Wyoming uses their own winter wheat which gives their bourbon a completely different taste. What is a wheated bourbon you ask? Well it’s a bourbon that uses wheat instead of rye to mix with the corn in the mashbill. There are a few bourbons that come from Kentucky that use wheat in their mashbills. Perhaps you’ve heard of a few of them, Weller, Old Fitzgerald, oh & Pappy Van Winkle. I love a wheated bourbon because they deliver more depth of flavor & an almost creamy mouth feel.
There’s one very important difference between WW and those Kentucky distilleries that adds complexity that cannot be matched elsewhere. The rickhouse in Kirby, Wyoming is subject to incredible weather extremes. Keep in mind that bourbon rickhouses are not heated. The winters are much colder than Kentucky, so you don’t get the same intensity of sweet oak from the early stages aging; instead the long, slow maturation lets the whiskey develop slower, resulting in increased complexity.
Nicholas Notes:Â
I had this bottled at cask strength and it came in at a fairly whopping 117 proof. This is another of those bottles for the serious bourbon drinkers.
Bouquet: Freshly Baked Bread, Orange Rind, Honey, Syrup
On the palate: Honey, burnt orange, caramel and, cinnamon with winter spice.
Finish: Long and smooth with a nice slow burn that tapers off with smooth notes of spice. You never feel the heat, but at 58.5% alc. it is definitely one that will pack a big punch – but you’ll absolutely love it.