Heaven Hill Releases Limited-Edition Bernheim Wheat Whiskey for 20th Anniversary

Bernheim Original Kentucky Straight Wheat Whiskey 20th Anniversary Limited Edition arrives as a purposeful small-batch bottling from Heaven Hill, bottled at 115 proof (57.5% ABV) and built from Bernheim’s signature soft-winter-wheat recipe. Heaven Hill selected 10-year-old barrels and finished maturation in rickhouses in Bardstown, Kentucky for this commemorative release, which was made available in limited quantities across the United States on February 23, 2026.

The release commemorates the 2005 debut of Bernheim Original Wheat Whiskey, a launch Heaven Hill framed as transformative for the category because the brand used soft winter wheat as the primary grain. Heaven Hill’s materials repeat the claim that Bernheim “was the first truly new American Whiskey style introduced since Prohibition,” positioning the anniversary bottling as both an homage to that 2005 risk and a statement of ongoing craft.

Tasting notes for the 20th Anniversary expression are specific and robust. The whiskey is presented in a “bright copper hue,” opens on the nose with “notes of cinnamon and baking spices layered with vanilla and oak,” and the palate follows with “rich flavors of molasses and butterscotch,” leading into “a peppery finish that lingers with warmth and balance.” Heaven Hill frames the overall experience as “delivering a rich and complex tasting experience that honors both tradition and innovation,” a profile that suits the higher-proof, barrel-selected statement.

Packaging and retail details highlight the bottle’s presentation and value proposition for gifting. Trade coverage at The Whiskey Wash reports an MSRP of $84.99 and notes that packaging has been updated with a copper plate affixed to the bottle’s front to signal the anniversary edition. Photographer Fred Minnick’s coverage includes imagery and a caption showing the Bernheim bottle in a Bardstown rickhouse, underscoring the release’s links to place and maturation.

For anniversary giving, this bottling offers a concrete story: a 20-year milestone, 10-year-old barrel selection, 115-proof intensity, and commemorative packaging. It is a considered choice for a partner who collects American whiskey, a host who favors high-proof pours, or a couple marking a decade or more together who appreciates provenance and a tasting narrative.

Max L. Shapira, Executive Chairman of Heaven Hill Brands, summed the occasion plainly: “This release is both a celebration and a thank you. 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.” Heaven Hill’s own site copy — lines such as “We don’t just make spirits. We craft favorites.” and “Good taste is timeless.” — frames the anniversary bottling as part of a continuing program of experimentation, including the company’s Grain to Glass® Specialty Barrel Series noted on the distillery blog. The 20th Anniversary release is therefore both a collectible pour and a practical gift: priced and packaged for shelf presentation, and grounded in a clear story of innovation and place.