Bardstown Bourbon Company is arguably the most modern and polished business in Bardstown, KY, the self-proclaimed “bourbon capital of the world.” The company is known for sourcing barrels from distilleries in other states, which its team blends with innovative expressions. He also contract distills for a number of brands and can produce different styles of whiskey using a variety of mash bills. But the brand is also launching whiskeys produced in-house and has added a new one to its Origin Series: Bardstown Bourbon Company High Wheat Bourbon.
The new expression joins the core trio of Kentucky Straight Bourbon, Wheated Bottled-In-Bond and Doubled Barreled Rye. All of these spirits are made from local Kentucky grains. But according to the distillery, Origin High Wheat is the first whiskey on the market with its distinctive mash consistency: 53 percent corn, 39 percent wheat and 8 percent malted barley (bourbon must be made from at least 51 percent corn).
This is a much higher percentage of wheat than other “wheaty” bourbons you may be familiar with, such as Maker's Mark, Pappy Van Winkle, or Larceny. 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 large percentage of wheat in the recipe really makes a difference. There's a nice sweetness to the palate, which is what you'd expect considering the mash doesn't contain rye, which is known to add spice to the palate.
Master distiller Nick Smith says the whiskey also stands out from the others by entering the barrels at a temperature of 108 degrees, which makes it relatively low in terms of aging. This helps the bourbon draw more sugar from the wood as it ages. There is both complexity and lightness in the whiskey's flavor profile, with notes of brown sugar, vanilla custard, ripe peaches, honey and baked apples in every sip. The high ABV adds some heat but isn't aggressive. In general, whiskey tastes great when poured over a large ice cube.
Origin High Wheat is currently available for the suggested retail price of $50. If you want to try the rest of the Origin Series, Bardstown Bourbon Company will be releasing the Origin Series Experience Tasting Kit, a collection of $35 small sample bottles of four whiskeys, in the coming months.
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