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]]>The world of bourbon seems to be in its prime, and distilleries large and small are rewarding customers with new experiences and exciting bourbons. In kind, Buffalo Trace distillery has announced a new addition to the Weller Bourbon lineup: Daniel Weller. This new addition is an experimental wheated bourbon, so we can expect each release of Daniel Weller to be a little different as they attempt to isolate and highlight various unique strains of wheat.
This is a concept that has been done before in the beverage world. Mikkeller Brewery experimented with Single Hop IPAs to take note of the different effects they had on beer, so it’s interesting to see Buffalo Trace Distillery attempt something similar with one of their most notable brands. Each year promises to be exciting, and the 2023 release is looking to be no different.
2023 Daniel Weller Emmer Wheat Recipe
The inaugural release of Daniel Weller Experimental bourbon is the Emmer Wheat Recipe. This 2023 release is made with (you guessed it) Emmer Wheat, though it’s hard to know what percent of the recipe is Emmer vs other more common types. Emmer is a type of wheat native to the Fertile Crescent of the Middle East, including Iran, Syria, Israel, and into Egypt. Humans in that area of the world began domesticating it over 10,000 years ago.
Apart from the uniqueness of the Emmer Wheat strain, the 2023 Daniel Weller special release will be aged for 12 years and bottled at 94 proof (47% ABV). Early tasting notes indicate oak, fruit, and honey and various points of a sip. Don’t get your hope up too quickly though, sounds like Daniel Weller carries an MSRP of $499.
Will Daniel Weller Be Available in North Carolina?
We have every reason to believe that each annual release of Daniel Weller will be made available in North Carolina, to some extent. A release like this may not make it to every county or ABC board in the state, but it remains to see how the allocation process will work. If you want to find the Emmer Wheat recipe in an NC ABC store, check with your local shops to stay up to date on what they know. Also keep an eye on the NC ABC Stock Status. If we get wind of these coming through the state warehouse, we’ll try to update the email list as well.
More Weller Bourbons
We keep tabs of a lot of different Weller bourbons. If you love these wheated bourbons, keep an eye out from some others:
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]]>The post Weller Special Reserve In North Carolina appeared first on NC Whiskey.
]]>Weller Special Reserve
The green-label Weller Special reserve is the bottom-shelf, entry level expression of Buffalo Trace Distillery’s “Original Wheated Bourbon”. Weller SR is non-age stated and bottled at 90 Proof (45% ABV). In comparison, Weller 12 Year is also 90 proof but (obviously) aged a minimum of 12 years. Other expressions like Weller Antique 107 and Weller Full Proof come in at 107 Proof (53.5% ABV) and 114 Proof (57% ABV) respectively.
Weller Special Reserve is a popular shelf grab in many states because it makes a great cocktail mixer or daily drinker, usually retailing below $30 for a 750mL bottle (but also often comes in larger bottles).
Can You Buy Weller Special Reserve in North Carolina?
At least in recent years, Weller Special Reserve has not been distributed from its Kentucky distillery to North Carolina. The NC ABC system supposed has a strange relationship with Buffalo Trace Distillery and their allocated bourbons, but that may all just be rumor.
We watch the NC ABC stock lists and special packages lists very closely, however, and were pleased to see Weller Special Reserve pop up in that “Special Packages” category on June 23, 2021. By the looks of things, North Carolina is expecting to sell Weller SR at a standard retail price of $29.80 in ABC stores across the state. As of now, no stock of this whiskey has been reported to have arrived in the state.
It’s unclear whether or not this will be a highly allocated whiskey or not. If it’s available for more than just special order, it will surely fly off the shelves on name recognition alone. I expect the state demand will be similar to that of Buffalo Trace, an equally affordable bourbon that’s not actually easy to get in North Carolina. Certainly some ABC boards will withhold selling bottles in lieu of lotteries, on brand recognition a lone.
If in-person hunting isn’t working out, you might be able to find it (at a premium) through online retailers like Nestor Liquors.
Regardless of the distribution channels, it’s good news for whiskey and bourbon lovers in North Carolina to see more good whiskey distributed to the state. If you want updates on when Weller Special Reserve arrives in North Carolina, subscribe to our mailing list and follow us on Instagram.
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]]>The post Wheated Bourbon Guide appeared first on NC Whiskey.
]]>Wheated Bourbon vs Wheat Whiskey
If you’re browsing your local liquor store shelves, you might find some bottles labeled as Wheat Whiskey and others labeled as Wheated Bourbon? So what’s the difference between Wheat Whiskey and Wheated Bourbon? Both are a subset of the American Whiskey category, but there are some distinct differences.
American Whiskey loves that 51% mash bill denotation, and that’s really the big difference between wheated bourbon and wheat whiskey. The latter of these two has a mash bill that is at least 51% wheat. It’s a completely distinct style. Now this grain may be mixed with others, like rye, barely, or corn, but wheat is the main player. Wheat Whiskey is often a bit lighter in color and has a sweeter palate.
Wheated Bourbon, on the other hand, is a subset of the larger bourbon category. To be a bourbon, whiskey must be distilled in the United States from a mash that is at least 51% corn, and be aged in new, charred oak barrels. It’s that 51% corn that is the magic behind a lot of the vanilla and maple flavors you may get from many bourbons, but what about the other 49%? In a Wheated Bourbon, that 49% is dominated by wheat (though maybe not fully). Not all distillers fully disclose their mash bills, but if it’s labeled as a Wheated Bourbon, (like Weller, the original Wheated Bourbon), you can rest assured that wheat is the second most prolific grain after corn.
If you want to compare the two different types of mash bills, consider these two brands: Maker’s Mark and Woodford Reserve Wheat Whiskey.
Maker’s Mark Bourbon
750ml
Woodford Reserve Wheat Whiskey
Wheated Bourbon Mash Bill
Historically, a bourbon mash bill has been at least 51% corn and then a mix of rye and malted barley to round out the rest of the percentages. The malted barley adds a bit of flavor and also helps with fermentation, while the rye adds spice and complexity of flavors. Anything bourbon over 18% is considered a “high rye” bourbon.
Supposedly, it was William Larue Weller himself who decided to forego the rye and replace it with wheat for the first time. Thus, all bottles in the Weller Bourbon Lineup make sure to brag about being “The Original Wheated Bourbon”.
Each distiller will likely use a different mash bill for their bourbon recipes, but as we’ve already mentioned, expect wheat to be the second highest percentage or grain the mash after corn. Some distilleries or whiskey brands will choose to make use wheat exclusively in that 49%, or they may mix in rye and malted barley as other flavoring grains.
A (mostly) exhaustive list of Wheated Bourbons and Whiskeys
Buffalo Trace Distillery
Some of the most fabled wheated bourbons come out of Buffalo Trace Distillery. We’ve already mentioned Weller a couple of times. Many/most of the bottles in the Van Winkle collection (including the Pappy Van Winkles) also use Buffalo Trace’s Wheated Mash Bill. 1792 Sweet Wheat is a Sazerac cousin.
W.L. Weller Special Reserve Wheated Bourbon Whiskey
1 Liter
In addition to these regular releases, the distillery has had some special Wheated Bourbon expressions.Back in 2016 the distillery released a wheated bourbon under the E.H. Taylor brand called “Seasoned Wood”. They’ve also released some experimental bottles from time to time.
Maker’s Mark Is Wheated Bourbon
Like the Weller line, Maker’s Mark is exclusively a wheated mash bill of delicious bourbon. They’ve taken this mash and really pushed the bounds of unique bourbon. They’ve pioneered stave aging to impart totally unique flavors into delicious bottles. Classic Maker’s is, of course, a must have for any home bar. But don’t sleep on their private selects, cask strength, or annual releases.
Bourbon Enthusiast x Maker’s Mark Private Select Bourbon
Maker’s Mark Cask Strength Bourbon 750ml
750ml
Heaven Hill Wheated Bourbons
From Heaven Hill, there are some other well known releases in this sub-genre of bourbon. Larceny, and the new Larceny Barrel Proof, are the most accessible wheated releases from Heaven Hill. Old Fitzgerald also carries this wheated mash bill. Growing in popularity, too is Rebel Yell.
Larceny Small Batch Bourbon
750ml
Rebel Yell Bourbon
750ml
Here’s a somewhat exhaustive list of wheated bourbons and some wheat whiskeys. If you think we’ve missed something, let us know in the comments. Otherwise, tell us your favorites!
- Old Elk Wheated
- Redemption Wheated
- Weller
- Larceny
- Maker’s Mark
- 1792 Sweet Wheat
- Wilderness Trail Wheated Bourbon
- Oak and Eden
- Wyoming 88 Proof
- Gunnar’s Wheated Bourbon
- Balcones Wheat
- Parker’s Wheat
- Lone Elm Wheat
- Pappy Van Winkle, et. al.
- Old Fitzgerald
- Rebel Yell
- Jefferson Wheated
- Smooth Ambler Big Level
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