Talking bourbon is at it again, getting out of the cold weather here in Indianapolis and tasting, you guessed it, Bourbon. Today’s glass?Woodford Reserve Kentucky Straight Wheat Whiskey. This will be our 5th Woodford tasting, joining Double Oaked, Rye, Malt, and the big seller, their regular Bourbon. The Wheat comes in the same shaped corked bottle as the other 4. It is 90.4 proof with no age statement on the bottle or their website. Being a Kentucky Straight, it has to be at least 4 years old.
While no mash bill on the bottle, the website says it is 52% wheat, 20% corn, 20% malt, and 8% rye. Having 52% wheat is why it is called a wheat whiskey as opposed to a wheated Bourbon like Buffalo Trace and Larceny Those still have the 50% corn but use wheat as the next major grain, instead of rye. It sells for around $45.
Double Oaked is one of our favorites, the Rye and Malt we liked a little less, and the regular Bourbon even less. Where will the Wheat fall? Let’s start drinking and find out.
NOSE
Matt: Good strong nose of leather, bread, cinnamon, and oak. Secondary aromas include clove, a kind of humidor-type smell, and a little bit of wet wood, in a good way.
Todd: I got cedar and orange up front. Behind that, I got the leather and cinnamon that Matt mentioned as well as dates. Also got a whiff of something I can only explain as the smell of a stone or rock, odd.
TASTE
Matt: Toast and caramel are the main things that stick out to me. After that a little vanilla, ethanol, medicine, and a little bitterness. I know, weird, maybe my taste buds are off a little today.
Todd: Yeah, you don’t make it sound that great, lol. I don’t really get a dominant taste, a little citrus, some wood, maybe a little sherry-type taste. I did get that slight bitterness. It was a little better with ice.
Matt: I wanted to add that it tasted better than I described, and I also like it better with some ice.
FINISH
Matt: Medium-short with maybe a little fruitiness and that bitterness.
Todd: Medium with more of the flavors I mentioned on the taste.
Nose 4 out of 5
Taste 7.25 out of 10
Finish 3.25 out of 5
Final score 14.5 barrels out of 20.
Well, while decent, we were not overly impressed. It came off as a little hot which the ice did help. And while the nose promised a lot, the taste just didn’t deliver. One would have thought the wheat would make for a sweeter sip, but instead we got the bitterness. If you like this style, the above-mentioned Buffalo Trace and Larceny are just as good for under that price. And Maker’s 46 is definitely better for close to the same price. Granted, they are not wheat whiskeys but wheated Bourbons but still have similar profiles.
Since it was a little hot, we found it did make a decent cocktail.
Bottom line, if you are a big fan of Woodford or wheat whiskeys or wheated Bourbons, give it a try. It was not bad, I mean we will finish the bottle, and the price is not a deal breaker. Or try a shot at your favorite watering hole. Cheers!