The Best Wheated Bourbon In America-According To The 2025 IWSC
Pouring whiskey from bottle into glass on wooden barrel against black background, closeup
One of the more interesting developments in the American whiskey landscape is the slow rise of "Wheated Whiskeys/Bourbons." Known for delivering a softer and rounder flavor, they are starting to get attention. While certainly not a new style of whiskey, distillers have been producing whiskey with wheat in Kentucky since the early 1800s, and it is gaining popularity as drinkers seek innovation and flavor. Much like its cousin, the fledgling American Single Malt category, wheated whiskeys can become the next hot bottle.
First, a quick primer for the uninitiated: What exactly is a wheated whiskey? In the simplest terms, it's a bourbon or American whiskey where wheat replaces rye as the secondary grain in the mash bill. That might sound like a minor tweak, but it has a profound impact on the final product. While rye typically delivers a spicier, peppery kick, wheat tends to impart a softer, sweeter, and often creamier mouthfeel, bringing forward notes of caramel, vanilla, and sometimes fruit or baked goods.
The 2025 International Wine & Spirits Competition (IWSC) just announced the results in their Wheated Bourbon Whiskey category, and it's clear these aren't just easy drinkers; they're top-tier bottles helping to shape the future of American whiskey. One bottle landed on top, bringing home a Gold Outstanding medal by scoring 98 points, and five others were awarded Gold Medals for scoring 95 points or higher. All highlight the fantastic possibilities for the Wheated Whiskey category moving forward. Here is a brief recap of all six bottles and the judges' tasting notes for each.
Look, Maker's Mark built its empire on wheated bourbon, so for them to drop their first pure wheat whisky is a big deal. This 2025 inaugural release technically isn't a bourbon, as it does not contain corn in the mash. Still, the IWSC decided to categorize all wheated whiskeys together this year as bourbons. That being said, this is a bold bottle from Maker's Mark that any bourbon lover should grab. It shows that Makers Mark is not afraid to strip it down and explore new territory in grain flavor, even utilizing regenerative farming. It scored 98 points, and it is the Gold Outstanding winner in the category and, as such, the champ. It is also in the running for the IWSC's Whisky Trophy that will be awarded in November to the overall best bottle in the competition.
Here is what the judges had to say about it: Attractive brown sugar, floral, and chocolate-covered papaya aromas, leading to a palate of cooked apple, cinnamon, and black tea. Warming with a long finish.
Rock Town Distillery, located in Little Rock, Arkansas, has been focused on producing affordable products using local ingredients since 2010. They use grains sourced from nearby farms and barrels from a local cooperage. They keep winning awards, so they must be doing something right. Their Bourbon Y'all Whiskey is a test product that is not yet available to the public. Still, after seeing how well it performed at the IWSC, hopefully, they will put it into production soon.
Here is what the judges had to say about it: A delightful aromatic display of vanilla and blood orange oil, underpinned by roasted coffee and a hint of earthiness. The rich palate reveals complex layers of marzipan, cedar, and baking spices, culminating in a lingering, sweetly spiced finish. Devine.
If you haven't heard of Frank August, don't feel bad; it's a smaller distillery launched in 2022 with the express purpose of producing high-quality bourbon that pays homage to the past while pushing boundaries. Their Case Study release line has garnered immense interest in the industry and has been raking in awards. Each one delves deeply into a specific aspect of the bourbon landscape and strives to produce the finest expression possible. Past bottlings have experimented with double oaking, rye, and cask finishing. Their latest, Frank August Case Study: 05 Wheated Reserve 5 Barrel Batch, already took home a Double Gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition to sit alongside its Gold medal from the IWSC. It's a prime example of where Wheated Bourbons could be heading.
Here is what the judges had to say about it: Scents of maraschino cherry, orange, and vanilla give way to flavors of white peach and hay.
Now to a big player, Heaven Hill Distillery Grain To Glass Traditional Barrel Series Kentucky Straight Wheated Bourbon Whiskey. Heaven Hill is a powerhouse, a family-owned legacy since 1935, known for surviving infernos and stocking the world's second-largest bourbon inventory. Their "Grain to Glass" series, launched in 2024, which includes this wheated bourbon, is all about transparency, tracing grains back to local farms and showcasing a higher wheat content. Each bottle lays out the story of the liquid contained inside in clear language, allowing drinkers to delve into the effect that terroir can have on finely crafted whiskeys. It's yet another bottle that highlights the possibilities of this emerging category.
Here is what the judges had to say about it: Rich leather mingles with black cherry sweetness and orange peel on the nose. The palate unfolds with a delightful balance of cooked pineapple, Brazil nut, and toffee. A robust, textured, and warming bourbon.
O.H. Ingram River Aged Whiskey has leaned into an unusual method for crafting its whiskeys. Drawing on their family's five-generation history of operating barges and tugboats on the Mississippi River, they age their whiskeys on a floating rickhouse on the Mississippi River. The constant motion and unique climate exposure accelerate maturation, enabling more interaction between the barrel and the juice. Their Uncharted Kentucky Wheated Bourbon Whiskey is not yet available to the public and appears to be a test project. Let's hope it is in the market soon. The judges loved it.
Here is what they had to say about it: The bouquet sings with juicy jam aromas interlaced with floral honey, maple, and oak spice. A mouthwatering palate reveals a harmonious blend of marzipan, cinnamon, and vanilla, finishing with a creamy, chocolatey warmth that lingers delightfully.
Finally, Wilderness Trail Distillery Kentucky Straight Wheated Bourbon Whiskey. These guys in Danville, Kentucky, are bona fide pioneers. They're famous for their "sweet mash" process and boast one of the highest wheat-to-corn ratios in the state. And get this: they were the first to release a Bottled-in-Bond wheated sweet mash bourbon after Prohibition. That tells you everything about their dedication to quality and adherence to strict standards while pushing boundaries. It's no surprise this bottle brought home a Gold Medal from the IWSC.
Here is what the judges had to say about it: A vibrant aromatic display of orange skin, nectarine, and peach Melba. The palate reveals rich sultanas and apricot fruit, alongside creamy vanilla. Earthy roasted coffee, cedar, and hints of nutmeg lead to a delightful finish of warm spice and cherry.
Follow here for the most up to date information about the ever changing beer, wine, and spirits industry.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
15 minutes ago
- Yahoo
'80s Metal Band Legend Stuns Concert Goers with Totally 'Off-Brand' Message Mid-Show
'80s Metal Band Legend Stuns Concert Goers with Totally 'Off-Brand' Message Mid-Show originally appeared on Parade. Metal often gets a bad rap. The music is incredibly intense, and it's built on its often horror-inspired imagery. The music is loud, abrasive, and sometimes violent, with mosh pits being one of the most common ways fans enjoy concerts. Because of this, metal has a reputation as a negative, or evil genre. But that couldn't be farther from the truth. Despite their popularity, Metallica is not a band exempt from this reputation, as they have had plenty of heavy or scary themes throughout their music. At a recent show, Metallica lead singer James Hetfield took a moment during the concert to speak directly to the fans in attendance, and his words might be surprising to those not familiar with the people behind metal music. "We are grateful after 140-something years to still be here playing music for you guys, and you come here, and you show yourselves, and you sing along! We are so blessed, and we couldn't take it for granted." Fans were delighted by the kind words from the rock star, leaving their reactions in the comments. "It was a great show!! Loved it." "I loved the concert with James." "So sad I had to miss this, hope they do another tour in the next 4 years." It's nice to see the humanity of our favorite artists, and see that they appreciate the fans as much as we appreciate them.🎬SIGN UP for Parade's Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox🎬 '80s Metal Band Legend Stuns Concert Goers with Totally 'Off-Brand' Message Mid-Show first appeared on Parade on Jun 6, 2025 This story was originally reported by Parade on Jun 6, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
15 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Heavy Metal Legend, 61, Stops Mid-Show to Honor Sick Young Fan: 'This Is Incredible'
Heavy Metal Legend, 61, Stops Mid-Show to Honor Sick Young Fan: 'This Is Incredible' originally appeared on Parade. Music means a lot to so many. Artists have connected with fans all around the world in loads of different ways. Whether you're listening to a favorite artist because you love their music, or going to a concert of a musician who has helped you through dark times, music is a great comfort. It's especially nice when our favorite musicians understand this and give back. Someone who has shown their very vocal appreciation for their fans is James Hetfield of Metallica. On Metallica's current tour, there have been countless instances of the singer praising the audience and fans who have been at every single show. It's clear that the metal community the band has built is a very tight knit group. At a recent concert, Hetfield gave a very sweet shoutout to one special fan in particular in the audience. Could he possibly be any kinder? He's truly a gem-of-a-human. Fans were incredibly touched by the display, leaving loads of support in the comments for Alex, his family, and the band as a whole. "One of the best moments of the show full of great moments." "I remember that. At our hotel, I ran into another fan who survived a brain tumor and said he wanted to see Metallica and that's why he's in town. They're more than just a band, they save so many people and give us hope." "This is incredible." We're all lucky to have a band like Metallica supporting so many of the fans who have given them the platform they have today. Here's to more life changing moments.🎬SIGN UP for Parade's Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox🎬 Heavy Metal Legend, 61, Stops Mid-Show to Honor Sick Young Fan: 'This Is Incredible' first appeared on Parade on Jun 18, 2025 This story was originally reported by Parade on Jun 18, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
15 minutes ago
- Yahoo
James Hetfield says that Mama Said was never meant to be a Metallica song
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Mama Said, one of the defining singles from Metallica's 1996 album Load, wasn't originally intended to be released by the band. This has been revealed by a 1996 interview with singer/guitarist James Hetfield, which was this week unearthed and uploaded to YouTube by the channel 'TMF – The Music Factory'. During the conversation, Hetfield, who wrote the song and exclusively plays acoustic guitar throughout its run-time, compares Mama Said's creation with that of 1991 megahit Nothing Else Matters, which started as an intimate track no one else was ever intended to hear. '[Mama Said] was myself writing something for me: just out on the road, being bored, being in your hotel room,' the frontman says. 'It wasn't really for others to hear. It was some real personal stuff.' Hetfield adds that, somehow, his bandmates overheard him playing the song and saw potential in it. 'They saw something there, something real from deep inside,' he continues. 'It was pretty heavy, meaning-wise. So, we worked on it and turned it into a Metallica song. It wasn't originally supposed to be one.' One of Hetfield's most lyrically vulnerable songs, Mama Said is about the musician's complicated relationship with his mother, who was a Christian Scientist that died of cancer in February 1980, when her son was 16 years old. The track hints at discord between the two ('Let my heart go, let your son grow'), but Hetfield also laments his lack of gratitude for his mother while she was alive ('I took your love for granted, all the things you said to me'). Load came out on June 4, 1996, and Mama Said received a single release on November 25. The song charted well in Europe, reaching number one on the UK Rock & Metal chart and 19 on the UK Singles chart. Despite that success, Metallica have never played Mama Said live as a unit, with its only known performances being two solo acoustic renditions by Hetfield in November 1996, one for UK TV show Later With Jools Holland and the other for Swedish programme Sverige-Sovjet. On Friday (June 13), Metallica reissued Load across a series of titanic boxsets, offering almost 300 tracks from around that era, including many previously unheard demos, edits and live versions. The album was remastered by Reuben Cohen. Earlier this year, lead guitarist Kirk Hammett expressed an openness to revisit Load's bluesier sound on future Metallica albums.
