into the wood, and thus greater influence of the new white oak on the whiskey generally.

The Whiskey
A pour of Parker’s Heritage Heavy Char Rye reveals that even the wood-forward style of barrel doesn’t change the fundamental color of a rye, which tends to be more copper than brown. The whiskey has an orange-amber appearance. At 105 proof, it’s a thick liquid, one that leaves a glimmering coat around the glass, topped with a beady crown. Those beads just hang there, teasing legs that don’t drop even after a few minutes have passed.

The nose offers a thick dollop of vanilla, accented by some robust rye spices and a sprinkle of orange zest. A sip gives one more of the same flavors and in just about the same proportions, but with a hint of a smoky barrel char note. The finish winds down ashy and spicy at first, before fading to just spiciness and then to nothing.

Heaven Hill makes the Kentucky style of rye whiskey, which is to say the rye content in the mash bill is barely above legal requirements (51% in this case), making it a true cousin of bourbon. The very heavy barrel charring of Parker’s Heritage 2019 has brought out the best in that sweet style of rye, as far from being overwhelmed by sweetness, the rye gains weight (albeit not more space on the palate).

The Price
Parker’s Heritage Heavy Char Rye is officially priced at $150, but many consumers should expect to pay more. To purchase a bottle on demand and without connections, expect to pay about double that.