Green River Wheated Bourbon

The scent presents a pleasing blend of dark chocolate and toasted oak, with a subtle fruity sweetness. Beneath that, a creamy vanilla note is present, alongside brown sugar and a faint hint of toffee. The taste is smooth, with black pepper touching the sides of the mouth, while vanilla and charred oak reach the back of the tongue. Dark chocolate weaves through the mouth with each chew; overall, it's quite straightforward yet shows considerable promise. It certainly delivers what one expects from a wheated bourbon, but could benefit from a bolder profile. The finish is of moderate length, with lingering dark chocolate and charred oak, as a vanilla sweetness recedes. While it's enjoyable, there's a sense of it being somewhat unbalanced due to heavy oils. Caution is advised. Aftersmells: Rich mahogany mixes with notes of hard salami. The lingering aftersmells evoke a late-night Greek deli combined with the Lancome counter at Macy's around 1998.

The aroma was not strong for me. I detected faint hints of alcohol. However, I did discern some leather and tobacco, along with a whisper of caramel and/or spices. The taste is somewhat intricate for me. Initially, I perceive hints of spearmint and mint, mingled with some wood, roasted nuts, and grains (wheat and grass). Following that initial burst, it develops warmth, body, and a more substantial mouthfeel. There's a definite warmth that fills my mouth and nearly creates a comforting embrace of warmth and richness. Yet, there's no burn going down my throat, which is a significant plus for me. The finish is very long, warm, and comforting. The combination of excellent taste, warmth, smoothness, and a hint of a comforting embrace on the finish makes me eager for another delightful sip. In summary, this is an excellent wheated Bourbon, and the distillery has truly excelled with this one.

I give this a 3.75 because it's so enjoyable and easy to drink. It doesn't overwhelm with flavor or scent, but it's delicious and has enough complexity for everyday enjoyment. As someone who typically favors higher proof spirits, I was pleasantly surprised by this 90 proof offering, particularly for $35. This one is more sophisticated than most bottles under $40. Furthermore, this bourbon truly shines in a glencairn glass, as the aroma is much more noticeable than in a rocks glass. Nose- Candy corn, honey, peach, bready. Palate- brown sugar, oak, pepper, peach, clove, nutmeg, peanut brittle. Extremely smooth, no harshness.

The aroma is a gentle sweetness that softly greets your senses, like a caramel syrup scent. It might even evoke a light, refreshing cucumber note. On the palate, it has a bit more intensity than anticipated, perhaps indicating a higher rye content. However, the dominant profile is that caramel or candied apple flavor that persists from the start to the end. I don't detect much else, but it's an enjoyable drink, especially for those who prefer a sweeter profile.

Review number 250. Glass: Glencairn, allowed to rest for 15 minutes. Appearance: Medium amber. Smell: Notes of caramel and vanilla, with hints of sweet bread. Taste: Flavors of cinnamon and clove, accompanied by more sweet bread notes. Finish: A medium-length finish with moderate warmth. With a splash: Notes of baking spices emerge. Overall assessment: 8.5 out of 10. This is my initial experience with a bottle from this distillery. Given the alcohol content and price, I anticipated an average wheated bourbon. However, it surpassed my expectations, though its potential for an even higher score is limited by the 90 proof. With a slightly higher proof, it could easily achieve a 9+ rating.

The aroma is quite pleasant, and upon deeper inspection, a tea note emerges, which I always appreciate. The flavor is also very enjoyable, earning a solid 3.25 rating with potential for a 3.5. For a wheated bourbon, it delivers a decent amount of spice and handles its 90 proof with ease. I do prefer the standard Green River expression, as it offers a delightful raisin note and is generally a better 90 proof pour. In a blind tasting of wheated bourbons, this outperformed Weller SR significantly, making it a worthwhile purchase.