The Kentucky-based Heaven Hill Distillery, has announced the launch of a new limited-edition release, commemorating a defining moment in the brand’s history; a fire that destroyed its original distillery site.

Heaven Hill Phoenix (53.5% ABV) is a Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey comprising 18-year-old Bourbon distilled in March 2008, matured in heavily charred barrels, alongside a portion of 30-year-old whiskey distilled at the Old Heaven Hill Springs Distillery.

On November 7th 1996, lightning is believed to have sparked a fire at Heaven Hill’s original distillery in Bardstown. Wind-driven flames destroyed the 1935 distillery and seven rickhouses, consuming nearly 100,000 barrels of ageing Bourbon. The loss of whiskey and facilities was subsequently valued at $30 million, making it one of the most catastrophic events in American whiskey history.

What followed was a story of resilience. No lives were lost, and no employees lost their jobs. Heaven Hill’s proprietary yeast strain survived intact, preserving a vital link in the company’s whiskey-making tradition and safeguarding its future. In the days that followed, Heaven Hill team members began the long process of rebuilding.

Heaven Hill Phoenix is said to open with notes of polished oak, cinnamon, nutmeg and caramel. The palate offers butterscotch, caramel, cinnamon and baked apple, balanced by subtle oak tannins. The finish is warm and long, with notes of sweet apple pie and peppery spice.

The bottle is presented in a special-edition gift carton featuring a phoenix, the ultimate symbol of rebirth, rising from the ashes alongside the words: ‘Remember. Rebuild. Rise.’

Commenting on the launch, Max L. Shapira, Executive Chairman and second-generation family owner of Heaven Hill Distillery, said: “The fire brought tremendous loss, but it also showed the resolve of the people who chose to move forward together. That same spirit of adaptability and shared purpose continues to guide Heaven Hill today. Phoenix honours the employees, community members and industry partners who refused to let a single night define generations of craftsmanship.”

“Heaven Hill Phoenix balances the mature oak and length of its 30-year-old component with the structure of 18-year-old Bourbon aged in heavily charred oak,” said Conor O’Driscoll, Master Distiller at Heaven Hill Distillery. “The determination that carried us through the fire lives on in Phoenix, bridging that pivotal moment in our past with our ongoing commitment to producing exceptional, ultra-aged whiskeys.”

Limited in quantity, Heaven Hill Phoenix will be available later this month from the Heaven Hill Bourbon Experience in Bardstown, Kentucky, and through selected retailers, for a RRP of $325.