🥃 Heaven Hill Brands

Heaven Hill Brands is an American family-owned spirits company from Kentucky. According to the company, it was founded in 1935 by investors from the Bardstown area and five Shapira brothers: David, Ed, Gary, George and Mose.

History. The Evan Williams bourbon was launched in 1957, and Elijah Craig in 1986, which according to the company pioneered the Small Batch category. In 1996 a fire destroyed the distillery in Bardstown, and in 1999 the company acquired the Bernheim Distillery in Louisville. A new corporate office opened in Louisville on 7 July 2025, and the Heaven Hill Springs distillery opened in Bardstown on 4 September 2025, returning distilling there after 30 years.

Portfolio. The company's website lists bourbons and other whiskeys (Evan Williams, Elijah Craig, Old Fitzgerald, Larceny, Pikesville, Rittenhouse), Christian Brothers brandy, the liqueurs Hpnotiq (acquired 2002) and Carolans Irish Cream (joined 2017), Deep Eddy vodka (acquired 2015), and the tequilas Lunazul (launched 2008) and Tequila Ocho. In 2022 it acquired Samson & Surrey, a portfolio of craft brands.

Who runs it. The company describes itself as a family-owned house of brands. Max Shapira joined the business in 1970 as a second-generation leader; since 2022 he has been executive chairman, and Kate Shapira Latts and Allan Latts are co-presidents.

Why it matters to you. Under one name, Heaven Hill makes bourbon, brandy and sweet liqueurs, so the company's name alone does not tell you about the drink. Check the type of drink and strength on the label. The WHO reminds us that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption.