Heaven Hill Distillery: A Family Owned Bourbon Giant

Heaven Hill is a private, family owned American distillery founded in 1935 and headquartered in Bardstown, Kentucky. It is the largest independent family owned and operated producer and marketer of distilled spirits in the United States.

At a glance

• Headquarters: Bardstown, Kentucky, United States

• Current distillery: the Heaven Hill Bernheim distillery in Louisville, Kentucky. Ageing, bottling and shipping stay in Bardstown

• Founded: 1935, shortly after the repeal of Prohibition

• Owners: descendants of the Shapira brothers

• Rankings: seventh largest alcoholic beverage supplier in the United States and second largest holder of bourbon inventory in the world

• Heaven Hill Bourbon mash bill: 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley, aged in number 3 char barrels

History in chapters

1935 to 1996

Heaven Hill was founded by several investors including distiller Joseph L. Beam and a member of the Shapira family. The five Shapira brothers bought out the others. Joseph Beam stayed as master distiller with his youngest son Harry. The original name was Old Heavenhill Springs distillery. It began by supplying bulk whiskey to third parties on a futures basis and focused on its flagship labels Evan Williams and Elijah Craig.

1996: the fire

On 7 November 1996 the production plant was almost completely destroyed by fire. It started in an ageing warehouse and spread, consuming 90,000 barrels, about 7.7 million gallons of bourbon. Brown-Forman and Jim Beam provided production capacity until Heaven Hill bought and adapted the Bernheim distillery in Louisville from Diageo in 1999.

2003 to today

In 2003 it acquired distribution rights to Hpnotiq, widening its range. The Bourbon Heritage Center opened in 2004. Since 2010 it has invested more than 100 million dollars in expansion, warehouses and tourism, and in November 2018 announced a further 65 million dollars. About 420 United Food and Commercial Workers union members went on strike in September 2021. In February 2022 it acquired Samson and Surrey, owner of Widow Jane and Few. In 2023 it settled a trademark dispute with Log Still Distillery over the J.W. Dant name, which Heaven Hill bought in 1993.

The people behind it

Every master distiller at Heaven Hill since its founding has been a member of the Beam family: Joseph L. Beam, Jim Beam's first cousin; his son Harry; Earl Beam, son of Jim Beam's brother Park; then Parker Beam and his son Craig Beam, the current master distillers when Wikipedia was written. Check Heaven Hill for the present holder.

Brands

• Bourbon: Elijah Craig, Evan Williams, Heaven Hill, Henry McKenna, Larceny, Old Fitzgerald, Parker's Heritage Collection, Widow Jane, Cabin Still, Fighting Cock and J.T.S. Brown

• Rye: Pikesville and Rittenhouse

• Corn whiskey: Georgia Moon and Mellow Corn

• Wheat whiskey: Bernheim Original

• Few: bourbon, rye, single malt and American whiskey

• Black Velvet Canadian whisky, plus liqueurs, rum, tequila and vodka brands

Visiting

The Heaven Hill Distilleries Bourbon Heritage Center opened in 2004 and offers exhibits and guided tours. The company hosts the annual Kentucky Bourbon Festival. Check the official site for tour times.

FAQ

Who owns Heaven Hill?

The descendants of the Shapira brothers.

Where is it made?

Distilled in Louisville, aged and bottled in Bardstown, Kentucky.

What happened in 1996?

A fire destroyed the plant and 90,000 barrels.

Who are the master distillers?

All have been Beam family members.

What is the mash bill of Heaven Hill Bourbon?

78% corn, 10% rye and 12% malted barley.

Which brands does it make?

Elijah Craig, Evan Williams, Larceny, Pikesville and many more.

Can you visit?

Yes, at the Bourbon Heritage Center.

What was bought in 2022?

Samson and Surrey, owner of Widow Jane and Few.

What the official site adds

Heaven Hill Brands describes itself as a family owned house of brands, founded in 1935, with a history of nearly a century and an independent spirit (heavenhill.com home page). That backs up the family ownership in the profile.

A news item dated 13 October 2026 is headlined that Heaven Hill was named Most Awarded U.S. Distillery for the third consecutive year at the 2026 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Only the headline was read, so check the full article for how awards are counted.

Brands on the official site

• Heaven Hill Bottled-In-Bond

• Elijah Craig Bourbon

• Evan Williams Bourbon

• Larceny Bourbon

• Henry McKenna Bottled-In-Bond and Single Barrel

• Old Fitzgerald

• Pikesville Straight Rye

• Rittenhouse Straight Rye

• Parker's Heritage Collection

• Mellow Corn

• Bernheim Original Wheat Whiskey

• Widow Jane

• Non whiskey brands including Deep Eddy Vodka, Lunazul and Tequila Ocho

Visiting, from the official site

The portfolio page lists the Heaven Hill Bourbon Experience in Bardstown, Kentucky, with two tour options, and the Evan Williams Bourbon Experience in Louisville on Whiskey Row, with a working micro distillery, a tasting room and a cocktail bar. It also lists Widow Jane Distillery in Brooklyn, Philadelphia Distilling and the Deep Eddy tasting room in Texas. The Bardstown visitor centre appears under the Heaven Hill Bourbon Experience name on the official site, which Wikipedia lists as the Bourbon Heritage Center. Prices and hours were not shown, so check before travelling.

Sources

Sources: Wikipedia article on Heaven Hill (read 19 October 2026), plus official Heaven Hill Brands pages listed below (read 20 October 2026).

Official sources read on 20 October 2026: heavenhill.com (home page) and heavenhill.com/our-portfolio. The about us page returned page not found.

Gaps: no ABVs, mash bills or stills were on the pages opened, so the 78/10/12 mash bill still rests on Wikipedia. The 1996 fire, the Beam family master distillers and the 2022 acquisition were not confirmed by the official pages read. Distilling location should be checked against the company.