Fair warning to 'fox and others who do not like long posts - do not read!
The Parker's Heritage Collection bourbon releases are each unique and anxiously awaited by bourbon lovers. I have had them all and each is special in its own way. None are cheap whiskies, but all are exceptional......... and different.
This year's release (which I had to special order, since only a small number of bottles were allotted to GA and none to Savannah... except by special order), is, as expected, unique.
It is a 10 year old rye (fairly high I would guess) recipe. In the opinion of most experienced bourbon drinkers the best bourbon comes out at about 8 to 10 years of age (I love those bourbons, but also find some wonderful qualities in much older bourbons). The aim of this release was to embody the characteristics that Parker Beam of Heaven Hill Distillery (he of Parker's Heritage) finds most appealing to his well trained and seasoned palate.
Parker Beam, who has been the master distiller at Heaven Hill for many years, was recently diagnosed with Lou Gehrigs disease (ALS). A portion of the sales of this release go to the ALS Association, a worthy cause.
As to the bourbon........ its upfront sweetness is as much subtle as it is sweet, as thick as it is creamy. If you never moved the bourbon from the front of the mouth to the middle you might never know that an explosive burst of rye, cinnamon and ginger await you. They cleanse the palate and prepare it for the long spicy and only slightly dry finish that awaits you.
In all honesty, I can make no claims for the sophistication of my palate, at best, it is passable. But, what most impresses me about this bourbon is not the burst of spice at mid-palate, which I find noteworthy, but rather the subtlety of the upfront sweetness that barely holds its own across the entirety of the mouth. I find a few sips of water (resets the palate) in the midst of the sips to tame the spice a bit.
In what I hope is a tribute to Parker Beam, this bourbon is challenging. It is not a simple bourbon, it has something, especially upfront, upon which I can not put a label. My palate finds its upfront sweetness (and subtlety) the real mystery......... others might (and will) find its mid-palate, or its finish more of a challenge.
If you should try this bourbon, keep in mind that the subtlety of the front does influence the taste right the way through to the finish. I would really like to avoid (mostly because this bourbon is expensive) the argument of whether the 'best' is determined by cost. The best is determined by your own palate, not by cost.
Still, I do, and always have, maintained (and will defend it forever) that some bourbons are better than others. I always take that as a given. Your palate is you own and you should satisfy that first and foremost. There is nothing wrong with deciding that your favorite bourbons are inexpensive.
BUT, if you do so on BOURBONENTHUSIAST, be prepared to defend that proposition, as some have done..... a reasonable cost/benefit analysis based upon your palate is perfectly acceptable, as is mine for a much higher budget for bourbon, keeping in mind that I am unwilling to pay ridiculous prices for scarce bourbons.
Parker's Heritage bourbons are scarce and pretty expensive, and well beyond the means of some (maybe many) BourbonEnthusiast participants. But ALL bourbons belong to the discussion here.