Heavy Char Rye Whiskey 8 Year is the 13th edition in the Parker’s Heritage Collection, named after the late Heaven Hill master distiller Parker Beam. This marks the first Kentucky straight rye for the collection. Also, ordinarily Heaven Hill uses char #3 barrels for most of its products. In this case, char #5 barrels — charred an additional 50 seconds more than char #3 level — are used. Heavy Char Rye aged for 8 years and 9 months on the seventh floor of rickhouse Y. Bottled without chill-filtration at 52.5% ABV. At 105-proof it lands with a bit of smoke, ample vanilla, background notes of banana bread and pine, and a warming finish that leaves a trace of baking spice. It’s very well balanced, with spice to punch through the rich oak influence and complexity that keeps one coming back for another pour.