Its really a question we get very often: What are the Best Wheated Bourbons? I admit I have gotten extremely lucky obtaining a few of these bottles. Larceny is based on a mash bill of 68% corn, 20% wheat and 12% malted barley. Its got so much flavor to it, so much complexity its just brilliant whiskey., Are we including bottles that are impossible to find? Minnick asks. Theyre also all made in the same distillery (Jim Beam). Boy, was I wrong! Now, bourbon fans grow angry over their inability to find precious gold they once regularly consumed. Sometimes even exactly the same. Bottled in Bond: Under the Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897, a bottled-in-bond spirit must be produced by one distillery in the same distilling season, then aged under federal supervision and cut and bottled at 100 proof. Old Grand-Dad Bonded Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, NAS, 50% ABV, was the nickname of a distiller named Basil Hayden. Old Forester with darker banana, apple, and cherry, while Buffalo Trace with brighter, vibrant, and tropical peach, cherry, and pineapple. Futile efforts to obtain any of the 2nd list has been a waste of time. The Brown-Forman distillery also uses the same mash bill for their premium, high-end market bourbon, Woodford Reserve. Additionally, Four Roses uses up to five different yeast strains for its bourbons, and all are used here. On the nose, the whiskey offers sweet caramel and candied cherries, along with a persistent oak note in the background. Buy as much as you can as this price isnt going to last. Theres a clear sense of bourbon vanilla next to creamy corn and plenty of honey sweetness. Indeed, some bourbon historians believe that Pappy began as barrel selections of Old Fitzgerald, and was later chosen from hand-picked barrels of W L Weller. In 2017, Jim Beams Old Grand-Dad line of whiskeys was nearly axed. On the flip side, expensive bourbon isnt always as refined as it seems. This is a BETA experience. Nice, easy-drinking proof? Distillery: Jim Beam, Clermont, KY (Beam Suntory) At $30 per bottle, this is an outstanding value for an aged, over-proof, classic bourbon. It now goes on to compete for Best American Whiskey. Milk & Honey Distillery: Single Malt Made in Tel Aviv, Discussing the advantages and challenges of producing whisky in Israel. That works out to 1.75 barrels of bourbon per resident or over 500 bottles of whiskey per capita. [CDATA[ amzn_assoc_placement = "adunit0"; amzn_assoc_enable_interest_ads = "true"; amzn_assoc_tracking_id = "modernthirstc-20"; amzn_assoc_ad_mode = "auto"; amzn_assoc_ad_type = "smart"; amzn_assoc_marketplace = "amazon"; amzn_assoc_region = "US"; amzn_assoc_linkid = "a605ff51e1453cfa02de68c264fd03bc"; amzn_assoc_emphasize_categories = "284507"; amzn_assoc_fallback_mode = {"type":"search","value":"Whiskey"}; amzn_assoc_default_category = "All"; // ]]> Bill is the Co-Founder, Editor-in Chief, and official Bourbon-o-Phile for ModernThirst.com, and Founder and Chief Blending Officer for Four Gate Whiskey Company. Regular Old Forester goes into those burnt barrels for another six to nine months. The holy grail of bourbon brands announced its annual slate of whiskeys in October 2022, and the release includes a total of five bourbons along with a rye. You may or may not see these bottles show up in a more official form in a future version of this guide once we've tried them ourselves. The juice starts its time in a new charred oak barrel (as it should) before its dumped into a second charred oak barrel that's been more deeply toasted. Limited edition and long-aged bourbons go as quickly as they hit the shelves. Distillery: Heaven Hill Distillery, Louisville, KY Minnick has a unique use for one of bourbons classic names. Flavor Profile: Spicy & Smoky Evan Williams Bottled in Bond It has a suggested MSRP of $150, and Reserve Bar is your best bet for snagging a bottle. Bonanza Cabernet Sauvignon 750ml is a rich and bold red wine sourced from the best vineyards across California. The barrels that go into each batch are aged anywhere from 6 to 10 years. Eight Exceptional Bourbon Values That You Have Probably Never Heard Of Bourbon drinkers who enjoy spice and dark fruit will be fans of this release. Sazerac 18 typically demands the highest price in the Buffalo Antique Collection line. Glad to find your listing. But what are the best wheated bourbons out there? . If you love cinnamon notes, youll love this, Minnick says. 68 percent corn, 20 percent wheat, 12 percent malted barley. This bourbon may benefit from some airtime. In the case of Old Forester, it comes from the recipe used by distiller Brown-Forman during the prohibition era when the government ordered them to keep their doors open to make bourbon "for medicinal purposes." It's 115 proof with vanilla, nuts, and seasoned oak that has a bulky belly which shows its exceptional age. // < ! Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. Its a little smoother and feels softer on the palate. Could this be its year? Craft bourbon's rep is tarnished by a few bad apples makes subpar whiskey. Though it shares DNA with other Heaven Hill bourbons like Evan Williams and Henry McKenna, Elijah Craig Small Batch is balanced, with extra maltiness. ABV: 43% Retail - $55; Secondary - $90+ Evan Williams 23 Year Old Bourbon - T2. Its just that one of them was in the right spot in the rickhouse and deemed tasty enough not to be blended with other barrels. I bought two. One of the few universally praised non-macro whiskey makers in the U.S., its 6-year-old offering is Bottled-in-Bond, sweet mash bourbon with flavor that suggests the "6" on the label is a typo this bourbon tastes significantly older. A slice of citrus arrives to lighten everything up on the short end. Distiller Score: 88. Elijah Craig Small Batch is layered in vanilla and often so soft on the palate. Entry proof is 125 proof/62.5 percent. What are your top 5 bourbons? - General Bourbon Discussion This year, as I did last year, I solicited nominations from Bourbon Pursuit listeners, who are an engaged bourbon consumer base that understand what everyday truly means. So funky, so rich with cornbread and a honey butter, the only reason it did not win this tasting was it lacked the finish of the winner. Let me share a funny story. The McKenna distillery was established in 1855, founded by the noted Irish immigrant distiller. Larceny Barrel Proof A122 Bourbon . Like in-state rivals Jack Daniel's, the brand is keen to remind drinkers that the two are not the same (even though they kind of are). Don't drink and drive. Looking for something on the cheap? But I feel very firm in the Top Five, and I was pleased to see three bottled-in-bond bourbons in the running. Thats because Barrell is, at this moment, the best blender of American whiskey there is (they have the trophy case to prove it). But if they arent regularly released with a wheated mash bill as a rule, theyre one-offs, and not on the list. Additionally, BIB whiskey must be bottled at 50% ABV (100 proof). In terms of proof and age, I would say they're very close (certainly not over 5 years old). That leaves lots of expressions of excellent bourbon, many made by those same national producers, which are available only on a regional basis or have limited distribution. Yes. That said, I felt strongly Jack Daniels puts out worthy whiskey and deserved to be in this Best Everyday tasting. There can be no doubt that a certain 3-word labelhas greatly influenced bourbon and bourbon demand over the past decade. The brand was withdrawn from the US market in 1997, but continued to be exported. This is a departure from the classic Jim Beam mash we mentioned in the lede. Production started on Ezra Brooks around the 1950s by the Medley Distillery. Sign up for his free drinks newsletter. Russells Reserve has been hitting my sweet spot of late, and many, including myself, thought this would definitely be in the running. Today the brand is owned by Luxco. Made using a single recipe and barrel per bottle, its between seven and eight years old and has more complexity than the Small Batch. The finish is rich and powerful, with classic bourbon notes of sweet caramel, dried fruit, vanilla, cinnamon and pepper, with a slight but persistent bitter note on the end. Old Forester 1920 celebrates the Distillery history since 1920 was the year . Hey Bill, what are the best wheated bourbons I can buy?. No, this isnt as complex as Old Fitzgerald. Old Fitzgerald is a bottled-in-bond wheated bourbon released twice a year by Kentucky's . Bernheim wheated whiskey a bit harsh imo. It's full of flavor and has a bit of an oaky kick to it that pairs well with the sweetness. This has an incredible sweetness to it, Minnick says. It's also the first brand. The 16 Best Bourbons Under $100 in 2023 - Bourbon Inspector Wild Turkey Bourbon 101 is pulled from the barrel at 109 proof before being proofed down only a touch. The finish is long, creamy smooth and sweet, with a persistent caramel and brown sugar note and a lingering note of bitterness at the end. New Riff Distilling was founded in 2014. There is some alcohol burn, especially on the 114-proof version, along with sweet honey notes, candied citrus zest, brown sugar and that cooked tropical fruits. On the nose, there is caramel, cooked corn sweetness and pralines (think almond roca candy), along with plenty of cinnamon and clove spice. The whiskey is NAS, but is believed to be four to eight years old. These are two of my favorite daily drinkers both coming in at roughly the same proof, roughly the same price, and both readily available from respected distilleries. Head to Head Comparison: Old Forester 100 vs Wild Turkey 101 I like to do head to head comparisons because I feel like it brings out the nuances of each bourbon. Drink it in a highball or mix up old fashioneds for a few months. Average Price: $90. Its essentially a barrel finished bourbon, and that extra spice is a nice kick to an otherwise soft, wheated profile. All the Makers versions, and Larceny should sate your wheater crave. Bottom-Shelf Brackets 2019: Round 2: Wild Turkey 101 vs. Bulleit and This is a side by side comparison review of the Old Forester 1920 and 1910, both are part of their Whiskey Row series. That extra time is why the Single Barrel costs three times more than a regular old bottle of Wild Turkey. Wheat adds a creaminess to the mouth feel of the bourbon, and has sort of a prickly sweet flavor that is slightly lighter than the sweetness typically derived from the majority corn recipe. For something around $30, you get an expertly blended whiskey aged a minimum of 8 years with notes of cherry, orange, almond toffee and oak and bottled at a casual 90 proof. This bourbon over-delivers for its price and continues to be one of the best value picks on the market. Anything wheated with evena hint of age is hard to find, and even some younger offerings have come to be so desired by the bourbon-buying public that youre better off giving up the chase if you dont follow release dates closely in some areas. I bought this bottle for $23 at a local big box store. Wild Turkey is known to barrel its whiskey at a lower entry-proof, meaning the product is a lower proof as it comes off the still prior to maturing. The result is bottled at 93 proof. I W Harper Kentucky Trail Straight Bourbon Whiskey, NAS, 41% ABV, is based on a mash bill of 73% corn, 18% rye and 9% malted barley. Medley Brothers Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, NAS, 51% ABV. This whiskey is also BIB and is bottled at 50% ABV. Where we have full reviews, scores, or tasting notes, I have included links: // < ! Gear Patrol participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. Sour mash and bottled-in-bond, non-distiller-producers and high-ryes. In 2018, Luxco opened Lux Row Distillers in Bardstown, KY so expect the bourbon to be made there in the future. Although it is more expensive at $88 per bottle, it is a far better value than the $30 NAS version. // < ! (Photo by Dixie D. Vereen/For The Washington Post via Getty Images), Celebrate Bottled In Bond Bourbon, The Spirit That Saved American Whiskey, March Is B Corp Month, Here Are 8 Alcohol Brands You Might Not Realize Are Certified, Top Burgundy Wine Producer Talks About Amazing Value Wines That Often Get Overlooked, Whiskey Of The Week: Michters Celebration Sour Mash Is The Ultimate Event Pour, Whisky Review: 50 Year Old Glenfarclas, Bowmore, Cardrona, And More, Hendricks Gin Debuts Flora Adora As New Limited Release, Thinking About Black Wine Business Beyond Black History Month, Whisky Review: Compass Box, Benriach, Tobermory, And More. Evan Williams White Label Bottled in Bond Bourbon is produced with a mash bill of 78% corn, 10% rye and 12% malt. San Francisco World Spirits Competition a few years ago, The 25 Best Whiskies to Try Before You Die, Your Privacy Choices: Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads. On the nose, there is a creamy sweetness, along with cinnamon, vanilla and a little bit of charred wood. And the 2014 Parkers Heritage Original Batch Wheat Whiskey really showed what that mash bill is capable of with age and proof. It was very, very nice bourbon, he says, wistfully. Finish: Medium length and warm. Maybe I should have bought two cases. It is bottled without an age statement at 80 proof. Maker's Mark Cask . The original nomination was Weller Antique, which is widely available in some markets and sparse in others. Notwithstanding the number of bourbon brands, however, and the veritable explosion in craft producers, now close to 2,000 operating distilleries, over 95% of all of the bourbon made in the United States is produced by 13 large distilleries owned by eight major beverage companies. Hence, I find the 20 year Van Winkle offering to be a truly fine bourbon, while the 23 year is a mess in the bottle. Learn how your comment data is processed. ABV: 40% Ive had/have 5 of the 8 limited/hard to find editions and they are not worth the effort, schmoozing, and gouging required to obtain. This is Buffalo Traces higher-rye bourbon mash bill even though its not that high comparatively. Average Price: $12. Here are my rankings the Best Wheated Bourbons in each category. ABV: 40% Sounds like a pretty good reason the move to Kentucky. So the second way to look at it is really what this site is focused on- how it tastes. There are obvious exceptions, most related to older rye based bourbons that are bottled at a higher proof such as George T. Stagg. ABV: 50% Theres more of sweetness at play with toffee and vanilla up top. Best I ever had was a couple weeks ago in a Chicago speakeasy the Office. And THAT I can provide some help on. For 2022, the rugged western whiskey is a blend of 8- and 9-year-old barrels from the distillery and clocks in at a whopping 134.8 proof. 72 percent corn, 18 percent rye, ten percent malted barley. So no Jim Beam Soft Red Wheat, none of the individual Willett bottlings, none of the Michters 10 year bottlings that were(or were reported to be) wheaters, and none of the Buffalo Trace Single Oak or experimental releases that were wheated. And its a bartenders dream for its mixability. The oak peeks in with more vanilla, notes of toffee, and a bit of berry tartness. Makers Mark could double their price and people would still buy it by the case. Thanks for a great article. That hasnt stopped the collectors, however. Old Forester Birthday Bourbon comes in at #3 on our list of overrated whiskeys. Over time, the Yellow Label bottle has changed with the label losing the yellow color. Wheaters are my favorites, but I like ryes too. It is a wheated whiskey, that shares a common DNA with Old Fitzgerald and the Pappy wheated bourbons. The name Old Forester was allegedly chosen in honor of a doctor named Forrester, who regularly prescribed the bourbon to his patients at a time when it was still sold in pharmacies for medicinal purposes. However, the signature for which this bourbon gets its name and which is displayed on each bottle, is the founder of the brand, George Garvin Brown. Old Forester was one of the six distilleries to hold a medicinal whiskey permit during prohibition. ABV: 46% On the nose, Larceny is sweet, offering fruit notes of peach and apricot along with candied citrus zest, and cinnamon. Luxcos Old Ezra line could be one of the best-kept secrets in whiskey. This bespoke (and admittedly cool-looking) bottle became extremely famous and then extremely expensive in retail. Dont drink and drive. Fortunately, we can still fall back on some tried and true value bourbons. All of the Weller expressions share the same mash bill. The end is rich with a note of toffee and a whisper of salted caramel. But thats not to say that all of those bourbons taste exactly the same. I have always found a peanut butter note in this bourbon, and that can be incredibly enticing during a blind tasting. Going into my tasting, I thought this had a great chance of winning. The dram leans into a honey-sweet edge with the oak, mild spice, and hint of dark chocolate popping at the end. Wild Turkey 12 Year Bourbon 2022 Review [In Depth] The Whiskey Shelf Flavor Profile: Sweet & Vanilla After being somewhat underwhelmed by Blantons and Basil Hayden, Ibe come to the conclusion that my tastes lean towards the Wheated bourbons. Try These Whiskeys, The Complete Buying Guide to Buffalo Trace Whiskey, The Most Exciting New Bourbon and Whiskeys of 2022, Another Female Whiskey Blender Has Gone Solo, Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style Bourbon, Barrell Craft Spirits 15 Year Old Bourbon. Flavor Profile: Sweet Distiller Score: 84. The mash bill is undisclosed, but is believed to be the same, or very close, to that of Old Fitzgerald and the Pappy expressions. This is what you drink when you need a break from barrel-proof juice. This is a classic bourbon thats been around for a long time. Entry proof is 125 proof/62.5 percent. The spice gets a little peppery as a final cut if citrus arrives to help the end slowly fade out. I assessed all nominations, validated them and tasted them live on YouTube to select my 2019 favorite for Best Everyday Bourbon. A pioneering brand, it was originally released as an exclusively bottled 90 proof bourbon whisky. Youd think that would make it a shoe-in to win my blind tasting. Distillery: Buffalo Trace Distillery, Frankfort, KY (Sazerac Company) Old Forester 1870 Original Batch Bourbon On the palate, the whiskey has a cooked corn sweetness, with notes of honey, dried peach, tropical fruit, vanilla, caramel and burnt sugar, along with some faint strawberry notes. Elmer T Lee (Wish it was still as easy to find as it was a few years ago) 2. I Was Wrong: Old Forester 1920 Review - Blog - Bourbonr Home The 10 Best Wheated Bourbons to Drink in 2023 - Liquor.com The mash bill consists of 75% corn, 13% rye and 12% malted barley. We're breaking down the varieties of rum, from sugarcane to bottle. Its price, proof and age suggest it could be your next home bar staple. Larceny and Old Forester bourbon review - YouTube This mash bill leans more heavily into the rye, creating a solid base for two very closely related bourbons. He has written multiple books on bourbon, has served as a judge at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition and the World Whiskey Awards, is the founder of Bourbon+ magazine, was the former lead American whiskey reviewer at Whiskey Advocate, hosts The Fred Minnick Show podcast (about bourbon) and is the Bourbon Authority for the Kentucky Derby Museum. Both mash bills are utilized for this bottling. Old Forester was launched in 1870 by George Garvin Brown and named for Dr. William Forrester, who prescribed bourbon to his patients. The finish is long, sweet, with maple syrup and brown sugar notes. But by and large, I find traditional bourbons aged past 12 years to be more often worse than their younger siblings (Elijah Craig is a good example). Distiller Score: 80. Today we tasted Larceny and Old Forester, watch and see which one we liked best That includes retailer specific brands. Weve already talked about how Weller and Pappy are the same wheated bourbon, so lets give Heaven Hills wheated bourbons some love. Take heed, though, since it somewhat controversially took home Best in Show, Whiskey at San Francisco World Spirits Competition a few years ago its been harder to come by, and more expensive than it used to be. While I think the standard version is fine, Ive had two private barrel selections that were great. Ninety-five percent of all of the bourbon distilled in the US is made in Kentucky. The Russel Reserve Single Barrel has a similar aroma and flavor profile. This bourbon won Whisky Advocates whiskey of the year, and Minnick was on the tasting panel. Wilderness Trail does not make subpar whiskey. Old Forester The 117 Series 1910 Extra Old Bourbon Review Recently have gotten into bourbons. I cover spirits, the drinks culture and business. Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style Review - Bourbonpaddy.com Am looking forward to trying some of the others you listed. Elijah Craig Small Batch came in sixth.