Wheated bourbon swaps rye for wheat. The result is softer, sweeter, and easier to sip. Think caramel, vanilla, and fresh bread.
Most people know Maker’s Mark or Weller. But there are other wheated bourbons worth discovering. They are easier to find and full of character.
So, here are seven wheated bourbons that you may not have tried. From Penelope to Holladay, these bottles show why wheat makes bourbon smooth, sweet, and memorable.
Penelope Wheated Bourbon
Penelope is a young brand founded in 2018 and now part of MGP. Its Wheated Bourbon is a four-grain whiskey with a mash bill of 74% corn, 16% wheat, 7% rye, and 3% malted barley. Unlike most wheated bourbons, it keeps a touch of rye for extra spice. Aged four to six years and bottled at 95 proof without chill filtering, it balances softness and depth. The Best Bourbons From The American Whiskey Masters 2025
Expect aromas of apple and pear, flavors of vanilla, honey, and caramel apple, and a finish of brown sugar and oak. Penelope Wheated Bourbon delivers a smooth and sweet profile with surprising complexity.
Green River Distilling Co. Wheated Bourbon
Green River Distilling Co. in Owensboro, Kentucky, has a long history that dates back to 1885. Recently revived and now part of Bardstown Bourbon Co., the distillery has become known for affordable, well-crafted whiskey. Its Wheated Bourbon uses a mash bill of 70% corn, 21% wheat, and 9% malted barley, with no rye included.
Aged at least four years and bottled at 90 proof, it offers aromas of peach and caramel with soft bread notes. The palate is silky, showing toffee, toasted hazelnut, and gentle spice. At around $35, Green River Wheated Bourbon is approachable, smooth, and excellent value.
This bourbon was also named ‘Best Overall Bourbon’ and ‘Best Wheated Bourbon’ at the 2025 New York World Spirits Competition. Judges praised it for its layered palate and lingering finish.
Bardstown Bourbon Co. Origin Wheated Bourbon
Bardstown Bourbon Co. has earned respect for innovation and quality, and the Origin Series is the first whiskey fully distilled and aged on-site. The Wheated Bourbon is a six-year-old Bottled-in-Bond release with a mash bill of 68% corn, 20% wheat, and 12% malted barley.
I was lucky enough to taste this bourbon recently at a whisky festival here in the UK. It highlights baked peach, cocoa, and toffee with a smooth, lingering finish. The wheat softens the profile, but it does not lack depth. It has a silky mouthfeel and a pleasing finish.
Award winning and balanced, Bardstown Origin Wheated Bourbon is a modern expression that blends classic sweetness with contemporary craftsmanship.
Old Elk Wheated Bourbon
Old Elk Wheated Bourbon is defined by its unusually high wheat content. The mash bill is 51% corn, 45% wheat, and 4% malted barley, one of the highest-wheat recipes in the category. Master Distiller Greg Metze, formerly of MGP, designed this bourbon to showcase how wheat can transform flavor.
Bottled at 92 proof, it offers aromas of vanilla and toffee with floral undertones. The palate is creamy, with sweet cream, toasted almonds, and a touch of clove spice. The finish is smooth and mellow. Old Elk delivers a soft and sweet profile that makes it a standout wheated bourbon.
Redemption Wheated Bourbon
Redemption Wheated Bourbon explores the softer side of a brand best known for rye. Distilled in Indiana, it features a high-wheat mash bill of 51% corn, 45% wheat, and 4% malted barley. Bottled at 96 proof, it balances smoothness with bold flavor.
The nose shows pear, vanilla, and candied ginger, while the palate delivers roasted coffee, hazelnut, and baking spice. The finish lingers with fresh bread and light oak. A Double Gold winner at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, Redemption Wheated Bourbon proves how wheat can create a silky, approachable profile without losing depth or character.
Coastline Wheated Bourbon
Coastline Wheated Bourbon comes from Texas Tail Distillery in Galveston, where the humid Gulf Coast climate speeds up maturation. The mash bill is 60% corn, 20% wheat, and 20% malted barley, an unusually high barley content for bourbon. Bottled at cask strength, it delivers bold but rounded flavor.
Expect caramel, vanilla, and toasted grain layered with hints of sea air from its coastal aging. The wheat provides softness while the proof adds intensity. Recent gold medal wins highlight its quality. Coastline Wheated Bourbon is both smooth and powerful, showing how terroir shapes the character of craft wheated bourbon.
Holladay Soft Red Wheat Bourbon
Holladay Distillery in Weston, Missouri, has been producing whiskey since 1856. Its Soft Red Wheat Bourbon is Bottled-in-Bond and aged for at least six years. The mash bill is 73% corn, 15% soft red winter wheat, and 12% malted barley, with every step of production done in Missouri.
The whiskey offers aromas of vanilla cake, red fruit, and toffee. The palate brings honeyed grain, caramel, and a touch of spice, finishing smooth and lingering thanks to its 100 proof strength. Holladay Soft Red Wheat Bourbon highlights how soft red winter wheat creates a sweet, approachable profile backed by historic distilling heritage.
Read the full article at 7 Warming Wheated Bourbons You Should Try This Fall
