Bardstown Bourbon Company High-Wheat

Every bourbon drinker eventually encounters a whiskey that challenges expectations. Sometimes the label tells one story, but the glass tells another. That's exactly what happened when I poured this Bardstown Bourbon Company High Wheat Bourbon. I expected something soft, sweet, and mellow. What I found instead was a bourbon that repeatedly nudged me toward a completely different conclusion. And that's one of the reasons bourbon remains endlessly fascinating.

A Quick Look at Bardstown Bourbon Company

Founded in 2014, Bardstown Bourbon Company arrived in Kentucky with a modern vision. Rather than simply building another traditional distillery, founder Peter Loftin created a facility that blended cutting-edge technology with Kentucky bourbon heritage. The company quickly became known for both its own award-winning releases and its collaborative distilling program, producing whiskey for numerous brands across the industry.

The company continues to expand its footprint. In 2022, Bardstown Bourbon Company acquired Green River Spirits Company, adding the historic Green River Distilling Company in Owensboro along with additional production capacity. More recently, the organization consolidated its growing operations under the Lofted Spirits parent brand, bringing Bardstown Bourbon Company and Green River together under a single umbrella.

Of course, no discussion of Bardstown Bourbon Company would be complete without mentioning Steve Nally. A former Master Distiller at Maker's Mark and a Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame inductee, Nally played a significant role in establishing Bardstown's reputation for quality, consistency, and innovation. His decades of experience helped give credibility to what was then one of Kentucky's newest distilleries. And, truth betold, I had the opportunity a couple years ago to have a fascinating 1:1 conversation with Steve while he was casually signing bottles and the nearby customers were completely oblivious.

If you've followed JosephBourbon.com for a while, you've seen Bardstown Bourbon Company appear before. We've previously toured the distillery, discussed its innovative approach to bourbon production, and recently reviewed a Bardstown Bourbon Company Single Barrel that showcased just how elegant and balanced their whiskey can be. That bottle impressed with its refinement despite a hefty proof, and this High Wheat expression continues the theme that Bardstown rarely produces boring whiskey.

The Tasting

This particular bottle is a six-year-old bourbon bottled at 106 proof. The mash bill is noteworthy because wheat makes up a substantial 34% of the recipe, with the remainder made up of 53% corn and 8% malted barley. On paper, that sounds like a recipe for sweetness. The glass had other ideas.

Eye: Light copper with a spiderweb of legs displayed on the Glencairn glass.

Nose: The aroma opens with vanilla and dark fruit before lighter floral notes begin drifting forward. It's inviting without being overly sweet. The fruit notes lean toward dried cherries and raisins more than fresh orchard fruit, while the floral elements provide just enough lift to keep things interesting.

Palate: Sweet and spicy-tingly right from the start. Vanilla arrives first, followed by oak, baking spices, apple, and peach. The texture is pleasant, but what surprised me most was the spice character. For a wheated bourbon, there's a vibrancy and energy that continually reminded me of a high-rye mash bill. That's not a criticism. It was simply unexpected.

Finish: Long and dry with oak char and lingering spice. The sweetness fades relatively quickly, allowing the oak influence and spice to take center stage. It hangs around long enough to remind you that 106 proof can still carry some authority.

Overall: You can’t go very far before you compare this to another wheated bourbon with a similar proof. Whenever bourbon enthusiasts see a wheated mash bill, comparisons to Weller are almost inevitable.

The obvious benchmark here is Weller Antique 107. Both sit at nearly identical proofs. Both replace rye with wheat. Both have developed loyal followings among bourbon drinkers. Yet they drink very differently.

Weller Antique 107 has always struck me as sweeter, rounder, and smoother. Caramel, vanilla, and honey tend to dominate the experience, creating an easy-drinking profile that can sometimes disguise its proof.

This Bardstown High Wheat took a different path. Despite carrying a substantial 34% wheat in the mash bill, it never fully embraces the soft sweetness many drinkers expect from wheated bourbon. Instead, the oak, spice, and dry finish push the experience in a direction that feels remarkably similar to some high-rye bourbons I've enjoyed over the years.

If I had tasted this blind, I honestly might have guessed there was more rye in the recipe than wheat. That's what makes this bottle so interesting. It serves as a reminder that mash bills tell only part of the story. Distillation techniques, barrel selection, warehouse conditions, maturation, proof, and blending decisions all help shape the final product. Two wheated bourbons can share a similar concept and arrive at completely different destinations.

Bardstown Bourbon Company continues to demonstrate why it has become one of the most respected names in modern bourbon. Their willingness to innovate while maintaining a deep respect for Kentucky tradition keeps producing whiskies that challenge assumptions. This High Wheat Bourbon is a perfect example.

If you're expecting a sweeter version of Weller Antique 107, you may be surprised. If you're looking for a wheated bourbon with a little more structure, spice, and oak-driven character, you'll probably find a lot to like. Sometimes the most memorable pours aren't the ones that confirm what you thought you knew. They're the ones that make you rethink it. And this bourbon did exactly that.