Heaven's
Door is a whiskey brand that was established
in 2015. The term bootleg whiskey was trademarked by Bob Dylan,
although he did not initially intend to create a whiskey brand. However, Marc Bashula
and Ryan Perry, two whiskey experts who had previously worked with
Angel's Envy and Diageo, respectively, saw an opportunity and invited Dylan
to join them in their whiskey venture. Although Dylan initially scoffed, he
eventually changed his mind in 2018 and became a co-creator. The name was
inspired by his 1973 hit Knocking on Heaven's Door.
In
2017, work began on its Six Mile
Creek distillery in Pleasureville, Kentucky,
and in 2018, it was still equipped with a custom-made Vendome. Production has
been carefully overseen by Heaven's Door's Master Distiller, Ken Pierce,
and Master Blender, Alex
Moore.
Until
now, Heaven’s Door has been sourcing whiskeys from around the country. Ascension
is the first release from Heaven’s Door to include distillate from its own still.
It is a blend of two Bourbons, with the second coming from an undisclosed Kentucky
distillery. Ascension will be a permanent part of its core expressions, including
Refuge, a straight Rye whiskey; Revival,
a Tennessee Straight Bourbon; and Revelation, a Double Barrel whiskey. On a side note, you can
purchase a 200ml Refuge/Revival/Revelation set from the distillery’s website.
“Our commitment to crafting award-winning whiskey is evident in every step of our process, from grain selection to distillation to the barrels we use for blending. For this exceptional Kentucky bourbon, we meticulously blend each small batch to create its distinctive flavor profile. We are excited to add our own Kentucky bourbon to our permanent collection and invite bourbon lovers to compare and contrast it with our award winning Tennessee bourbon. Both of the Heaven’s Door bourbons feature similar mash bills, are aged for the same amount of time and bottled at the same proof, but result in two very different bourbon expressions.” – Alex Moore
Ascension’s
mashbill is broken down between the two distilleries. Its house mash is 76%
corn, 15% rye, and 9% malted barley, while the sourced component is 70% corn,
25% rye, and 5% malted barley. It is at least six years old, non-chill filtered,
and blended in ten or fewer barrels. Packaged at 46% ABV (92°), a 750ml bottle
has a suggested price of $54.99.
For
the record, I’ve not yet had a chance to try the other Heaven’s Door core
expressions, so I’m heading into this #DrinkCurious expedition blind. I must
thank Heaven’s Door for providing me with a sample of Ascension in exchange for
my no-strings-attached, honest review.
Appearance: I
poured this Bourbon into my Glencairn glass to sip neat. Its color was golden
honey, and a medium-thin rim released thin droplets that fell down the wall.
Nose: I smelled
honey, oak, corn, nutmeg, and brown sugar. Drawing the air into my mouth provided
a taste of caramel.
Palate:
Ascension’s texture was creamy and slid easily around the inside of my mouth. The initial flavors included nutmeg, cinnamon,
and brown sugar, while the middle featured vanilla, honey, and graham crackers.
The back offered charred oak, clove, and candied ginger.
Finish: The
warming finish included brown sugar, candied ginger, clove, and charred oak,
and remained active for a few minutes.
Bottle, Bar, or Bust:
Ascension drank at about its stated 92°, making it something that would appeal
to enthusiasts and newbies alike. Its mouthfeel was attractive, it had plenty
of flavor to keep your attention, and that finish was lovely. Ascension has much
to offer for its $54.99, and you can often acquire it for 10-15% less. My opinion?
This is a Bourbon you’ll want to have on hand, and it earns my Bottle rating.
Cheers!
My Simple, Easy-to-Understand
Rating System
- Bottle = Buy It
- Bar = Try It
- Bust = Leave It
Whiskeyfellow encourages
you to enjoy your whiskey as you see fit but begs you to do so responsibly.
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