Parker’s Heritage 14-Year
Overall Score: 7/10
Overall Value: 2.25/5
Distillery: Heaven Hill
Classification: Straight Malt Whiskey Finished in Reconstructed Heavy Toast Cognac Barrels
Company: Elijah Craig Distillery Co. (Heaven Hill)
Release Date: 2024
Proof: 107
Age: 14 Years
Color: Honey
MSRP: $200 (2025)
Mashbill: 765% Malted Barley, 35% Corn
The Barrel Bros’ Review
This nose of this Parker’s Heritage 14-Year pour opens with a blend of sweet and savory notes. Grape bubble gum, Smarties candy, and vanilla wafer give it a bright start, while a deeper layer of buttered movie theatre popcorn and hints of chocolate malt ball add some richness. Give it time and it evolves—showing flashes of marshmallow crème, red berries, and the nuttiness of unsalted peanuts. The oak is present, as expected with a 14-year whiskey, but it’s more of a subtle note rather than a dominant feature.
The first sip reveals its malt character right away—this is unmistakably a malt whiskey. While the mouthfeel is a bit light and even drying, the flavors are Tootsie Roll chocolate and raspberry butter cookies, followed by more straightforward malt and butterscotch notes. The overall balance feels a bit off-kilter, though, and while the double barrel finish adds complexity, it doesn’t quite round off the edges.
This finish is where opinions may split. Some sips leave a long, oak-forward trail that’s pleasant and classic. Others taper off quickly with just a touch of dry wood and faint chocolate. For a whiskey aged 14 years, the finish feels a little inconsistent—sometimes rewarding, sometimes forgettable.
This release from the 2024 Parker’s Heritage Collection feels like a niche experience. It’s clearly crafted for those who enjoy malt whiskey, especially with a more experimental, double barreled approach. If that’s your profile, you may find this pour complex and worth savoring.
But if you’re coming from a bourbon-forward palate, the $200+ cost might not match the experience—especially when better options can be had for a lower sale price.
If you’re looking for specific notes from our Barrel Bros, read their individual reviews below!
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Individual Reviews
The Rye Guy Says
Score: 7/10
Value: 2/5
THE NOSE:
Buttered movie theatre popcorn with a bit of nuttiness like unsalted peanuts.
I’m reminded of a Reese’s cup, so perhaps a bit of chocolate as well.
I do get the occasional red fruit nose. Like strawberries and marshmallow creme.
THE TASTE:
The mouthfeel is kinda thin and the sip does dry the mouth.
The initial sip tasted chocolatey to me, almost like a tootsie roll. The following sips reminded me of the butter cookies with the raspberry jelly center.
It felt a bit off kilter to me.
THE FINISH:
The finish is surprisingly absent for me, and what aspects remain are not particularly pleasant.
Certainly woodiness and oak, and a small bit of chocolate.
BUY OR PASS?
It’s different, but I’m not sure the experience is entirely pleasant. I think it has the complexity you would want from a 14 year age statement, but it doesn’t feel refined.
Overall I think most bourbon enthusiasts are going to be left wanting based on the price point.
The Hunter Says
Score: 7/10
Value: 2.5/5
THE NOSE:
This one starts off sweet and fruity—grape bubble gum, Smarties candy, and even a little vanilla wafer.
There’s some chocolate malt ball in there too if you give it a minute. The oak from those 14 years definitely shows up, but it doesn’t overpower.
And while the malt whiskey character is there, it’s pretty subtle at first.
The nose shifts around the longer you sit with it, and I always appreciate a pour that changes as you nose it.
THE TASTE:
I’ll be honest—malt whiskey usually isn’t my thing. And this pour definitely leans malty.
But credit where it’s due: it’s smooth, and none of that harshness that I often get with malted whiskey.
The flavors are simple—mostly malt with a little sweetness, maybe some butterscotch—but for fans of the style, this could be a standout.
THE FINISH:
The finish is long, which a lot of folks will enjoy.
For me, it fades from sweet into a strong oak note that just goes a little too far. It lingers, but not in my favorite way.
BUY OR PASS?
This feels like a special pour, no doubt about it. The age, the smoothness, the depth—it all adds up. But at the end of the day, malt whiskey still isn’t my go-to profile.
That said, if you love malted whiskey, this is likely one of the best you’ll try.
