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Kentucky distiller Heaven Hill announced today the release of the Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond 25th Anniversary Edition. This is a special release in the Old Fitzgerald line, outside the bi-annual spring and autumn releases, denoted as a “VVS.” The occasion is the 25th anniversary of Heaven Hill’s purchase of the Bernheim Distillery in Shively (an industrial suburb of Louisville), following the destruction of the company’s original distillery in a 1996 fire.
The barrels used for this VVS Old Fitzgerald release were produced in September 1999, emptied in March 2013 and bottled in February 2024. When these barrels were tested in 2013, it was decided that the taste profile at 13 years old was exceptional and the profile would be reserved for a special occasion, such as this 25th Anniversary Edition. Presumably, the bourbon was then socked away into stainless steel storage containers. Thirteen is also a lucky number for Heaven Hill, as the company filled its first barrel ever on December 13, 1935.
“The Bernheim Distillery became the lifeblood of Heaven Hill after the setback from the fire and has been ever since,” said Executive Chairman Max Shapira. “We are honored to have been able to continue the Old Fitzgerald legacy since that time and look forward to many more years of exceptional releases from Bernheim Distillery and from the Heaven Hill Springs Distillery set to open early next year.”
This edition is available at the suggested retail price of $229.99.
