16 years. Small batch. William Heavenhill — Heaven Hill's prestige aged expression honoring the Heavenhill family patriarch, at 16 years of Kentucky straight bourbon maturation. Between the 14-year and 17-year expressions in Heaven Hill's William Heavenhill range.

The William Heavenhill name corrects a piece of history: the land where Heaven Hill's original distillery was built belonged to the Heavenhill family, and a clerical transcription error separated their surname into two words — "Heaven Hill" — that became the permanent brand name. William Heavenhill honors the family patriarch, connecting the distillery's name to its founding land and the family whose property made it possible.

At 16 years, the William Heavenhill Small Batch sits in the upper tier of Heaven Hill's age-statement bourbon program — above the 14-year and below the 17-year in the William Heavenhill range. Heaven Hill's high-rye mashbill at 16 years produces deep oak integration, dried fruit concentration, leather complexity, and the warm spice that the high-rye grain character contributes even at extended age.

Tasting Notes

• Appearance: Deep amber from 16 years of Heaven Hill barrel aging.
• Nose: Caramel, dried fruit, warm oak, and the complexity of the high-rye mashbill at 16-year maturity.
• Palate: Rich and layered — deep oak, dried fruit, leather, and warm spice in a refined, fully developed expression.
• Finish: Long and warm — the 16-year character through a sustained, satisfying close.

Specs

• Distillery: Heaven Hill Bernheim Distillery, Louisville, Kentucky
• Style: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Small Batch
• Age: 16 years
• Named for: William Heavenhill (founding family patriarch)
• Size: 750ml

Browse all bourbon at Wooden Cork.

Frequently Asked Questions

• How does the 16 Year compare to the 14 Year and 17 Year William Heavenhill? All three are Heaven Hill's high-rye mashbill small batch expressions from the William Heavenhill program. The 14 Year is the entry to the range; the 16 Year adds two more years of oak integration and dried fruit concentration; the 17 Year is the most mature and complex. Together in the Wooden Cork inventory, they form a rare three-expression William Heavenhill vertical.
• Why is the Heaven Hill name origin significant? The Heavenhill family name was separated into "Heaven Hill" by a clerical error — making the distillery's name an accidental tribute to a founding family whose actual name has been obscured for decades. The William Heavenhill label restores the family's identity to the brand.
• Is the 16 Year still available? Yes — available now in limited quantities.