The Bourbon Strike You Never Heard About (But Should Have) | The Spill

In 2021, one of the biggest names in bourbon, Heaven Hill Distillery, was at the center of a massive labor strike that shook the heart of Kentucky’s bourbon industry.

In this Spill, Matt and Jason dig into how the strike started, why nearly 420 union workers walked out, and what was really at stake: healthcare, overtime, family time, and the soul of bourbon itself.
What seemed like a simple contract dispute turned into a six-week showdown between tradition and corporate growth. We’ll break down the drama, the picket lines, the local fallout, and how it all got resolved.

#HeavenHill #BourbonStrike #TheSpill

https://www.youtube.com/@arsenicculture
https://instagram.com/arsenicculture
https://tiktok.com/@arsenicculture
https://www.facebook.com/arsenicculture/
https://x.com/arsenicculture

Transcript

0:03

Welcome back to Arsenic Culture where Beer. Don't Matter What Bad Decisions Do I Matt, and and I am Jason. We haven't been drinking at all. Um, for this one, uh, we are going to get back into talking about bourbon. And this is an interesting, I think, conversation. Yeah. To, to talk about like business and ethics and people and stuff like that. But this takes place over at a little place called Heaven Hill. You ever heard of it? No, I never heard of them. Yeah, it is a, a distillery apparently. I'm not really sure. Uh, here in Kentucky, maybe. Am I making all this up? Yeah, you could be, could not a real I think we might actually have some products from Heaven Hill. Yeah. Somebody brought out the big boy today trying to Yeah, the William Heaven Hill 14-year-old, which I didn't know you fucking had. So thanks for, thanks for, thanks for not sharing with me. But you know. And We're gonna talk about the Heaven Hill strike that happened, uh, very recently actually. And we're gonna drink some Heaven Hill product, I guess in solidarity with the, with the, with the workers over here. Um. I just, I brought out a bottle of, uh, William Heaven Hill, 14 year. I'm gonna get a little close up on the camera there too. This is an open bottle. and I brought a bottle of the newest release from of Fitzgerald, the seven year with a nice green bag. Yeah, his is brand new and This bottle. Yeah, There we go. It's a very, uh, fancy, it's, it's, it's like an o it's like an homage to an homage. This is like the crystal decanter, which was also like, like an homage So their decanter series, they released, you know, in the last decade or whatever. It's, it's nicer than this, but this one. Is bringing it back to the shelf. Right. So I'm very excited to try this. I've not had it, so we'll see. Yeah. I'm gonna crack it open as you're, as you're talking. we'll start with it, with that yeah, I think, I think that was gonna be a little better than this. Yeah. like, I bought this, this William Heaven hill, like, I seriously think it was like eight years ago. Yeah. 2017, I Yeah, I, I mean, yeah, yeah, yeah, it is. I haven't, I don't think I've even, well, I say I haven't tried it since then, but it's half empty, so somebody has, um, but anyways, in September, uh, 2021, around 420 union workers at Heaven Hills Bars, town Distillery walked out, uh, a six week strike, ensued that barely registered outside bourbon circles, but. So inside it rocked one of the biggest family owned booze brands in the us. Um. Heaven Hill Distillery, we were talking about this just a minute ago. They are a family owned business and they pride themselves on that. They're not, they're not a huge, uh, conglomerate, like a, like a brown foreman or something Well, they're huge, but they're not, they're not owned by parent company not corporate. Right. allegedly. That's right. Yeah. But when you get to that size, like. You kind of have to take on some corporate tendencies, and I guess that's really what we're going to, what we're gonna talk about here. They try to instill, I guess, push their weight around. Is that the way? feel like the main point of this strike though, back then was actually the work week itself. So what they're used to, the employees there. Well, it's kind of the Monday through Friday, like it didn't matter, the shift or the hours, it was more Monday through Friday, weekends off. Right? And with Heaven Hill getting so big, they needed to run their operation seven days a week, 24 hours a day. And they were saying, so at that point you would have an a regular schedule, which is Monday through Friday, right? Then you would have an irregular schedule or weekend schedule, whatever that's like that Friday through Sunday or Friday through Monday, however you spend it. And so what they were worried about was that plus the, you know, the usual stuff of, you know, some pay, some benefits, some 401k match, those things, health insurance, stuff like that. But those were the minor points. I felt like it, honestly, reading about this, I think the major one was the work schedule. Yeah. And I get working on the weekends. Um, uh, I guess holidays. Um, yeah. And overtime over there was an overtime issue. The workers represent, were represented by UFCW, local 20 3D, which was a union. Um, still is, yeah, still I, I'm assuming, uh, mostly the bottling and maturation staff. Um, heaven Hill came down with this contract. The way the unions work is, I'm, I had to google this 'cause I'm not in a union, nor have I ever been in one. Have you ever been in a union? No. Um, so. The company that employs the union workers will present a contract, and the contract typically has a term limit, uh, five years or something like that. I think it usually goes between like three and five years or something like that. And, and it will, it'll lay out like, uh, all the. Kind of stipulations all like the work requirements for the people in that union and, um, they basically have to agree on it. Yeah, it's a really, it's kind of a mundane thing. Uh, the union, quote unquote, exists to support the union worker, um, and defend them from, uh, you know, unfair policies from the corporation. The corporation obviously has their best interest in mind, so they just try to like, you know, represent each other and then try to come to like, terms on something that's fair for everybody. you get power in numbers. I mean, from a union perspective, I, I've never been in one, but I understand how they work. For the most part. They can be bad and good in my opinion. Um, I think the, the biggest thing is you have the most powerful. Powerful tool you have as a union employee is the strike. Right? That's how you, you, you pull your labor from their, their company. That's what you do. So what happens here is you have somebody that you, you, you reach a point where you cannot agree on something. Right. And you need support. So everybody is one, one as one. Yes. That's the key thing. Yeah. If you're not, I already asked. If somebody breaks apart, you're screwed. That's, that's kind of the key. Yeah. So the strike is really a, this is kind of silly, but like you, you see people striking all the time on the news in your hometown, whatever, people will go on strike. The strike is actually a really standard process. Yeah. The strike is when you, your union can't come to terms with the corporation or the business that you work for, so you basically say, we're not working. Um, and it's, it's, it is kind of a symbolic thing. So like, technically speaking, they don't have to stand outside with picket lines and signs and run around and say like, we don't wanna work. But they do, and they do that because it, it is a symbolic gesture to show the public that. You are, I guess, speaking out against unfair practices as you see them anyway. So that's what they do. They say, okay, heaven Hill comes down. We want you to do this. The union says this is unfair. In this particular instance, 96% of the union actually said like, fuck that. Yeah. Oh, immediately. That's as I read that. Yeah. I mean, that's like, that's basically unanimous. It's like, no, this is completely unfair. So then they went on strike. The strike lasted how long? I I think it was six weeks. It wasn't that. Yeah, it wasn't long. It began September 11th, uh, of all days. Um, and it was, was right when the existing contract expired. Um, it went on through the Kentucky Bourbon Festival. What is the Kentucky Bourbon Festival? So that's coming up, I think it's in October. So it's like a annual festival and it's a shit show now. It's hold, who holds that? It bars town in Bars town. So that's a bars town. Okay. Well yeah, I think it's like, I mean, it is, it is a rat race to get VIP tickets. They sold out immediately. Like, I don't even mess with that stuff though. It's, it's not my cup of tea, but, okay. Yeah. I've never, I've never been, it's not been on my radar, so shouldn't be. it should be what won't. Um, so Heaven Hill, uh, the things you, we already kind of talked about 'em, what they were trying to, I guess impose what they were trying to offer, but I mean the key things here they're looking at though was increased pay a little bit. That's what they're looking for. Affordable healthcare. So it increased employees contribu or employer contribution to that? 0 1 Ks and exactly. 401k two. So overtime was a big one though. They had overtime structured in the original contract of like. So 40 hours a week is a work week, right? So if you work 41 hours, you get one hour of overtime. The way they had it set up was it was going to be 48 hours a week was gonna be standard pay standard. Yeah. 49 Would be be overtime. And, and that, that's, that's a simplistic way of saying it. Honestly. It looked at daily. So if you work, you'd have to work 10 hours a day essentially to get 11 as your overtime. And the way Heaven Hills saw it is they were trying to make up for those. Concessions with other quote unquote benefits. Yeah. Yeah. Um, stuff like the increased pay like you saw. Um, but all in all, it was just like the people that actually work and be like, no, fuck that. Yeah. Like, we're not doing that. So I, I think it's, So I, I think it's, I think unions can be really good and they can also be. A hindrance as well. So, you know, I'm, I'm, I'm indifferent on 'em. Yeah. But I think in this scenario it probably worked out for the better for them. I agree. I Um, and, and it got 'em back to work, making a good product. Speaking of product. Yeah. I wanna talk a little bit about our old Fitzgerald. Yeah. Yeah. So old Fitzgerald's a, an old brand from them. Uh, it's a weeded bourbon. So think Pappy, you know, or Weller is what it is from Buffalo Trace. So from this one. They actually acquired this brand in 1999. That's when Heaven Hill Got it. Old Fitzgerald, right? Uh, the bottled in bond, which is this one. Mm-hmm. So a hunter proof that was actually discontinued in 2014. And then it was reintroduces, the canner. We talked about those nicest yep. Yep. Those in 2018. So all these are hunter proof. Each one of them has a different age statement. So you have some of the canners, I think the youngest one is eight or nine. And the oldest one that I believe I've seen is 17 or 18. Okay. Right on. So a lot, this one here is bringing back the standard of Fitzgerald. Okay. At a hundred proof 7-year-old age statement, which is great. That's great. But the one thing they did on this one too is it's a 700 milliliter instead of seven which is odd as shit being in America. That's odd. If we were in like Spain, that would be normal. They're moving to that. So you look at Woodford's moving to that so brown form and stuff, they're moving to that Jack Daniels. They, they'll say it's different reasons, but their main reason is money. Right? Yeah. So you can charge the same for less of a product. Yeah. But speaking of price, I mean, this is an affordable drink normally of Fitzgerald when you could buy it, right? Even now though, this bottle was like 65 bucks. Sure. Which isn't horrible. No. Under $10 a year, all things considered is not Yeah, for sure. This is supposed to be readily available. That's what we're looking for. would be great. And honestly, this, I mean, this is like, I've, I've love, I've always enjoyed like the old fits, even like the older ones and the crystal decant and stuff like that. Old fits to me has always kind of been just like, um, like an everyday, almost even kinda like a mixing bourbon. It is, yeah. I mean it's, it's fun. It's good. But it's a bottom shelf traditionally, or at best medium shelf, you know. I agree. I agree. Yeah. So yours though, now you got the Nora one. So I'm still working on my O fits over here, but that William Heaven Hill were talking. talking that, that William Heaven Hill is, is a special bottle. So. This was not weeded, or I don't think it's weeded. It's not. So it's 14 years old. It's 115 proof. This is their pretty much premier line from, from Heaven Hills. So really excited to try this one. Um, and thanks for not sharing it with me for seven years. not even gonna open it today. Like I just wanted, I just wanted you to see it. Yeah. You're sneaking swigs, like while I'm talking over here. Not, not even seeing it. Yeah. This was like. The moment where I was like deciding if I wanted to get into bourbon, I was still standing in lines and like I stood in line to get this one. And this is, I told you earlier, they were actually the crystal old fits is what they were like everybody was there for. And I was like, I've had that like four or five times, like I don't want it again. And this popped up and I was like, oh, fuck it. I'll give it a shot. And uh, yeah, no, I enjoy it. But like that was kind of the moments where I was like. I don't think I want get this deep into bourbon, but I still got this bottle. It's like $200 or I would say retail on, that's between probably two and two 50 at the time. And then, you know, secondary on, that's probably six to 700 right now. Yeah. So should be a great pour. Yeah. Back to the old fits. Real quick before we drink that one, what'd you think of this one? I like it, like I said, it's, yeah, like, like I said, I mean it's, it's kind of a mixing bourbon for me, but I'm, I'm enjoy it with like, you know, it's a sip and bourbon for me, but it's, it's, it's lower proof. It drinks under a hundred proof for me. It's very flavorful. I mean, it's a traditional leader. Um, it's sweet, you know, if you think of that way, but I think the price tag's 60 to $70. I'll keep a bottle if I can find it. I don't, I don't, I don't need eight. Yeah. But I wanna keep Sure. For what it is. I, I'd put I'd get one and just like have it. Yeah. I wouldn't, I don't know if it would be my go-to, but, uh, I enjoyed it enough. Yeah. So how's this one? So you have, you, have you ever had this before? I don't think I've had the 14. I've had several of these. I've I guess I am holding that on right now. You could have shared it with me back in. I just don't, I don't remember. We're gonna say you We're gonna say, I fucking don't even remember I We're gonna say, you fucking didn't you hold out on me. Whatever. I we need to go up there and see what else I have in the back of my cabinet. I didn't even fucking got these Pappy 20 threes from STI Weller. I don't even know what that is. go get this and like wipe all the fucking dust off of it for them to make it like Camera should, you shoulda have left the dust You shoulda left the dust off. I know. I guess I should have. Yeah. so generally speaking though, you know, a bourbon open this long would really fade. So the, the space in there, the oxygen kind of moves around the air. So a lot of people will actually transfer this to a smaller container, really just, just for the viewers. well that drinks like, um, like a light caramel with like zero alcohol. I'll be honest, like, I don't even remember what this tastes like before. But, um, no, that's fucking it's had, it's had some oxidation, like from being open like that, but honestly it's fantastic. Yeah. Yeah, I remember. Sweet. Great mouth. Feel great. Finish viscous. Um, oak like caramel. Lucky you said. Sweet. With that, definitely a different sweet profile than the wheater. is very different but. It does not drink 115 proof. It's not hot at all. No, not at all. It's actually super smooth. I remember when I bought that, um, even at the time I was like asking people,'cause I didn't really know what it was. Nobody else knew what it was either, so I was like, fuck it. Yeah. Yeah. I just didn't want to get another old fits. Not that there's anything wrong with that, but You're gonna switch the bags. What if it fits in there? If I'll make it, if it don't fit, you must have I'll take my old fits home and you ha you have that William Il and I'll, I'll see you later. Alright, So, uh, this whole Heaven hill strike thing, I think the moral of the story is, um, look out for the little guy. Uh, this was kind of a big deal in bourbon back back then, but it was more like a testament to like the Heaven Hill distillery saying that they're, they're for the common person. They're a family, uh, run business, but they ended up being like, you know what? We want to just push the corporate. Hierarchy and then policy and people finally push back and they're like, no, I think everybody's better for all the bus local businesses ended up like pulling Heaven Hill from their shelves, uh, in solidarity I the workings and stuff. Yeah. A lot of like local businesses around there would just like pull Heaven Hill and be like, fuck that until they get this resolved. And they did. They did. So you know, there might even be some hangover from that we see now.'cause if you look at Heaven Hill products in the Lexington, Kentucky area, we don't get as much as other states or areas. No. So maybe there's some of that. Maybe Heaven Hill's got a little bitterness, you know, like maybe. Yeah. Seriously, I, I didn't even know that. So it makes, it makes sense now, but we do not get much of these things. No. Which is odd. No, but I would definitely, I would definitely buy this again, I, I'll take this one home with me I, I would all you're getting. I mean, I like this one. Again, I don't need six balls of it, but I wanna keep I love the idea that ideally, hopefully it will be readily available. That's the big, that's the base best, biggest thing for me. Same as that in the Wild Turkey, eight year 101. One. I agree. Yeah. So, uh, thanks for watching. If you liked it and share it. If you didn't, then uh, just keep drinking till you do. For more arsenic culture, you can check us out on all the socials we are at Arsenic Culture I, Like and subscribe on YouTube. Damn it. And we'll see you on the next one.