If you love whiskey, you’ve definitely heard of Pappy Van Winkle, arguably the most famous wheated whiskey that put wheated bourbon on the map. So what is wheated bourbon? Wheated bourbon whiskey, often referred to as “wheaters” is bourbon with a high wheat content. 

If you’ve read our blogon What Is a Bourbon?, you’ll know that bourbon must be made of at least 51% corn, as required by the U.S. Tobacco and Alcohol Tax and Trade Bureau and that traditionally, all bourbons contain a portion of malted barley for their potent enzymes that promote saccharification The balance of grains is up to the distiller, but may only comprise of corn, wheat, malt, rye malt or rye. So, a wheated bourbon contains 51% or more corn but the majority of that balance comes from wheat.. You would typicallyfind a wheated bourbon whiskey to contain wheat content somewhere in the 40-45% range. 

The majority of bourbon brands use rye grain as their flavoring grain. Unlike rye, wheat has softer flavors that allow more of the corn’s sweetness and notes of vanilla to come through. While some may see wheat as a more neutral flavor, others think that wheat maintains its flavors for longer periods and is enhanced over the aging process. 

What’s interesting is that most popular wheated bourbons are made in the USA. Wheated bourbon whiskey is mostly an American trend. And here at Designer Dram, we want to ensure you can enjoy the wheat in the whiskey you make for yourself. 

The Flavors and Aromas of Wheated Bourbon Whiskey

Wheat whiskeys were once less mainstream than they are now. Adding wheat has become much more common and it does add a certain character to bourbon. 

Where adding rye gives the bourbon a spicy kick, wheat tends to add smoothness and subtleties. Wheat will add flavors of vanilla, honey, caramel, toasted oak, toffee, and even flavors like vanilla ice cream and bananas foster. Adding wheat to bourbon will add a subtle sweetness and smoothness that makes drinking a wheated bourbon whiskey a pleasure with every sip. The aromas that wheat introduces to bourbon include caramel, vanilla, pineapple, and bananas. 

If you want to make a smooth whiskey, adding wheat will soften bourbon and enhance the subtle flavors in both wheat and bourbon. Our barrel selections give you the flexibility to create a wheated bourbon whiskey that would be similar to many of the popular wheated bourbons available today. If you need help selecting the right amount of wheat to match your taste, contact us here, and one of our experts will help you choose the right barrels to ensure you make a unique whiskey that you’ll love.