Heaven Hill Distillery Celebrates 20 Years of Innovation with Bernheim Wheat Whiskey 20th Anniversary Limited Edition

Bardstown, Ky. — (February 23, 2026) Heaven Hill Distillery proudly announces the release of Bernheim Original Kentucky Straight Wheat Whiskey 20th Anniversary Limited Edition, a special bottling commemorating two decades since Bernheim pioneered a new style of American Whiskey and helped usher in the modern whiskey renaissance.

Launched in 2005, Bernheim Original Wheat Whiskey was the first truly new American Whiskey style introduced since Prohibition, boldly using soft winter wheat as its primary grain. At the time, the category-defining innovation marked a turning point for American Whiskey — one that has since become an enduring legacy.

“This release is both a celebration and a thank you,” said Max L. Shapira, Executive Chairman of Heaven Hill Brands. “When we launched Bernheim Wheat Whiskey 20 years ago, we took a chance on a new mashbill and a new idea. The support we received in those early days helped shape not only this brand, but the expansion in popularity of different styles of American Whiskey we continue to see today.”

Crafted from Bernheim’s signature soft winter wheat recipe, the 20th Anniversary Limited Edition features a special selection of barrels aged 10 years and is bottled at 115 proof (57.5% ABV), delivering a rich and complex tasting experience that honors both tradition and innovation. Produced at the historic Bernheim Distillery and aged in rickhouses in Bardstown, Kentucky, this small batch release reflects Heaven Hill’s continued commitment to quality and craftsmanship.

Presented in a bright copper hue, the Whiskey opens on the nose with notes of cinnamon and baking spices layered with vanilla and oak. The palate follows with rich flavors of molasses and butterscotch, leading into a peppery finish that lingers with warmth and balance.

The commemorative bottle design underscores the significance of the release, featuring a distinctive copper plate on the front as a visual marker of its limited-edition status and a nod to the heritage and craftsmanship behind the brand. Bernheim Original Kentucky Straight Wheat Whiskey 20th Anniversary Limited Edition is available in limited quantities nationwide for a suggested retail price of $84.99.

ABOUT HEAVEN HILL DISTILLERY: Founded in Kentucky by the Shapira family in 1935, Heaven Hill Distillery continues its legacy as one of the foremost American Whiskey producers. Heaven Hill has cultivated the traditions and history of America’s Native Spirit with its fierce independence, passionate family ownership, dedication to quality, and thoughtful innovation. Today, Heaven Hill Distillery maintains over 2 million barrels aging in more than 70 warehouses throughout Nelson and Jefferson Counties. It is home to an award-winning collection of American Whiskeys including Elijah Craig Bourbon, Evan Williams Bourbon, Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond, Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond, Henry McKenna, Parker’s Heritage Collection along with its extensive and diverse collection of unique and innovative products. In the past five years alone, Heaven Hill Distillery has been named Distiller of the Year eight times, including 2024 and 2023 Whisky Magazine Distillery of the Year. Other recent honors include 2024 and 2025 San Francisco World Spirits Competition’s Most Awarded Distillery and the 2023 Icons of Whisky World’s Best Small Batch Bourbon. For more information, please visit www.heavenhilldistillery.com.

Timorous Beastie at its most refined.

Aged for 18 years and finished in the finest Spanish Sherry Casks, this limited release brings a richer, sweeter depth to the Highland Malt at its core. Expect layers of vanilla, juicy barley and dark chocolate, leading into a decadent finish of macerated dark fruits and spiced orange.

Only 650 bottles exist worldwide, and this edition is available exclusively online. It’s a true pinnacle expression – and one that won’t be easy to find again once it’s gone.

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This month we will include a visit to Orkney the full collection schedule and request form is available HERE . Please complete the form to  register your interest in our free collection service.

The deadline for collection requests is 12noon on Monday 9th March 2026.

Home collections are available for those customers sending 10+ bottles or bottles to the value of £1000. Lots can be split over the next three auctions.  Unfortunately this service is not available in London. Although we do have four collection points in London.

Collections are limited and offered on a first come first served basis. It is essential that a submission sheet is completed, you can find the link to do so under the selling section on your ‘My SWA’ page. It would be appreciated if bottles could be packed for uplift with your name clearly marked on the front of the box.

A winner in our auction? We are now offering a delivery service to customers who are dropping bottles off for a future auction. This service is charged at £12 (inc. VAT), optional loss and breakage cover is available.

Redbreast Moscatel Finished Irish Whiskey (750ml) $104.99 View

The Redbreast Iberian series celebrates the relationship between their founder and the imports of special Iberian peninsula wine casks dating back to the 1800s. Using Moscatel casks from Malaga, Spain, the single pot still Irish whiskey from the famed Midleton distilelry is finished in these casks form Bodegas Quitapenas that held Moscatel wine for 24 months before being emptied and sent to Midleton, where they were filled with Redbreast whiskey in 2024.

Email: wine@klwines.com
Phone: (877) KL-WINES (Toll Free 877.559.4637)
K&L Wine Merchants 3005 El Camino Real Redwood City, CA 94061 USA
San Francisco, Redwood City, Hollywood CA

Mark Dermul, Belgian whisky blogger, tries a special Johnnie Walker Black Label. We all know Johnnie Walker, and the Black Label remains one of the world’s best-selling blends. In recent years, quite a few variants of this popular whisky have appeared on the market. One of these is the Triple Cask Edition, which—true to its name—is a vatting of their whisky matured in three different types of casks: bourbon, sherry, and… rum!

https://youtu.be/bD3CXnm7vyI

12 Year Old Bourbon & Sherry Oak

70cl · 46% ABV

This Campbeltown single malt was aged for 12 years in a combination of bourbon and sherry casks. Beautifully balanced, it reveals notes of citrus peel, orchard fruit, and vanilla sweetness alongside gentle peat smoke and a subtle salinity. The palate is creamy yet vibrant, finishing long with hints of spice and maritime freshness. Crafted at the Glengyle Distillery, Kilkerran Single Malt embodies Campbeltown’s historic whiskymaking heritage. Known for its traditional production methods and lightly peated style, it offers a signature profile of honeyed malt, gentle smoke and a subtle maritime salinity.

£52.95

Big Peat 6 Years Old Double Grand Cru Edition

ABV: 50.5% | Vol: 70cl

£58.33

Savour the rare experience of Big Peat Double Grand Cru edition, a defining release within our Signature Series. For the first time, Big Peat’s iconic Islay smoke meets double Wine Cask influence – matured in Bordeaux oak and finished in Rioja – bringing layers of rich dark fruits, chocolate, espresso and warming spices. This is classic Big Peat reimagined, culminating in a lingering finish of charred oak and a subtle tannic grip. Limited to just 330 bottles, this is a release created for those who pursue rarity, complexity and craft.

Big Peat is a marriage of Single Malt Scotch Whiskies only from the island of Islay. With Caol Ila spirit bringing sweetness, Bowmore the perfect balance, Ardbeg a medicinal, earthy quality and Port Ellen, a degree of elegance, Big Peat represents all that is Islay in a bottle. Part of the Remarkable Regional Malts range, the ultimate distillation of Scotland’s Malt Whisky Regions.

2005 Bowmore 20 Year Old “Redacted Bros.” (Thompson/Dornoch) Single Barrel Cask Strength Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml) $169.99 View

2005 Clynelish 20 Year Old “Redacted Bros.” (Thompson/Dornoch) Single Refill Hogshead Cask Strength Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml) $199.99 View

1998 Glen Garioch 27 Year Old “Redacted Bros.” (Thompson/Dornoch) Single Barrel Cask Strength Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml) $200.00 View

Email: wine@klwines.com
Phone: (877) KL-WINES (Toll Free 877.559.4637)
K&L Wine Merchants 3005 El Camino Real Redwood City, CA 94061 USA
San Francisco, Redwood City, Hollywood CA

At the start of February, we suggested giving a blind tasting a try. If you’ve ever tried one, you’ll know how revelatory an experience it can be. If not, there’s still time…in the form of this email! Below we’ve shared the Tasting Notes for four last drop bottlings. Intrigued? Click through to find your next favourite whisky.

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The Scotch Malt Whisky Society, The Vaults, 87 Giles Street, Leith EH6 6BZ

Contact: sales@smws.com or call 0131 555 2929 (Mon-Fri 9am-4.45pm). Visit the Society at here for membership information

This is your chance to join and to take advantage of their great offers!

Spot the SMWS bottles in this amusing You Tube video