Top 10 Wheated Bourbons to Drink if You Can’t Afford Pappy
In the pantheon of over-the-top, expensive American whiskeys, there’s no name bigger than Pappy Van Winkle. Many whiskey fans will never have a chance to buy a bottle of one of these Buffalo Trace-produced whiskeys, let alone try one.
Much of the appeal of Pappy (and many Buffalo Trace whiskeys) is the fact that it’s a wheated bourbon. This means that, while corn is the main ingredient (it must be at least 51% of the mash bill), wheat is the secondary grain. The result is a creamy, mellow, soft whiskey filled with flavors like toasted vanilla beans, toffee, honey, and oak.
It’s popular and expensive because of a variety of factors. All the Pappy expressions are meticulously well-made and long-aged, and they’re only released in limited quantities on an allocated basis. This drives the prices up to obscene ranges. But fear not. Even though you’ll likely never try Pappy, there are alternatives that won’t be as hard on your wallet. Below, you’ll find some of the best.
Penelope Wheated Bourbon
Made with a mash bill of 74% corn, 16% wheat, 7% rye, and 3% malted barley, this wheated bourbon is known for its flavors of caramel apples, orange peels, and vanilla beans.
Larceny Small Batch Wheated Bourbon
This award-winning, 92-proof wheated bourbon is known for its complex flavor profile featuring notes of butterscotch, honey, and oak.
Maker’s Mark Cask Strength
This cask strength expression from the folks at Maker’s Mark is known for its bold, rich flavor profile of dried fruits, toffee, oaky wood, and toasted vanilla beans.
Garrison Brothers Small Batch
This 94-proof wheated bourbon is aged in charred oak barrels in the Texas heat. The result is a complex whiskey with flavors like caramel apples, leather, and vanilla.
Weller 12 Year
Aged longer than most wheated bourbons on the market, Weller 12 Year is known for its memorable palate featuring hints of caramel corn, candied nuts, and butterscotch.
Old Fitzgerald 7-Year-Old
Made with a mash bill of 68% corn, 20% wheat, and 12% malted barley, this 100-proof expression is known for its palate of brown sugar, cinnamon, and honey graham crackers.
Wyoming Whiskey Small Batch Bourbon
If you’ve never tried Wyoming Whiskey, now is the time to change that. This wheated bourbon is beloved for its notes of brown butter, orchard fruits, and toffee.
Frey Ranch Straight Bourbon
Made with a 4-grain mash bill of non-GMO corn, winter wheat, winter cereal rye, and two-row barley, it’s centered on flavors like mint, vanilla, and sticky toffee.
Redemption Wheated Bourbon
Made with a mash bill of 45% winter wheat, this soft, memorable whiskey is known for its flavors of hazelnuts, black pepper, and caramelized sugar.
Old Elk Wheated Bourbon
This soft, well-balanced, 93-proof whiskey is a popular choice among wheated bourbon fans because of its palate loaded with flavors like vanilla beans, caramel candy, and almond cookies.
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