Heaven Hill Distillery has announced the 2018 limited-edition release of Parker’s Heritage Collection, which is comprised of Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey finished in orange curaçao barrels. This is the 12th edition of the collection and the second time Heaven Hill has partnered with Master Blender Alain Royer to create a barrel-finished offering.

“We are excited to resume our partnership with Alain Royer as we continue to innovate with barrel-finished products,” said Susan Wahl, Group Product Director at Heaven Hill Distillery.

The 2018 edition showcases the versatility of Heaven Hill’s 1.4 million aging barrels, which is the world’s second-largest inventory of its kind, and will hit shelves this September.

For this limited-edition, Bourbon was aged seven to eight years in the upper floors of Rickhouse Q, and then aged for an additional four months in barrels that previously held French orange curaçao liqueur.

It was bottled at 110 proof (55% abv) and non-chill filtered to preserve all the flavor compounds. The orange curaçao finish lends a unique flavor that complements the Bourbon without overpowering it, creating an entirely new and elegant tasting experience.

The annual release of Parker’s signature line is one of the most highly-anticipated bottlings for Whiskey and Bourbon lovers worldwide, as the collection produces an innovative, highly sought-after bottling each year.

Previous releases have won awards ranging from “Best North American Whiskey” to “American Whiskey of the Year,” and the series stands as some of the most critically lauded American Whiskeys in recent memory.

Parker’s Heritage Collection was originally conceived to showcase the extraordinary quality and broad range of Heaven Hill’s American Whiskey holdings, and to honor the late Heaven Hill Master Distiller Parker Beam, who was diagnosed with ALS in 2010.

“Parker appreciated thoughtful, new ways to enjoy Bourbon, as evidenced by his original collaboration with Royer,” said Wahl. “This newest edition blends both Parker’s imprint – as the Bourbon was distilled by him several years ago – and the imprint of our current Master Distiller, Denny Potter.”

The past five editions of Parker’s Heritage Collection have raised more than $1 million toward ALS research and patient care.

Heaven Hill will continue this legacy and contribute a portion of proceeds from each bottle sold of this year’s release to the ALS Association.

With every past edition of Parker’s Heritage Collection quickly selling out, the company expects to generate a significant amount of money for ALS research in Parker’s memory.

“We are proud to continue offering the Parker’s Heritage Collection in Parker’s memory and will continue to support ALS research and patient care efforts,” said Wahl.