Which distillery makes the best wheated bourbon? From established names such as Maker’s Mark, Buffalo Trace, and Heaven Hill to newer producers including Green River and Bardstown Bourbon Co., there are plenty of contenders.
This ranking considers flavor, quality, value, availability, and the variety of wheated whiskeys each producer offers. The order may not match everyone else’s, but this is ultimately a celebration of the distilleries doing the most exciting things with wheat.
Wheated bourbon is a delight. It is an excellent choice if you want to move away from the sometimes dominant flavor of rye and towards something more relaxed, mellow, and approachable. Bourbon is naturally sweet, but wheat can soften its spicier elements and give it a particularly creamy character.
1. Maker’s Mark Distillery
For me, these folks are the best. Maker’s Mark has produced wheated bourbon from the beginning and has helped define the style for more than seven decades.
Whether you are buying classic Maker’s Mark, Maker’s 46, or Maker’s Mark Cask Strength, you are in for a wonderful time. These whiskeys deliver sweet, mellow flavors of cocoa, coffee, maple, pecan, and milk chocolate.
That is before we even get into Star Hill Farm Whisky, the Maker’s Mark Cellar Aged collection, Wood Finishing Series, or the Private Selection barrels chosen by retailers and bars across the globe. These releases are driven by flavor while remaining accessible to drinkers.
No matter where you are in the world, there is a good chance you can find a specialist retailer or bar with an unusual bottle of Maker’s Mark on the shelf. The bottles look great, the core range is widely available and affordable, and the brand has consistently championed innovation within wheated whiskey.
2. Green River Distilling Co.
Green River is relatively new to the modern wheated bourbon conversation, but it is already a great one.
I discovered Green River through HopScotch Whisky Bar in Liverpool, an amazing bar in northwest England that delivers samples of bottles you either missed or want to try before buying. As soon as the Green River Wheated Bourbon sample hit my lips, I knew I needed a bottle.
At around £45 and bottled at 45% ABV, it delivers an enormous amount of flavor for the money.
It may be only one bottle within the wider Green River lineup, but when it comes to bang for your buck, it is difficult to beat. It is a no-frills, well-made bourbon that fully deserves the number two spot on this list.
3. Wilderness Trail
Wilderness Trail has built its reputation on high-quality, well-made whiskey, initially winning over the geekier side of the bourbon community.
Bourbon fans are excitable people. I am one of them. As soon as I saw these stout, chunky bottles getting people excited, I knew I had to pay attention.
The Wilderness Trail Kentucky Straight Wheated Bourbon is a real delight and an excellent introduction to the brand. However, its small-batch Bottled-in-Bond releases are among the finest bottles you can get your hands on.
They deliver concentrated flavors of butter, cherries, caramel, and vanilla. At 50% ABV, they hit a little harder, but that additional strength contrasts beautifully with the richness of the whiskey.
4. Ben Holladay Wheated Bourbon
Produced in Missouri by McCormick Distilling Co., Ben Holladay Wheated Bourbon has captured the attention of a significant number of wheated bourbon drinkers in the UK.
Made with 13% red winter wheat, it has one of the creamiest textures you will find in bourbon. This is something that should be on your hit list if you enjoy rich, sweet, and full-bodied American whiskey.
The Bottled-in-Bond and Rickhouse Proof expressions both deliver that substantial texture, alongside flavors of baked vanilla, caramel, brown butter, and hazelnut. It is masterful bourbon production.
5. Buffalo Trace Distillery
It would be extremely difficult not to mention Buffalo Trace in this conversation. The distillery produces Pappy Van Winkle, W.L. Weller, and its Kosher Wheat Recipe Bourbon.
Buffalo Trace has earned enormous respect from whiskey drinkers and describes itself as the most awarded distillery in the world. Whether or not awards influence your buying decisions, there is no denying its importance within wheated bourbon.
I love Weller, and I have been lucky enough to try the full core Pappy Van Winkle range. This position has been awarded partly out of respect for what Buffalo Trace produces.
Realistically, however, it is going to be difficult for most drinkers to find a large proportion of these bottles. Unless you are willing to pay inflated retail or secondary-market prices, many of them will remain out of reach.
6. Bardstown Bourbon Co.
Bardstown Bourbon Co. has become famous for its cross-category collaborations with producers such as Maison Ferrand, Amrut, and Goose Island. However, its core products also shine.
The distillery uses a remarkable 39% wheat in its wheated bourbon mashbill, considerably more than most competitors. Aged for six years and bottled at 53% ABV, the bourbon is fruit-driven and exceptionally well-rounded.
The nose is filled with lemon and fresh mandarin. The palate brings plenty of pastry and fresh butter before developing into a mouth-coating finish with pleasantly dry oak.
7. Heaven Hill Distillery
I feel bad putting Heaven Hill this low. I love most of what the distillery makes, and Larceny is one of the best-value wheated bourbons you can get your hands on. That is before considering the excellent Larceny Barrel Proof releases.
Heaven Hill has also released wheated whiskey through the Parker’s Heritage Collection on two occasions, as well as under the Old Fitzgerald name. Sadly, those bottles can be extremely difficult to find at a reasonable price.
The Old Fitzgerald 7 Year Old is easier to locate than some releases, but the age-stated decanters are where much of the brand’s modern reputation has been built.
At around $25 a bottle, standard Larceny is incredible value. I only wish Heaven Hill would do more with the style, perhaps through a permanent Bottled-in-Bond release or older stocks that demonstrate how well the whiskey can handle extended aging.
8. MGP Distillery
Just because a distillery produces a wide variety of whiskey styles does not make its products bad. You could argue that producing custom mashbills for so many different brands makes the whiskey feel less special. However, if the quality is high, the rest does not really matter.
MGP’s wheated bourbon mashbill, which contains 51% corn and 45% wheat, appears in several smaller brands. Notable examples include Redemption Wheated Bourbon, Fiddler Georgia Heartwood, and Oak & Eden Wheat & Spire.
Some MGP wheated whiskey also makes its way into certain Penelope Bourbon releases. Each of these products has its own merits and style, demonstrating what can be achieved with MGP’s highly unusual wheat-forward recipe.
Which Distillery Makes The Best Wheated Bourbon?
Wheated bourbon is a style that is incredibly close to my heart, and I genuinely enjoy every producer mentioned on this list.
The order may not be the same one everyone else would choose, but I hope the reasons behind each position are clear. Maker’s Mark takes the top spot because of its combination of quality, variety, availability, value, and long-standing commitment to wheated whiskey.
Whatever bottle I reach for, wheated bourbon rarely disappoints. Its soft texture, natural sweetness, and approachable character make it one of the most enjoyable styles of American whiskey to drink.
Read the full article at Wheated Bourbon Ranked: Which Distillery Does It Best In 2026?
