FOR RELEASE : August 12, 2003

"Original Small Batch Bourbon" repeats as champion at San Francisco and Best of the Best tastings in unprecedented showing


BARDSTOWN, KY - For any distiller of Bourbon Whiskey, winning the double gold medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition represents the pinnacle of critical achievement. Similarly, to be judged "Best of the Best" by the actual master distillers of all the world's whiskies/eys in blind panels held by UK-based Whisky Magazine in Edinburgh, Bardstown and Tokyo is the highest and perhaps most credible accolade in the whisky/ey world. To sweep both of these honors in the same year is heady stuff, indeed. But to have accomplished this twice is a feat that may never be matched again-"...kind of like the Bourbon equivalent of DiMaggio's 56- game hitting streak," according to Parker Beam, Heaven Hill's seventh generation master distiller and the man primarily responsible for Elijah Craig 12 Year Old Small Batch Bourbon's success.

In sweeping top honors at both the annual San Francisco and biennial "Best of the Best" events, Heaven Hill Distilleries, Inc., producers of Elijah Craig, have achieved a rare "grand slam" of critical acclaim. Elijah Craig is a true Small Batch Bourbon, bottled from "dumps" of 70 or fewer barrels, and has been such since before the term "Small Batch" was coined. Named after the colonial Kentucky distiller considered to be the "Father of Bourbon", Elijah Craig is aged 12 full years and bottled at 94°, giving it product attributes unmatched by any other Small Batch Bourbons-or, for that matter, by any other brands in the Bourbon category.

To ensure industry decision makers are aware of these honors, Heaven Hill has been running a limited advertising schedule in several spirits trade publications, designed to increase awareness of Elijah Craig and its attributes and accolades. "By putting the message of the extraordinary quality of Elijah Craig in front of key retail and on-premise decision makers, and combining it with the remarkable buzz from the competitions, tastings and reviews, we hope to continue the impressive growth of this brand," stated Susan Wahl, Heaven Hill's brand manager for Elijah Craig. "Elijah Craig has long been known among Bourbon connoisseurs as a superbly crafted whiskey-renowned spirits writer Jim Murray has called it 'unquestionably one of the great Bourbons'-and we intend to further expose this story of quality and acclaim to the industry and, ultimately, to consumers."


Founded in 1935, Heaven Hill Distilleries, Inc. is the nation's largest independent, family-owned marketer and producer of distilled spirits products. Aging in its facilities is the second largest holding of Kentucky whiskey in the world. Heaven Hill's diversified portfolio includes: the full line of The Christian Brothers Brandies; Evan Williams Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey; Hpnotiq Liqueur; Whaler's Rum; Burnett's Gin and Vodka; Dubonnet Aperitif; Scotch Whiskies; Irish Whiskeys; Canadian Whiskies; vodka; gins; rums; tequilas; cognacs; liqueurs; cordials; and dessert wines. Heaven Hill is based in Bardstown, Ky.