Boone County 8 Year Single Barrel Wheated Bourbon

Tasted neat. Two weeks open, a quarter of it is gone. I'm really enjoying the MGP Wheated Bourbon (51% Corn, 45% Wheat, 4% Malted Barley) single barrels that are 6 years old. I haven't formally reviewed this 8-year-old expression yet, but the added age makes it significantly superior. I've been drinking this bottle a lot and plan to pick up more at the distillery this summer. On the nose, it's very gentle and airy. At first, it's reminiscent of whipped cream. Then, oak emerges, like dark chocolate. Freshly ground pepper is present. There's a distinct layer of fruit, apples and raspberries. I'm also getting a glazed doughnut. It's quite pleasant. The palate is where it truly excels. A smooth texture delivers many flavors right away. Honey, butterscotch, and graham cracker are apparent. The honey intensifies in the middle of the palate, directly hitting the chocolate notes. A pleasant nougat character is on the finish. Then, the honey and chocolate reappear. That honey is what I adore. Honey combined with the nice aging is simply an amazing pairing. The 6-year expression has butterscotch, but it's much more vibrant, and this one possesses greater richness and complexity. With only 19 barrels remaining at Boone County, I must acquire as much as possible from now on.

The 45% wheat content strongly dominates the palate, offering a wonderfully mellow sweetness that lingers. I detect a bit of citrus in both the aroma and the finish, along with a significant hit of dark chocolate on the finish. This MGP mashbill is difficult to find from any NDP, but it's definitely worth seeking out. This is one of those uncommon bourbons that I believe nearly everyone would enjoy, with no off-putting elements that I can identify. For my palate, the only thing it lacks is a more pronounced intensity that would allow the flavors to burst forth upon tasting.

Thick, flavorful, and sweet, with notes of candied anise, chocolate, leather, and mint. It possesses great consistency and complexity.

Powerful 120 proof, notes of candied fruit and citrus, anise, mint, chocolate, with a leather finish