William Heavenhill 17 Year Old Small Batch Bourbon Whiskey

17 years. Small batch. William Heavenhill — Heaven Hill's prestige aged expression honoring the Heavenhill family, the original landowners whose property gave the distillery its name. One of the oldest small batch releases in Heaven Hill's regular production program.

Heaven Hill Distillery takes its name from a transcription error — the land where the original distillery was built was owned by the Heavenhill family, and a clerical mistake separated the family name into two words: "Heaven Hill." The William Heavenhill expression honors William Heavenhill, the family patriarch, connecting the brand's name to its literal founding land.

At 17 years, the William Heavenhill Small Batch sits between the Elijah Craig 18 Year and the standard Parker's Heritage releases in Heaven Hill's age-statement hierarchy. Heaven Hill's high-rye mashbill at 17 years produces the deep oak integration, dried fruit complexity, and leather warmth of extended maturation — further along than most commercial releases dare to go. As a small batch, it blends a limited selection of the finest 17-year barrels into a unified expression.

Tasting Notes

• Appearance: Deep amber from 17 years of Heaven Hill barrel aging.
• Nose: Caramel, dried fruit, warm oak, and the complexity of the high-rye mashbill at 17-year maturity.
• Palate: Rich and layered — deep oak integration, dried fruit, leather, and warm spice in a refined, fully developed expression.
• Finish: Long and warm — the 17-year character producing a sustained, satisfying close.

Specs

• Distillery: Heaven Hill Bernheim Distillery, Louisville, Kentucky
• Style: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Small Batch
• Age: 17 years
• Named for: William Heavenhill (founding family patriarch)
• Size: 750ml

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Frequently Asked Questions

• Why is the distillery called Heaven Hill? The land where the original distillery was built belonged to the Heavenhill family. A clerical transcription error separated the family name into two words — "Heaven Hill" — which became the permanent brand name. The William Heavenhill expression corrects this historical record by honoring the family patriarch by his actual name.
• How does William Heavenhill 17 Year fit in Heaven Hill's lineup? It sits between the standard Elijah Craig range and the ultra-aged expressions (18, 20, 21, 23 Year). The William Heavenhill label gives Heaven Hill's 17-year aged inventory its own distinct identity separate from the Elijah Craig program.
• Is the William Heavenhill 17 Year still available? Yes — available now in limited quantities.