The 7 Best Wheated Bourbons
Bourbon has undergone a dramatic change in recent years, and it comes from the inside out. Where bourbon is normally made from a mash mixture containing at least 51% corn, and the rest barley and rye, wheat has been another popular ingredient ingredient.
Over the past few years, the standard bourbon preparation technique has been rethought by some distillers. Rye has been taken out and replaced by wheat. This gives the whiskey a sweeter, softer touch full of flavor and is known as the wheated whiskey.
As wheated whiskey keeps rising in popularity, we’re digging down to find the top wheated bourbon out there and present you with the seven best options. Let’s start right away.
Woody Creek Distillers
The Woody Creek Distillers was founded in 2012 with the idea of creating the most refined craft alcoholic drinks, each with its unique taste that protects its origin and honors the natural resources.
The limited-edition wheated bourbon comes right from the Rocky Mountains. It’s made from local corn, barley, and wheat, and is kept for six years in a new American oak barrel. The vanilla and peach notes have a sophisticated, gentle spice, fading into toffee, caramel, and cherries finish.
The wheated bourbon is packed at 94 proof, and it can be added to cocktails or be enjoyed as is.
At the time of writing, the Woody Creek Distillers’ Wheated Bourbon price is $69.99. You can get your bottle on the Caskers website by clicking here.
W.L. Weller 12-Year-Old Wheated Bourbon
If you’re up for a bit of extravagance, you may want to explore W.L Weller’s 12-year-old Kentucky Straight Wheated Bourbon. The creamy vanilla, molasses, and caramel aroma also have corn, ripe fruits, and cocoa powder notes. It has a soft and elegant finish with mint, fruit, and vanilla hints.
This special edition was made to honor one of bourbon’s aristocrats, W.L. Weller, and it follows his own recipe.
As proof of excellence, the W.L. Weller wheated bourbon received the Double Gold Medal in San Francisco’s Worlds Spirits Competition and got the highest grades from reputable institutions such as Whisky Bible and Wine Enthusiast.
At the time of writing, the price for this wheated bourbon is $430.99. You can order your W.L. Weller 12-year-old Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon bottle by clicking here.
Old Elk Straight Wheated Bourbon Whiskey
Founded in 2013, the Old Elk distillery has been working with a specialist with over 40 years of experience in the field. They’ve even been named the distillery of the year for two years in a row, 2016 and 2017.
Yet another best seller on our list is the Old Elk’s wheated bourbon. The drink is made with a special slow-cut process, resulting in a deep, smooth, and full spirit.
The handcrafted bourbon is created in a way that enhances its flavors: the spirit is cut to proof and left to rest on repeat many times over many weeks. This method takes much longer than the standard 24-48 hour proofing process, leaving much more time for the flavors to mingle.
The price at the time of writing is $66.99. We've seen this bottle show up in a few of the top bourbon subscription boxes. Find out the whole story behind Old Elk’s wheated bourbon by visiting the official website.
Pappy Van Winkle’s Bourbon Whiskey
Van Winkle Bourbons honor the industry’s founding father, and this very bottle is a treat for whiskey lovers looking for a true American spirit. It’s made following Van Winkle’s family recipe and drawn from the best barrels in Kentucky. The bottles spend 15 years in a warehouse, which is more than enough time for a sophisticated taste of caramel, toffee, wood notes, and spice to mingle.
You can find out more about Pappy Van Winkle’s 15-year-old wheated bourbon by visiting this page.
Buffalo Trace Kosher
This special whiskey edition originates from Kentucky. It’s made in the Buffalo Trace Distillery, one of the oldest distilleries in the U.S. In fact, the Buffalo Trace Wheated Bourbon is the result of the Chicago Rabbinical Council partnership that started in 2010. The creators used the top-quality wheat mash mixture like the one used for the W.L. Weller Bourbon Whiskey, leaving it to age in kosher barrels and bottling at 94 proof.
Currently, the price for this wheated bourbon is $149.95. You can get one with a personalized gift note by following this link.
Breaker Wheated Bourbon Whiskey
This 750ml bottle of wheated whiskey is a counterpart to the company’s Breaker Bourbon whiskey. They replaced the rye with wheat in the mash bill to create a softer bourbon with an exquisite flavor. The whiskey is blended and bottled in California, and it’s sourced, distilled, and aged in Indiana.
The creators remained true to the old traditions and age the whiskey deeply charred. They do so in new 53-gallon White American Oak barrels for at least five years.
As for the notes, the Breaker Bourbon Wheated Whiskey has a maple, vanilla, char smoke, and coconut aroma. The palate is almost the same, except for the addition of the barrel spices. The finish is spicy and smoky.
At the time of writing, the price for the Breaker Wheated Bourbon Whiskey is $58.98. It’s one of the most affordable wheated bourbons on this list.
You can purchase your Breaker Wheated Bourbon Whiskey bottle by visiting this website.
Redemption Wheated Bourbon Whiskey
The last but certainly not the least fabulous wheated whiskey on our list is the Redemption Wheated Bourbon made with 45% winter wheat. This authentic drink explores the taste of the wheat in a mash mixture and judging by the result, it doesn’t fail to deliver.
Packed in a 750ml bottle, this whiskey is proofed at 96. The whiskey is aged for four years in new oak barrels rich in wheat content, creating a nutty whiskey with a long, strong finish. It has roasted coffee beans and hazelnut flavor.
At the time of writing, the price for the Redemption Wheated Bourbon Whiskey is $45.98. You can get your bottle by visiting this website.
Best Wheated Bourbon Revealed
If you’re up for a sweeter, softer whiskey, wheated bourbon is the way to go. This type of bourbon is perfect for those who are more into flavorful aromas. We’ve made this top wheated bourbon list to help you choose the right bottle for you that’s also within your price range.