At the pinnacle of American whiskey, Parker’s Heritage Collection Finished Bourbon from Heaven Hill is literally the French connection of fine Kentucky bourbons. To fill a limited edition of 6,000 bottles, master distiller Parker Beam, great-nephew of Jim Beam, contacted cognac counterpart Alain Royer, to obtain 15 French Limousin oak barrels that had contained Grande Champagne Cognac, into which individually selected 10-year-old bourbons were further aged for six months. The result, 100 proof and non-chill filtered, is a best of both worlds: “the rich honeyed sweetness of bourbon made with a rye mash bill, with the robust, underlying thickness of cognac.” Heaven Hill is the largest independent, family-owned distiller in the US—big enough to be a global player, small enough for the hands-on personal touch…