Heaven Hill Releases 18-Year Phoenix Bourbon at $325
Every bottle of the new Heaven Hill Phoenix holds whiskey distilled at a distillery that no longer exists. Heaven Hill has released this limited-edition, one-time 18-year-old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey to mark 30 years since the 1996 fire that destroyed its original Bardstown distillery. It blends 18-year-old bourbon with 30-year-old whiskey from that very site, and it carries a suggested retail price of $325.
Did You Know?
The 1996 fire destroyed the 1935 distillery, seven rickhouses and nearly 100,000 barrels of aging bourbon, a loss later valued at $30 million.
No lives were lost and no Heaven Hill employees lost their jobs after the fire.
The company's proprietary yeast strain survived intact, so the same yeast carried on into the rebuilt operation.
The Release
Heaven Hill Phoenix starts with 18-year-old Kentucky Straight Bourbon produced in March 2008 and fully matured in heavy-char barrels. That means the inside of the barrel was burned more deeply than usual, which tends to pull more color and flavor from the wood.
The twist is the 30-year-old whiskey distilled at Old Heaven Hill Springs Distillery, which is mingled into the blend and gives every bottle a physical link to the original distillery.
Master Distiller Conor O'Driscoll says the blend balances the mature oak and length of the 30-year-old component with the structure of the 18-year-old heavy-char bourbon. He describes the release as a bridge between that pivotal moment in the past and the company's ongoing work on ultra-aged whiskeys.
Phoenix is bottled at 107 proof (53.5% ABV). The 750ml bottle comes in a special gift carton showing a phoenix rising from the ashes, with the words "Remember. Rebuild. Rise."
Max L. Shapira, Executive Chairman and second-generation family owner, said in the release that Phoenix honors the employees, community members and industry partners who would not let one night define generations of craftsmanship.
The Story of Heaven Hill
The fire happened on November 7, 1996, when lightning is believed to have set the original Bardstown distillery ablaze. Wind-driven flames spread through the site, and the company faced the loss of both its facilities and a huge amount of aging whiskey.
Heaven Hill was founded in Kentucky by the Shapira family in 1935, and it is still family-owned today.
The company now holds over 2 million barrels aging in more than 70 warehouses across Nelson and Jefferson Counties. That scale is a big part of why Heaven Hill is able to release rare, ultra-aged bottles like this one. Its portfolio includes well-known bourbon names such as Evan Williams and Elijah Craig.
Why It Stands Out
Age-statement bourbon in the 18-year range is uncommon, and adding a 30-year-old component takes it further. Phoenix also has a clear story behind it, tied to a real event and a real distillery. For collectors, the "one-time" label matters: Heaven Hill describes it as a single limited edition, not an annual series.
The Details
Style: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Age: 18 years (produced March 2008), blended with 30-year-old whiskey
ABV/Proof: 107 proof (53.5% ABV)
Cask/Finish: Heavy-char barrels
Bottle Size: 750ml
Price (SRP): $325
Availability: Select markets, plus the Heaven Hill Bourbon Experience in Bardstown, Kentucky
Release Date: Shipping begins October 2026
Quick Answers
How much does Heaven Hill Phoenix cost? The suggested retail price is $325 for a 750ml bottle.
What proof is Heaven Hill Phoenix? It is bottled at 107 proof.
Where can you buy Heaven Hill Phoenix? It ships to select markets starting in October 2026 and is also sold at the Heaven Hill Bourbon Experience in Bardstown, Kentucky.
What is in Heaven Hill Phoenix? It is 18-year-old Kentucky Straight Bourbon aged in heavy-char barrels, blended with 30-year-old whiskey distilled at Old Heaven Hill Springs Distillery.
Tonights Poison Take
Phoenix gives collectors something more than a big age number: a piece of whiskey made at a distillery that was lost in 1996. At 107 proof, it should keep that old whiskey's oak character in focus rather than watering it down. At $325 it sits in special-occasion territory, and the one-time label will likely make it a bottle people talk about.
Bar Talk: Heaven Hill's new Phoenix bourbon includes 30-year-old whiskey made at the original distillery that burned down in 1996.
Send this to the bourbon friend who loves a bottle with a real story behind it, and tell us in the comments if you would open it or save it.
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About the author: Jas Sawhney (Tonights Poison) has spent 18 years in the beverage alcohol industry and shares new releases, tastings and spirits news as @tonightspoison on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.
Please enjoy responsibly.
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