Burnt caramel | Black raspberry | Plum wine | Barrel char | Seasoned oak | Toasted spice | Cinnamon | Vanilla | Musk

Cola | Concord grape | Warm spice | Baked apple | Vanilla bean | Great mouthfeel

Cream soda | Cherry | Sweet charred oak | Caramel cream candy | Barrel-aged maple syrup | Lingering black pepper spice

Heaven Hill releases so many limited releases - many of which also come in a tall slim bottle and accompanying box - that they begin to blend together. Given that many are highly sought after and command a high price, it's easy for consumers to tune them out. Heaven Hill 90th Anniversary bourbon unfortunately fell into these same traps, and that’s too bad, as it was easily one of the best bottles the company released in 2025.

Aged for 9 years and 8 months, its age statement isn’t necessarily something to get excited about. Combined with its $125 asking price, it is easy to overlook - especially when the same company released an excellent Elijah Craig Barrel Proof batch in 2023 that was aged 13 years, 7 months for $70. But as anyone into bourbon long enough knows, stats on paper don’t tell the whole story.

This 204 barrel release consists of the company’s 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley (Elijah Craig and Evan Williams) mashbill. The final blend consists of 70% Kentucky straight bourbon and 30% Kentucky straight bourbon aged in heavy char barrels. Given the string of heavy char Parker’s Heritage Collection releases the company put out a few years ago, it’s clear that they love their heavy char.

Where this bourbon shines is its aroma and taste. The bourbon’s nose is wonderfully full, offering a wide range of scents: everything from burnt caramel, black raspberry, and plum wine, to barrel char, seasoned oak, and toasted spice, before layering in cinnamon, vanilla, and musk. That’s a lot for a 107 proof bourbon. Not to be outdone, the palate features a great creamy mouthfeel that delivers cola, concord grape, warm spice, baked apples, and vanilla bean. The finish balances spicy and sweet flavors thanks to notes of cream soda, cherry, sweet charred oak, caramel cream candy, barrel-aged maple syrup, and lingering black pepper spice notes.

Heaven Hill 90th Anniversary is one of 2025’s sleeper releases. It came and went with moments of fanfare among those that ventured to buy a bottle, but went widely ignored. Though its age statement isn’t anything to get excited about, its sip certainly is. It’s a classic style bourbon at heart, but its balance of sweet and spice against layers of differentiating types of oak, results in an amazing sip. It’s surprisingly full-flavored for its proof, and its SRP is extremely reasonable for the experience it delivers.