Food & Drink

This Bourbon Release Is Officially Called “Very Very Special” for Good Reason

06/05/2024

Heaven Hill makes several very affordable, and at least in some states, widely available bourbons that whiskey fans obsess over. The company’s Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond Decanter Series plays a big role in the supporting the distillery’s reputation in ultra-premium bourbon.

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This limited run typically includes two annual releases: a spring, green-labeled bottle and a fall, black-labeled bottle. Collectors covet both releases on their own, which have ranged in age from 8 years to a whopping 19.

But occasionally, a third, even more exclusive and elusive “VVS” release, as Heaven Hill calls it, is offered.

Yes, VVS officially stands for Very Very Special, and for good reason. These maroon red-labeled bottles have appeared only twice in the line’s seven years of existence. Now, a third bottle has been introduced, officially called Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond 25th Anniversary Edition.

Celebrating the a company’s saving grace after one of the biggest disasters in bourbon-making history.

The newly revealed and third VVS edition in the Old Fitzgerald Bottled-Decanter Series celebrates the 25th anniversary of the brand’s acquisition of the historic Bernheim Distillery in April of 1999. As mundane as that milestone may sound on the surface, the purchase saved the company.

In 1996, some of Heaven HIll’s whiskey warehouses in Bardstown, KY, mysteriously caught fire, setting off an epic blaze. As Max Shapira, executive chairman of Heaven Hill Brands, shared, the disaster destroyed about 100,000 barrels of bourbon worth roughly 30 million dollars. What’s worse, it also destroyed the company’s distillery,

The event remains the largest distillery fire disaster in U.S. history.

In Shapria’s words, “The Bernheim Distillery became the lifeblood of Heaven Hill after the setback from the fire and has been ever since.”

Old Fitzgerald bottled in bond bourbon shown from top down sitting on a whiskey barrel labeled old fitzgerald distillery.

What Old Fitzgerald shares in common with Pappy Van Winkle

Like the hyped-to-death Pappy Van Winkle, Old Fitzgerald is one of the relatively few bourbons on the market made with wheat as a secondary grain in addition to bourbon’s mandatory corn. Specifically, Old Fitzgerald is made from Heaven Hill’s wheated mashbill, which consists of 68% corn, 20% wheat, and 12% malted barley.

Wheat in bourbon is generally known to add a smoother and sweeter taste to the whiskey, especially compared to those made with a higher rye content.

I, as well as at least one of other bourbon fan, tend to think wheated bourbon can taste very raw when young. “Wheaters” that have aged for 10+ years, though, often taste glorious, and unfortunately, there are very few bourbons on the market that are both aged to that point and made with a wheated mashbill.

That’s another reason Old Fitzgerald, especially the Bottled-in-Bond Decanter Series which tends to get older juice, is such a rare pleasure to drink.

Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond 25th Anniversary Edition

The 100 proof, 13 year old whiskey inside this release was originally barreled in September of 1999, just six months after Heaven Hill acquired the new distillery and rebooted its operations.

It will be sold at an MSRP of $299.99 select retailers within Kentucky as well as at Heaven Hills’ distillery.

If you manage to find a one of these unicorn bottles somewhere at it’s suggested retail price, buy it.

Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey 2024 VVS Release

Just the third “Very Very Special” release in the history of Old Fitzgerald’s Bottled-in-Bond Decanter Series, this rare bottle lives up to its name as a 100-proof wheated bourbon that’s been aged for a solid 13 years.