One Of The Hands-Down Best After-Dinner Bourbons Tastes Like A Cozy Thanksgiving Dessert

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When Thanksgiving approaches, most of the planning goes into the turkey and the yearly debate over which pies to bake. The drinks deserve some thought too, though, especially the one you pour once dinner is done. For our money, one of the best bourbons to serve as a holiday digestif is one that already tastes like the dessert table: Heaven Hill 7-Year-Old Bottled-in-Bond.

Earlier this year, Heaven Hill 7 made our roundup of the 10 best after-dinner bourbons as a favorite of whiskey expert Noah Rothbaum, author of "The Whiskey Bible: A Complete Guide to the World's Greatest Spirit." The bourbon is a tribute to Heaven Hill's first bottled-in-bond release from 1939, which quickly became the best-selling bourbon in Kentucky. Today's version is aged seven years, which is three more than the bottled-in-bond rules require, but other than that, it's the exact same mashbill used all those years ago, consisting of 78% corn, 10% rye, and 12% malted barley. After its debut, this bourbon promptly cracked Whisky Advocate's Top 20 for 2019, landing at No. 4. Not bad for a bottle that usually costs around $40.

As for why it belongs at Thanksgiving, unsurprisingly, it's the distinct flavor of Heaven Hill 7. Leading with honey, caramel, warm spice, and charred oak, each sip offers a balance of sweetness and richness that never turns cloying. The result is a bourbon that fits right in at the end of the holiday meal, next the inviting warmth of a freshly sliced pecan pie.

A whiskey's taste profile is rather subjective, but we weren't the only ones who noticed (and vibed with) the dessert-like notes in Heaven Hill 7. Ogilvie Shaw, in a review for Dramface, noted that in a sip, they got "a wave of pecan pie". Others have said that it opens with honey and brown sugar before winding up like a cinnamon roll with a little peanut butter. Those sound like everyday bakery flavors, but professional critics have found plenty of holiday spirit in the bottle, too. Whisky Advocate's David Fleming noted corn muffins, honey-roasted peanuts, cinnamon, and cloves, calling it "pure bourbon bliss, at a very approachable price." Those notes of spice are mentioned by other reviewers too, together with caramel apples, giving a taste that grows through the finish.

Once you've gotten your hands on a bottle, come Thanksgiving, try the very first pour neat, or over one large ice cube next to a slice of pecan pie. The proof works in its favor here, per advice from Heaven Hill's Lynn House, who told Tasting Table, "After a rich meal, an 80 proof bourbon is going to get lost." At 100 proof, Heaven Hill 7 can hold its own against a plate full of gravy. You can choose to taste the rest of the bottle however you like, but if you're leaning toward mixing a cocktail with it, a classic Manhattan will be a fantastic choice for this bottle. Its price makes it easy to mix with, no guilt required, and it's just as easy to bring along as a holiday gift. Show up with a bottle, and you're sure to earn a second invitation.