On the palate, there is a distinctive honey sweetness accompanied by cinnamon and nutmeg. Of course, its pretty good, too. This is a departure from the classic Jim Beam mash we mentioned in the lede. This treasure from Buffalo Traces Antique collection does its namesake a service, representing some of the worlds best wheated bourbon, a style Weller himself pioneered. Bernheim wheated whiskey a bit harsh imo. ABV: 43% 63 percent corn, 27 percent rye, ten percent malted barley. I do not covet, nor feel compelled to obtain something that is nearly unobtainable for the challenge. Wheat as the secondary grain provides a bit of a subtle, yet noticeable contrast to the traditional rye component of standard bourbons. 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. Some expressions have a characteristic leather aroma, although this is not true of all of the bottlings. Ninety-five percent of all of the bourbon distilled in the US is made in Kentucky. The first Black blender at a major distillery, Major previously made waves as the Whiskey Blender at Bulleit. The notes kind of just linger. Distiller Score: 88. The finish is medium length, smooth, showing caramel sweetness and pralines, along with spice and some oak notes. Evan Williams Bottled-in-Bond won the taste for Best Everyday Bourbon. 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. If you buy from a link, we may earn a commission. A leather note emerges and lingers at the end. #4 barrel char. Thanks for a great article. Going in, I didnt give this much of a chance for my palate. It is a top selling bourbon in Japan. For instance, in New York, property valued at over $1,000 is considered grand larceny. At 12 years, they become really nice sips, and out towards 20 years, they can still be outstanding whiskey. No, this isnt as complex as Old Fitzgerald. But this victory goes to the sister product of Henry McKenna 10-year-old, which won Best Whisky and Best Bourbon at San Francisco World Spirits Competition, and will compete against McKenna for my Best American Whiskey December 20. Flavor Profile: Rich & Full Bodied Old Forester packs a banana note that I thought could dominate the competition if I happened to be in a banana mood.. The mash bill here, made entirely of non-GMO grains, is 65 percent corn, 30 percent rye and 5 percent malted barley. But that is why I taste blind: I dont want to be influenced by brand name. Old Grand-Dad is based on the high-rye bourbon recipe made famous by Basil Hayden its his picture on the bottle. The whiskey carries no age statement but is believed to be a blend of whiskeys between four and 20 years old. Wilderness Trail does not make subpar whiskey. There have been quite a few individual barrels of wheated bourbon released, or reportedly released over they ears. He has conducted various bourbon and whiskey tastings in cities across the country, and consulted for multiple national labels. Don't tell your bourbon-drinking friends, but Russell's spicy-caramel-and-vanilla-tasting Reserve 10-year-old bourbon is one of the best values in the bourbon world. But, I seem to head back to the Makers 46 as my go-to bourbon. That hasnt stopped the collectors, however. Please be responsible. You can often find this for $9.99 on sale. Tasting notes include Heath Bar and leather on the nose, with cinnamon candies, roasted vanilla and rye coming through in the palate. Makes it easy to see why some newbies often cant tell the difference between some of these bourbons, right? Though it shares DNA with other Heaven Hill bourbons like Evan Williams and Henry McKenna, Elijah Craig Small Batch is balanced, with extra maltiness. A rich leather note, along with some pepper, emerges at the end and lingers. Mouth: Caramel, black tea, vanilla, clove and cinnamon. Ive always found a bright nutmeg note, which can really stand out in blind tastings. Old Forester 86 Proof Bourbon Review . Head on over to Distiller, or download the app for iOS and Android today! On the palate, there is caramel, sweet cooked corn, almond pralines, along with vanilla, oak, spice and pepper notes. Honey and fruit mix with a clear peppery rye note next to a slight hint of oak, apple, and more vanilla. Vanilla and toffee are present with a sense of the wheat. The exact mash bill is kept a secret but word on the street is that its a fairly low-rye mash bill with 12 to 15 percent rye. Average Price: $12. Been there, done that, feel silly never again. Bourbon is a type of whiskey that needs to meet a few criteria to officially be called "bourbon." Last I heard it was going for about three thousand a bottle if you could find it. Retail - $250; . Its also worth noting that Wild Turkey had twoWild Turkey 101 and Russells Reservein the running to win it all. Four Roses Small Batch, a household favorite, did not perform well in this blind tasting for Best [+] Everyday Bourbon. The marrying of the corn with the Christmas-y spices helps usher in a long, warming, and satisfying end that embraces you in a classic Kentucky hug.. But nowhere is the impact of the Pappy Van Winkle lineup more prevalent than in the trickle down effect it has had on other bourbons made with wheat as the secondary or flavoring grain. Uncle Nearest Straight Rye . Recently have gotten into bourbons. Because its not a hype whiskey, doesnt have a famous name and isnt a limited release, it doesnt get talked about but I challenge you to find a bourbon with this much firepower at the price point. Distillery: Buffalo Trace Distillery, Frankfort, KY (Sazerac Company) Larceny and Makers Mark can be viewed as offshoot descendants of that distillery due to the connections the labels have with those original three or connections the distillers had with the principal players in that distillery. I usually find Makers Mark to be sweet. // < ! Futile efforts to obtain any of the 2nd list has been a waste of time. #4 barrel char. Sour Mash: A fermentation technique used by almost all bourbon distillers that employs pre-fermented mash from a previous distilling in a new mash. This tends to produce a softer, less spicy whiskey. It bears no age statement and is bottled at 92 proof. Theyre also all made in the same distillery (Jim Beam). And this year the brand got its 9-year age guarantee back, too. The look of it was like that of a reddened maple syrup. Weve highlighted that time and again. You can get a lot of satisfaction out of that. It's a classic tasting bourbon with notes of oak, caramel and brown sugar. To learn more about responsible consumption, please visit, Sign up for the Distiller Newsletter for new bottle & feature updates, Ezra Brooks Kentucky Straight Bourbon 90 Proof, Very Old Barton 100 Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon, Evan Williams White Label Bottled in Bond Bourbon. The bourbon is made by Jim Beam, and retails for around $20 per bottle. That extra time is why the Single Barrel costs three times more than a regular old bottle of Wild Turkey. ModernThirst's Comparison Reviews of Wheated Bourbons: 2020 ModernThirst. This is typically a cornbread-laden favorite of mine. Flavor is smooth and a bit musty, with hints of vanilla, banana, cinnamon and a dash of charred oak spice providing a bitter note. At a retail price of under $50, however, it is an outstanding value, although very difficult to find. It has a highly complex taste, with everything from cotton candy and cayenne pepper to macadamia nuts and underripe blackberries showing up across the nose and palate. [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. The taste is sweet and spicy with a hint of herbaceousness. Weller Special Reserve, 12 Year Wheated Bourbon Blind Tasting: Weller 12 vs. Old Fitz 12 vs. Van Winkle 12, Four Gate Whiskey Announces Release 15.1, 15.2, & 15.3: The Bluegrass Trilogy, Old Forester 21st Release of Annual Birthday Bourbon, Press Release: Old Foresters Next Release in the 117 SeriesFeatures a Blend of Barrels Aged Solely in Warehouse K, William Larue Weller (Buffalo Trace Antique Collection), Rebel Yell Single Barrel 10 Year (added October 2016). 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. Lets end this one with Jims other mash bill. Hey Bill, what are the best wheated bourbons I can buy?. Whether it's the softer flavor imparted by the sweet mash (the vast majority of modern bourbon is sour mashed) or the distiller's proprietary "infusion mashing" process or something else entirely, the result is a wicked, wicked pour. Distiller Score: 84. The original nomination was Weller Antique, which is widely available in some markets and sparse in others. The original Stitzel-Weller mash bill was 75% corn, 20% wheat and 5% malted barley. This makes a wonderful sipper or gift to a friend, and since Woodford Reserve is the official bourbon of the Kentucky Derby, you best believe this makes an excellent base to a mint julep with its myriad notes of fruit and spice. The end is rich with a note of toffee and a whisper of salted caramel. The spirit is one of those rare drinks that is loved by both bourbon enthusiasts and amateurs. Its excellent. I didnt find this note, however, and it failed to impress in the field. This is great stuff to sip on after a big holiday meal. // < ! But those whiskeys are cut from the exact same distillation. Elmer T Lee (Wish it was still as easy to find as it was a few years ago) 2. Yes, aging and blending can have a big impact on taste. Distiller Score: 82. Medley also makes a 12 YO expression bottled at 43.4% ABV, which is outstanding. I have not had the VW 23, VW 20, and VSOF12. On the palate, the Old Forester 86 has a decent body showing a medium texture. The juice is really crafted as an entry point to Woodfords wider line that showcases their aging and blending prowess. Every product is carefully selected by our editors. Little did I know, this substitute would play a big role in my blind tasting. Either way, I W Harper is a brand in transition and one well worth watching. Old Forester released the "Whiskey Row" line in late 2014 to celebrate the distillery's history. I like some of the new Makers Private Select picks even more, but theyre single barrel private picks, so I didnt include them on the list. Perhaps thats why it was in the running to win it all. According to their story, back in the day, John E. Fitzgerald used his privilege of holding the keys to Pappy Van Winkles bonded warehouse, where the Old Fitzgerald bourbons were kept, to steal the best casks for himself. 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. I disagree about 46. Weve already talked about how Weller and Pappy are the same wheated bourbon, so lets give Heaven Hills wheated bourbons some love. That works out to 1.75 barrels of bourbon per resident or over 500 bottles of whiskey per capita. Sounds like a pretty good reason the move to Kentucky. Additionally, it was aged at least 4 years under government supervision, and it is bottled at 50% ABV. Distillery: Old Forester (Brown-Forman) City: Louisville, KY Style: Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey ABV: 46.5% (93 proof) Availability: Limited, 375 ml bottles, $50 MSRP Jim Vorel is a. Note: the portfolio for Rebel Yell all received a makeover with updated labels in April 2019. They find themselves waiting in line and participating in lotteries for the likes of Weller Antique, which once collected dust on the shelf. It did not make my Top 6. Medley Brothers bourbon is made by the father and son team of Charles and Sam Medley. It bears no age statement and is bottled at 92 proof. It has a suggested MSRP of $150, and Reserve Bar is your best bet for snagging a bottle.Garrison Brothers Cowboy Bourbon: Every year for the past eight years, Texas-based distillery Garrison Brothers has released their fan-favorite Cowboy Bourbon: an uncut and unfiltered straight bourbon thats produced in limited numbers. But if they arent regularly released with a wheated mash bill as a rule, theyre one-offs, and not on the list. Today we tasted Larceny and Old Forester, watch and see which one we liked best Unfortunately, both also have that unpleasant metallic vodka-y alcohol taste, which I don't find in other bourbons. Larceny is based on a mash bill of 68% corn, 20% wheat and 12% malted barley. Entry proof is 125 proof/62.5 percent. This whiskey is much better known then the expressions cited above. I cover spirits, the drinks culture and business. The Brown-Forman distillery also uses the same mash bill for their premium, high-end market bourbon, Woodford Reserve. Old Forester has been on the market continuously since 1870, which is longer than any other bourbon. Lingering caramel, apple, cinnamon and oak. Larceny and Maker's Mark can be viewed as offshoot descendants of that distillery due to the connections the labels have with those original three or connections the distillers had with the principal players in that distillery. In addition, Minnick is the editor-in-chief of Bourbon+ Magazine and host on the Spirits Network. Tasting notes include monkey bread aroma and Texas-style Dublin Dr. Pepper, making for one interesting palate. Maker's Mark Cask . ABV: 46% It's dynamic and well worth the $55 sticker price. The whiskey is produced by. Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. Distiller Score: 84. Pappy Van Winkles impossible-to-find wheated bourbon has become such a hype monster that other wheated bourbons from Buffalo Traces portfolio have seen their own popularity skyrocket due to their proximity. These became known as the Fitzgerald Barrels. Larceny is a wheated bourbon made from a blend of selected barrels made in honor of this legend. Proof: 100. We don't believe there is one "best" bourbon, but there are bottles that are best for certain moments. Could this be its year? You can have five different notes hitting at once. Wild Turkey Bourbon 101 is pulled from the barrel at 109 proof before being proofed down only a touch. No need to wait for a special occasion, these are great for any day of the week. 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. Drink it in a highball or mix up old fashioneds for a few months. So, I switched it to Evan Williams Bottled-in-Bond, a very widely distributed bourbon from Heaven Hill. Its more complex than regular FR, but still drinks easy. Nice article Bill. Russells Reserve has been hitting my sweet spot of late, and many, including myself, thought this would definitely be in the running. Average Price: $26. Glad to find your listing. On the flip side, expensive bourbon isnt always as refined as it seems. Here are my rankings the Best Wheated Bourbons in each category. In 1870, George Garvin Brown, founder of Old Forester, created the first bottled bourbon. If you are interested in exploring the lesser known brands however, and in the process learning a little more about the lore and history of classic bourbon brands, then this list is a good place to start. Theres more of sweetness at play with toffee and vanilla up top. Its bottled at 115 proof for this distillery, thats the perfect proof, Minnick says. The juice is a throwback to Colonel Blanton who expanded the distillery in the 20th century and used to handpick barrels for his personal stash in warehouse H. The bottle in-and-of-itself has become a collectors item with the small horse on each cork varying slightly. This is a side by side comparison review of the Old Forester 1920 and 1910, both are part of their Whiskey Row series. And in Division Two we have Old Forester Signature 100 proof up against Wild Turkey 101. At the very least, this experiment is a good way to see how much luck and refinement go into making expensive bourbons worth the price when you can quite literally compare them to the cheaper expressions of the exact same juice. Old Forester with darker banana, apple, and cherry, while Buffalo Trace with brighter, vibrant, and tropical peach, cherry, and pineapple. Our inclusions in this guide are based on real-world testing and firsthand expert feedback, but there are a few new and upcoming bourbons we haven't had a chance to try yet that still warranted a mention. Old Forester 100 proof. Now, she's struck out on her own, and in the tail-end of 2022 she debuted her first independent effort a tribute to her hometown of Birmingham, Alabama put out by the city's upstart distillery, Dread River. Weller, and to a lesser extent Old Fitzgerald, has been caught up in the cult frenzy that now surrounds Pappy Van Winkle. Like plain Rebel Yell for the polical incorrectness of it. We asked whiskey personality and author Fred Minnick to uncover which bottles of bourbon lining the shelves are actually worthy of your bar cart. It's full of flavor and has a bit of an oaky kick to it that pairs well with the sweetness. The 15 YO version is similar but far richer and complex. The barrels that go into each batch are aged anywhere from 6 to 10 years. The Controversy Explained, Love Buffalo Trace Bourbon? 72 percent corn, 18 percent rye, ten percent malted barley. 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). Thats nuts in todays whiskey world. Theres certainly less refinement at play. At the end of the day, it's a blue-collar spirit, made by thirsty farmers, for thirsty farmers. This bourbon was the first Single Barrel expression sold in the modern era. This is all about the sweetness.. Im going through a bottle a month. Production started on Ezra Brooks around the 1950s by the Medley Distillery. 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. The latter is a blend of a 16-year-old bourbon and a 15-year-old high-rye bourbon that pays tribute to the family's first distiller, Jacob Beam, and it's said to be some of the best bourbon being produced at the busy distillery. Old Forester 1920 celebrates the Distillery history since 1920 was the year . The biggest surprise of the blind tasting since I had previously disliked it. Going into my tasting, I thought this had a great chance of winning. Now, thanks to rising whiskey prices and a consistently strong product, the brand shortened to OGD by fans has a cult following. Retail - $55; Secondary - $90+ Evan Williams 23 Year Old Bourbon - T2. #3 barrel char. I assessed all nominations, validated them and tasted them live on YouTube to select my 2019 favorite for Best Everyday Bourbon. Flavor Profile: Rich & Spicy The whiskey has already won an impressive array of awards. But it was not in the cards. This is strikingly similar to Woodford on the nose with the same vanilla, tobacco, mint, and floral fruit. // < ! Wheat bourbons are different. While it has an MSRP of just $40 (and costing half that much just a couple of years ago), its become one of the industrys hottest bottles more recently, and these days market prices hover around $300. Larceny, Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, NAS. Plum, pear, cocoa and vanilla are among the tasting notes here. The latter is a blend of a 16-year-old bourbon and a 15-year-old high-rye bourbon that pays tribute to the familys first distiller, Jacob Beam, and its said to be some of the best bourbon being produced at the busy distillery. With all the easily available wheaters around, it really makes little sense to go through the Herculean effort and expense to obtain the limited editions. [CDATA[ This mash bill leans more heavily into the rye, creating a solid base for two very closely related bourbons. And its a bartenders dream for its mixability. I drink bourbon. Wheated: A bourbon with a higher than normal percentage of mash bill made up of wheat (the main grain remains corn). Quite the contrary, I didnt care for the whiskey in the blind tasting. At $30 per bottle, this is another excellent value for a classic bourbon. Buy a case. Elijah Craig Small Batch is layered in vanilla and often so soft on the palate. Last year, I tasted a dozen bourbons that were widely available and selected Ezra Brooks 7-year-old Cask Strength. Theres a sense of sweet yet slightly bitter tea next to rye spice and a flutter of fresh mint. 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. If you're looking for the best value in bourbon, just get this. ABV: 46.5% Sazerac 18 typically demands the highest price in the Buffalo Antique Collection line. We relied on one of the most-esteemed bourbon experts in America, Fred Minnick. At the end of 2018, Kentucky had over 7.5 million barrels of bourbon being matured, along with 600,000 barrels of other spirits. Old Forester is richer, so it's less prevalent in this comparison, but it's definitely still there on its own without Jack Daniel's to cover it up. The Old Forester is one of the bourbons that's helped make Kentucky the capital of bourbon. Average Price: $40. This is a BETA experience. At retail prices between $20 and $30, it is among the best priced wheated bourbon currently available. Unfortunately, the surging popularity of bourbon has made most any wheater over 6 years old nearly impossible to find. If you get a chance to visit Loretto, pick up a bottle of the Makers 46 Cask Strength sometime. Now, bourbon fans grow angry over their inability to find precious gold they once regularly consumed. 1870 Original Batch is also blended by Marianne Barnes, the protg of Brown-Forman's master I like it. ABV: 50% Distillery: Heaven Hill Distillery, Louisville, KY Its also the same juice that doesnt spend quite as long in the rickhouse and gets blended with minorly different barrels for an end product thats very similar to Basil Haydens. After about 7 years, they start becoming nice sips. Entry proof is 125 proof/62.5 percent. On the nose, the whiskey offers sweet caramel and candied cherries, along with a persistent oak note in the background. That includes retailer specific brands. Flavor Profile: Sweet Nice, easy-drinking proof? But what are the best wheated bourbons out there? Oh, and it's sold in liters. Limited edition and long-aged bourbons go as quickly as they hit the shelves. Below are 8 brands of bourbon that retail for less than $50, many are under $30, that represent excellent values and that you have probably never heard of. In terms of proof and age, I would say they're very close (certainly not over 5 years old). Its a fantastic bourbon, especially for the money, he says. But thats not to say that all of those bourbons taste exactly the same. But its so much cheaper that who cares? Weller CYPB, Weller Full Proof, Redemption Wheated, Wilderness Trail Wheated Mash Bill etc, would all be added. I drink so much Makers with BBQ, he says. Distiller Score: 88. I recently did a blind taste test comparing some Wheaters and surprisingly rated Makers 46 as my top pick among Makers Mark, Larceny, Old Weller Antique, and Bernheim (a pure wheat whiskey). Name: Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style Whisky Age: NAS Proof: 115 Proof (57.5% abv) Type: Straight bourbon whiskey Mashbill: 72% corn, 18% rye, and 10% malted barley Producer: Brown-Forman Corporation Website: https://www.oldforester.com/products/old-forester-1910-old-fine-whisky/ Glassware: Glencairn Review The titular old grand-dad here is the one and only Basil Hayden. Corn on the nose and lots of classic notes of vanilla, toffee, and caramel up top. Had a $45 shot of PVW 23 a few years back in Louisville and wasnt blown away for the price. I bought two. Try it on the rocks. Give the whiskey a few minutes to open up and for the alcohol burn to dissipate. There can be no doubt that a certain 3-word labelhas greatly influenced bourbon and bourbon demand over the past decade. Distiller Score: 86. It didnt make the cut for the finals. Larceny is 45% alcohol by volume, whereas Maker's Mark has 45%. Thats really a loaded question because there are two ways of looking at it. You can follow him on Facebook and Twitter @BillStraub and email him at [emailprotected]. The 1920 is a crowd favorite on r/bourbon and for a good reason. In a whiskey market that's become increasingly fragmented and allocated, Knob Creek's classic small batch bourbon distinguishes itself. The McKenna distillery was established in 1855, founded by the noted Irish immigrant distiller. It is a wheated whiskey, that shares a common DNA with Old Fitzgerald and the Pappy wheated bourbons. Larceny Barrel Proof (A121, B521, C921) - T3. Case in point is the original wheated bourbon, Wellers signature 12-year bourbon. These bargain bourbon brands can all be had for $25 or less, so make sure keep your home bar stocked! ABV: 50.5% The bourbon is believed to be approximately 6 YO. Average Price: $300. Old Forester Signature Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, NAS, 50% ABV, is the oldest bourbon brand in the US and the first bourbon to be sold in bottle. Whether thats worth the money is up to you and your palate. Old Forester packs a banana note that I thought could dominate the competition if I happened to be in a banana mood. At times our old standbys can be tough to findand when we do, they are triple the standard price. This is a NAS Straight bourbon, so it is at least four years old. The dram leans into a honey-sweet edge with the oak, mild spice, and hint of dark chocolate popping at the end. That lower entry proof lends to more flavor from the mash bill (corn, rye and malted barley). I want to really sit there and think about it when Im drinking it, Minnick says. The whiskey is NAS, but is believed to be four to eight years old. This bourbon may benefit from some airtime. Fourth - Larceny With wheated bourbons riding a tidal wave named Pappy, Larceny flies under the radar. Old Forester Signature Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, NAS, 50% ABV, is the oldest bourbon brand in the US and the first bourbon to be sold in bottle. You might notice there isnt a price, proof, tasting notes or distillery information listed on this pick. Unfortunately, for Old Fo, I was not. If Evan Williams were to sell this whiskey to someone else, that brand would mark it up to $40, and people would be happy buying it, Minnick says.