Heaven Hill Grain to Glass Wheated Bourbon (2024 Release)

Some of my friends who enjoy bourbon have long urged me to explore beyond Buffalo Trace's selections, particularly their more limited releases. While good, they are heavily promoted and some remain quite costly and hard to find on the resale market. Two distilleries a close friend consistently praises are Heaven Hill and Russell's Reserve. Fortuitously, I visited my local Total Wine early today to collect an online order and observed they were clearing out numerous cases. My local Total Wine displays their entire stock, including allocated bottles. I acquired a bottle of one of my current favorites: Maker's Mark The Heart Release. And then I noticed this appealing bottle of Grain to Glass Wheated Bourbon. I couldn't resist! Bottled at an intense 121 proof, I anticipated a strong ethanol scent. It is present but not overwhelming. Instead, you get notes of yeasty bread, tannic oak, and leather, followed shortly after that initial strong impression by a hint of sweet brown sugar, crushed sugar cane, and caramelized pear. The taste begins assertively with a touch of salted caramel and soft dinner rolls. Some mildly tannic oak and peppercorn coat the mouth, with just a slight tingle hinting at the proof. There isn't an excessive sweetness... I suppose I'm so accustomed to that characteristic in bourbon that its absence feels unusual. However, the balance of flavors on the palate is remarkable. No single profile dominates the others. The finish is vibrant, featuring tannic oak, dry leather, and bitter orange peel. The tingle from the spicy peppercorn on the palate carries through, and the finish is long and satisfying. Wow. This bourbon is stunning. Higher proof without an overpowering burn. Not excessively sweet, complex, and well-balanced. A remarkable selection. I definitely need to explore some other highly-regarded Heaven Hill products.

The aroma is full of ripe cherry cola, berry, a damp earthy cellar, root vegetables, toasted sesame (perhaps), and astringent wood. The alcohol presence is annoying, diminishing the experience. It's a truly distinct scent to say the least. The palate starts with cinnamon bear candy, cola, butter cream, cherry pie, allspice, tart berry, and brown sugar. It's a good mix of strong sweetness and spice. The finish is rather pleasant and lengthy with cinnamon sugar, vanilla creme, marzipan, pink peppercorn, chili pepper, bright wood tannins, orange peel, and barrel char. A hint of peppermint lingers after everything else fades. The flavors are mostly perceived on the sides of the tongue, contributing to a somewhat sharper character. The texture is on the fuller side of medium bodied, yet very dry, which doesn't quite suit the profile in my opinion. I'll get straight to the point; I dislike the price, similar to the bourbon. I admit I spent too much on this at $139.99, but the fear of missing out is powerful. The obvious comparison for a 121 proof wheater is Larceny Barrel Proof from the same maker. Would I prefer that at its typical cost of $79.99 over this? Yes, I would. No apologies.

Appearance- amber with numerous slow-moving legs. Coats the glass thickly like honey. Smell- Ripe berries with a musty, leathery aroma, likely from the corn. The aroma is somewhat subdued, but it develops into a floral scent with honeysuckle blossoms if you wait a moment. Taste- thick and coating, I detect honey-covered berries, cream, and a bit of melon—musky like cantaloupe. Very little burn but a pleasant, consistent finish. Finish- medium, concluding with a bit-o-honey taste. Overall- I really enjoy this offering. Sometimes a wheated whiskey can be rather one-dimensional. This one is not. It's thick, luxurious, and engaging. One of those bottles you might call "drinkable." Where it fell short was the smell. I had to investigate a bit to fully appreciate it. I especially liked the musty note. This is a solid addition to the collection.

On the nose, there's strong ethanol along with sweetness. After a few inhalations, I detect a subtle hint of candied cherry among some mustiness and grain. On the palate, it has a thin texture, with increasing ethanol. I taste a dry, earthy flavor, with a touch of malty grain. The finish is essentially just a growing burn, with no significant lingering taste I can identify. Overall, I would not repurchase it at this price. Yet another Heaven Hill product that is overhyped and priced well above its value at MSRP.

The aroma is both botanical and savory, with hay and anise in the background. The palate offers notes of licorice and white pepper. The finish echoes this, lingering at the back of the throat. A dash of water or serving it on ice enhances the rye's prominence. Given its higher rye content, this surpasses the standard Heaven Hill rye expressions, but for similar or lower prices, MGP, New Riff, Old Forester, and Bardstown products are superior. It represents progress.

The nose is overwhelmingly filled with buttery cinnamon raisin bread. This aroma persists through multiple sniffs and doesn't fade. The palate presents heavy baking spices, cinnamon, and honey with subtle hints of strawberries and other red fruits. The finish is brief and has a burn with mint and a touch of sugared cinnamon at the end. This is an amazing glass, well worth the cost and not just the reputation.