Heaven Hill Grain to Glass Rye Whisky 2024 Release Review
In-Depth Review
It’s not every day that an entirely new lineup is brought to fruition at a blue chip Kentucky distillery But in 2024, Heaven Hill surprised the industry by releasing their all-new Grain to Glass series – a lineup of three new whiskies that highlight new mashbills and specific grain sourcing. From their press release:
The initial launch features three new mashbills which include a Bourbon Whiskey, Wheated Bourbon Whiskey and Rye Whiskey expression… The Bourbon and Wheated Bourbon Whiskeys feature mashbills with higher secondary grain content than Heaven Hill’s traditional Bourbon mashbill and Wheated Bourbon mashbill. Bottled at 107 proof, the Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey expression is comprised of 52% corn, 35% rye and 13% malted barley. Bottled at 121 proof, the Kentucky Straight Wheated Bourbon Whiskey expression is made with 52% corn, 35% wheat and 13% malted barley. The Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey expression is bottled at 123.2, the only barrel proof expression of the series. It also features a higher rye content than Heaven Hill’s traditional Rye Whiskey mashbill consisting of 63% rye, 24% corn and 13% malted barley. The distillates have been aged over six years at Heaven Hill’s Cox’s Creek rickhouse site. Each product is non-chill filtered and bottled at the ideal proof to allow the characteristics of each unique mashbill to shine.
Today, we are going to dive into the only cask strength bottling of the series, the 2024 Grain to Glass Rye. Distilled in 2017 and bottled in June of 2024, this features Becks 6158 corn seed and was aged on the 3rd, 4th, and 5th floors of warehouse W3. Coming in with an MSRP of around $100, the specs seem impressive but let’s dive in and see if it’s worth the extra coin over some of Heaven Hill’s other rye products.
Age: 6 Years
ABV: 61.6%
Cask: New oak
MSRP: $99
Distillery Name: Heaven Hill
Review Date: 2/20/25
Color: Medium Caramel
Nose: Starts off with big brown sugar crisp, brioche, with deep herbal wintergreen gum and plenty of oak. There’s a light musty sweetness to remind you it’s a rye but doesn’t hit you over the head like a 95/5 rye might. Right off the bat, the heat is pronounced and a bit in your face, but after it settles in the glass, the heat calms down and is replaced with more Eucalyptus and soft vanillas.
Palate: The palate begins with a much meatier, bold character than Heaven Hill’s other ryes (I’m looking at you Pikesville). There’s spiced cake, clove, and honeyed black tea. It’s floral, earthy, with a dollop of young tobacco leaf and bitter chocolate. A few drops of water reduces the viscosity of the mouthfeel but provides some needed balance in the midpalate. Feels like the most classic rye profile that Heaven Hill has recently put out.
Finish: Long, herbaceous finish with notes of fresh oak, clove, ginger, and mint that’s complemented by a creeping dryness as it slowly fades out.
Final Thoughts: Heaven Hill’s 2024 Grain to Glass rye is a solid, high-octane pour that feels like its pitching right down the middle of the category. Its nose lulls you into thinking this might be similar to the barely legal ryes that Heaven Hill has been known for, but after one sip you realize, this is very different than a Pikesville or Elijah Craig rye. It’s never shy on flavor, but with the higher rye spice, a few drops of water go a long way to balance it out. This inaugural Grain to Glass rye release shows that even Heaven Hill can be willing to break a few old habits and deliver a product that feels both new and yet perfectly at home in the lineup.
