Heaven Hill Distillery has announced the launch of the first-ever release in its Grain to Glass Specialty Barrel Series, expanding upon the acclaimed Grain to Glass line with a bold exploration of maturation innovation.
Unlike previous Grain to Glass expressions, traditionally aged in #3 char white oak, the 2025 Specialty Barrel Series introduces a new dimension to Kentucky whiskey by showcasing the influence of Chinquapin oak, a rare species of American white oak known for its distinctive flavour impact.
The inaugural collection includes three expressions — Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Kentucky Straight Wheated Bourbon Whiskey, and Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey — each aged for six years in hand-selected Chinquapin oak barrels, sourced in collaboration with Independent Stave Company.
Native to Central and Eastern North America, Chinquapin oak (Quercus muehlenbergii) is prized for its high vanillin content and its ability to impart notes of butterscotch, crème brûlée, toasted nuts, chocolate, and coffee. The result, according to Heaven Hill, is a trio of whiskies that deliver a rich mouthfeel and complex, layered finish.
As with all releases in the Grain to Glass series, the 2025 edition celebrates full traceability — from seed to spirit. Each whiskey was distilled using Beck’s 6225 corn varietal, grown by Peterson Farms, a family-owned operation in Nelson County, Kentucky. This continued partnership with Beck’s Hybrids reflects Heaven Hill’s dedication to local agriculture and the art of whiskey-making grounded in place and provenance.
Heaven Hill Grain to Glass 2025 Specialty Barrel Series details:
🥃 Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
- Distilled in 2018
- Mashbill: 52% corn, 35% rye, 13% malt
- Aged 6 years in Chinquapin oak
- Barreled at 107 proof (53.5% ABV)
- Bottled at 105 proof (52.5% ABV)
- Non-chill filtered
🥃 Kentucky Straight Wheated Bourbon Whiskey
- Distilled in 2018
- Mashbill: 52% corn, 35% wheat, 13% malt
- Aged 6 years in Chinquapin oak
- Barreled at 107 proof (53.5% ABV)
- Bottled at 105 proof (52.5% ABV)
- Non-chill filtered
🥃 Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey
- Distilled in 2018
- Mashbill: 63% rye, 24% corn, 13% malt
- Aged 6 years in Chinquapin oak
- Barreled and bottled at 107 proof (53.5% ABV)
- Non-chill filtered
Each expression in the series reveals a distinctive balance of spice, sweetness, and texture, designed to highlight the interplay between grain varietal and oak character.
The 2025 Heaven Hill Grain to Glass Specialty Barrel Series will be available nationally in limited quantities from November 2025, priced at $129.99 each.
