This New Whiskey Uses Much More Wheat Than Pappy and Weller—and We Got to Taste It

Bardstown Bourbon Company is probably the most modern and sleek operation in Bardstown, KY, self-proclaimed "bourbon capital of the world." The company is known for sourcing barrels from distilleries in other states, which its team blends into innovative expressions. It also contract-distills for numerous brands and is able to produce different styles of whiskey using various mash bills. But the brand also releases its own in-house whiskeys, and just added a new one to its Origin Series: Bardstown Bourbon Company High Wheat Bourbon.

The new expression joins a core trio of Kentucky Straight Bourbon, Wheated Bottled-In-Bond, and Doubled Barreled Rye. All of these spirits are made with local, Kentucky grains. But according to the distillery, Origin High Wheat is the first whiskey on the market with its specific mash bill: 53 percent corn, 39 percent wheat, and eight percent malted barley (bourbon must be made from a minimum of 51 percent corn).

It's a much higher percentage of wheat than other “wheated” bourbons you may be familiar with, like Maker’s Mark, Pappy Van Winkle, or Larceny. It’s aged for six years and bottled at a high 106 proof, another factor that makes it stand out.

High Wheat is a solid bourbon, and the big wheat percentage in the recipe really does make a difference. There’s a nice sweetness to the palate, which you’d expect, considering the mash bill contains no rye—known for adding spice to the palate.

Head distiller Nick Smith says that the whiskey is also set apart by entering barrels at 108 proof, which is relatively low for aging. This helps the bourbon pull more sugar from the wood as it ages. There's complexity but also lightness to the whiskey’s flavor profile, with notes of brown sugar, vanilla custard, ripe peach, honey, and baked apple in every sip. The high ABV does add a bit of heat, but it’s not aggressive. Overall, the whiskey tastes superb when poured over a large ice cube.

Origin High Wheat is available now for a suggested retail price of $50. And if you would like to try the rest of the Origin Series, Bardstown Bourbon Company will be releasing the Origin Series Experience Tasting Kit, a $35 set of small sample bottles of all four whiskeys, in the coming months.

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