Heaven Hill 90th Anniversary Bourbon Review: Just Another Premium Dupe?

“Nothing more completely baffles one who is full of trick and duplicity than straightforward and simple integrity in another.”

– Charles Caleb Colton

Did you think this was another one of those legendary Heaven Hill Heritage Collection releases at first glance? I did too—and didn't hesitate to spend the $150 that was asked of me at the register when one of my local stores got a few bottles in. It's a simple mistake when the marketing is so similar. They both come in a blue box, though the 90th Anniversary doesn't open middle-out like the Heritage Collection does. They both are the same bottle shape, with a duplicitously similar label, and even feature the faux tax strip over the cork that is a perfect match for someone just glancing over quickly.

Can you spot the dupe?

With luxury visuals and a premium price tag in tow, I set out to find out if the whiskey within was worth the price of admission. I have since sat down with this well more than the typical three sober tastings I call for in my editorial policy, even spending time cross-referencing quality against known highly rated finished reviews such as the two Heritage Collection bottles you saw above. Stay tuned for that, and for now, settle in for a thorough examination of Heaven Hill's 90th Anniversary bourbon.

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Company on Label: Distilled and bottled by Heaven Hill Distillery, Bardstown, KY

Whiskey Type: Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey

Mash Bill Percentages: 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley

Proof: 107°

Age: 9 years

Buy online: Frootbat

Further identification: This is a 2025 release commemorating 90 years of independent family ownership, and is notably NOT part of the Heritage Collection series

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Nose: On first lifting the glass, I find a molasses cookie and a hint of smoke flowing through my nostrils. Inhaling further, I find the aromas are inherently a bit dry and musty, sort of like a stale graham cracker. Hmm, after a little time in the glass, things start to get interesting... Mintiness jumps out as cherry juice tries to also find bearing, before both scents fall flat and the glass returns to simple molasses. Fickle oak comes and goes in reserved waves. As I find some black pepper aromas, I can't help but continue to find this pour rather stale in the nose. A whisper of vanilla can be found on the deepest inhales. After a sip there is a slight savory characteristic that develops, sort of like a smoky barbecue sauce. Eventually things once again return to a simple caramel and molasses medley. Late in the pour, some redeemable aromas begin to develop with the introduction of maple and walnut wood being worked in a busy woodshop. The empty glass smells like milk chocolate and burning newspaper.

Palate: Cherry juice and grenadine lead the way on the tongue before quickly fading into vague breadiness. The mouthfeel is on the thinner side here, leaving just a hint of passionfruit in the linger. Another quick sip is equally as short and straightforward. A longer sip and swish elicits more tingle, more pizzazz, and more fruit again. Overall it's a straight shooter, mixing in more fruit than the nose would have let on. With little to no evolution in the glass over time, I pick through until I find a watered-down version of cherry vanilla Coca-Cola. As I near the bottom of my glencairn, I still find my excitement tame and subdued. Light strawberry sweetness briefly impresses before melting into oblivion. My last sip is the most exemplifying of the Heaven Hill profile with vanilla frosting and light almond tones. The finish is nonexistent.

TL;DR: Fans of light, smooth, and smoky bourbon can enjoy this at a surprisingly hefty cost

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Rating: 2.5/5

Okay whiskey. Nothing special about this pour.

I can't say I was all that impressed with this pour. Given the marketing and packaging of this bottle, the comparisons to the Heritage Collection feel warranted. Tasting this bottle next to the likes of Heaven Hill Heritage Collection 17 year and the proximal 18 year release, there's no comparison to be made. The Heritage Collection releases are in a completely different league of their own, and this paltry contribution to the 2025 bourbon market fails to register completely.

Compared to some other powerhouse pours that have come out of Heaven Hill in recent years, this bottling is pretty bland. There are so many other bottles on the shelf that you can buy for significantly less money than this that will give a more exciting experience. The market shift towards approachable whiskey that I have been noticing from the big distilleries is a sad one in my eyes.

I don't normally talk about value, but this feels egregiously mismatched on a price-to-quality ratio... Just take some of my other recent Heaven Hill reviews: Elijah Craig Barrel Proof B523 (4/5), Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond 7 year (4/5), and Henry McKenna 10 year (4/5). All three of those options are objectively better without even considering price. Give me literally any batch of Elijah Craig Barrel Proof over the Heaven Hill 90th Anniversary bottling, and I'll be a much happier man. If you're looking for some more context here, feel free to check out my YouTube video on this bottle.

I hate to admit that I regret buying this bottle from a brand that I otherwise love.

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WRITTEN BY: NICK ANDERSON

With over a decade of sipping experience, Nick Anderson brings a well-calibrated palate to his profound passion for the whiskey industry. Beginning in Irish whiskey before expanding into bourbon, rye, and beyond, he has long been taking the ephemeral observation of unspoken enjoyment and translating it into meaningful words. He is the owner and primary long-winded whiskey writer for AmongstTheWhiskey.com, and he hopes you find resonance in the patient conveyance of an honest whiskey review.

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