What began like any other Thursday at the Old Heaven Hill Springs Distillery in Bardstown, Nelson County, Kentucky, ended like no other. The date was November 7, 1996. Weather forecasts on that day called for a storm front moving through the area with strong northwesterly winds of 50 mph and gusts of up to 75 mph. A bit of wind but nothing out of the ordinary for a fall day in Bardstown, ‘The Bourbon Capital of the World’.
As the day went on a cold front came through that included high winds and lightning. According to Master Distiller Emeritus Charlie Downs (a distillery supervisor at the time) it was about 2pm in the afternoon when an employee reported smoke coming from Warehouse I. It was a pretty typical Kentucky bourbon rickhouse made of metal siding, a tar roof, and wooden ricks holding 20,000 53-gallon barrels of bourbon.
The alcohol would have had a barrel entry proof somewhere between 100 and 125 proof making every one of those barrels extremely flammable. Back in ’96, there were no sprinklers and limited containment systems in a rickhouse. 15 minutes after the first report of smoke, warehouse I was completely engulfed in flames.
With 50 mph winds and 70 mph gusts, the burning whiskey and exploding barrels sent flames 350 feet into the air. As the first building collapsed, it sent a flaming whiskey river down the hillside. The flames were so hot that it melted the asphalt on the road as it made its downhill journey.
As the fire roared on, it destroyed seven warehouses, the distillery, and 92,000 barrels of bourbon. By the time the fire was over 2% of America’s Native Spirit was lost. The fire consumed about 15% of Heaven Hill’s bourbon inventory at the time. The loss of whiskey and facilities was later valued at $30 million.
What Caused the 1996 Old Heaven Hill Springs Distillery Fire?
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The official cause of the fire was never determined. According to an article by Fire Chief Todd Spalding in Firehouse.com, there are two hypothesis – a lightning strike or a metal facade’s contact with a downed power line. The good news is there were no reported injuries from the fire on that fateful day. To Heaven Hill’s credit employees reported to work the next day and there were no layoffs because of the fire.
How Do You Make Bourbon Whiskey without a Distillery?
One of the things saved that day was the family jewels – the Heaven Hill yeast strain. The yeast strain survived the fire in the distillery’s fifth-floor yeast refrigerator. The same proprietary yeast handed down for generations that fermented the first batch of Heaven Hill whiskey in 1935 had survived.
Unlike the Coke and Pepsi rivalry you often see represented in TV commercials, the distilling industry is different and distillers helps each other out. With the original yeast strain in hand, Heaven Hill worked with some of its industry competitors to make whiskey using that yeast strain and their own mashbill in other distilleries.
“When there are problems, individually or collectively as an industry, we work together to solve them,” said Executive Chairman and second-generation family owner of Heaven Hill Distillery Max L. Shapira. “Somebody could have said, ‘Oh, let them sink or swim on their own, they’re a competitor.’ But they didn’t. And that shows just how remarkably close this industry is.”
In 1999 Heaven Hill purchased the historic Bernheim Distillery in Louisville, Kentucky from United Distillers.
“[Bernheim] was such a cool distillery at the time, fully automated and streamlined,” said Master Distiller Emeritus Charlie Downs. “Moving from the antiquated system we had in Bardstown to that modern system was like riding on a rocket ship to the moon.”
A Phoenix Rises from the Ashes – The New Heaven Hill Springs Distillery
In 2022, after a quarter century hiatus, Heaven Hill Brands announced it would return to its roots and build a new distillery in Bardstown, Kentucky. Three years later, Heaven Hill celebrated the opening of Heaven Hill Springs Distillery, its new $200 million distillery in Bardstown.
‘Heaven Hill Phoenix’ Bourbon Commemorates Three Decades of Resilience
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To commemorate the 30-year anniversary of the fire Heaven Hill is releasing a super-premium bourbon. Heaven Hill Phoenix is a limited-edition Kentucky Straight Bourbon marrying 18-year-old bourbon with 30-year-old liquid distilled before the flames, creating a remarkable connection between Heaven Hill’s past and present.
“The fire brought tremendous loss, but it also showed the resolve of the people who chose to move forward together,” said Shapira. “That same spirit of adaptability and shared purpose continues to guide Heaven Hill today. Phoenix honors the employees, community members and industry partners who refused to let a single night define generations of craftmanship.”
Bottled at 107 proof, Heaven Hill Phoenix begins with 18-year-old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey produced in March 2008 and fully matured in heavy-char barrels. Within the blend, 30-year-old whiskey distilled at Old Heaven Hill Springs Distillery is mingled with the heavy-char Bourbon, giving each bottle a tangible connection to the original distillery.
“Heaven Hill Phoenix balances the mature oak and length of its 30-year-old component with the structure of 18-year-old Bourbon aged in heavy-char oak,” said Conor O’Driscoll, Master Distiller at Heaven Hill Distillery. “The determination that carried us through the fire lives on in Phoenix, bridging that pivotal moment in our past with our ongoing commitment to producing exceptional, ultra-aged whiskeys.”
Heaven Hill Phoenix Tasting Notes
Release notes from the company say Heaven Hill Phoenix opens with polished oak, cinnamon, nutmeg and caramel. The palate offers butterscotch, caramel, cinnamon and baked apples, balanced by subtle oak tannins. Its finish is warm and long, with notes of sweet apple pie and a peppery spice.
The bottle is presented in a special edition 750ml gift carton featuring a phoenix, the ultimate symbol of rebirth, rising from the ashes and bearing the words, “Remember. Rebuild. Rise.”
Heaven Hill Phoenix is shipping now across select markets with a suggested retail price of $325 for a 750ml bottle. The product will also be available for purchase at the Heaven Hill Bourbon Experience in Bardstown, Kentucky.
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.
Listen to Heaven Hill’s On Fire by The Galoots
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Learn more about Evan Williams Bourbon Experience.
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