Review of "Wheandigo" Lone Elm Wheat Whiskey

 

One of the things I enjoy doing is reviewing someone’s barrel pick. This request comes more often than you’d think. Sometimes, the request is to not publish it beyond a club’s or group’s members. Others are private barrel store picks.

 

In my eyes and mind, a whiskey review is a whiskey review. They’re all held to the same standard, regardless of the whiskey or who provides me the sample. I rate them as I taste them. It is all part of the no-strings-attached, honest review process.  

 

Niemuth’s Southside Market of Appleton, Wisconsin, has invited me to review its single-barrel Lone Elm Wheat Whiskey, named Wheandigo. Lone Elm comes from Five Points Distilling in Forney, Texas. Wheandigo is the first Lone Elm pick for Wisconsin. It is 4 years, 9 months, and 28 days old, weighs in at 59.25% ABV (118.5°), and is priced at $63.99 for a 750ml bottle.

 

If you are left scratching your head, wondering why a sub-five-year whiskey is a big deal, there are two things to consider: The first is that this whiskey rested in 30-gallon, new, #3-charred oak barrels. Smaller barrels lead to shorter aging times. The second is it was distilled and matured in Texas.

 

“The Texas weather is another factor that plays a key role in our Whiskey’s maturation. Our Whiskey matures quicker than in traditional whiskey-producing regions due to the wide temperature swings that are a common feature of our Texas climate.” – Five Points Distilling

 

On a side note, Niemuth’s is re-using the barrel to down-proof a 27-year-old Canadian whisky that aged in a former Pappy Van Winkle barrel.

 

Before I get to the tasting notes and rating, I must thank Niemuth’s for sending me a sample. Now, let’s #DrinkCurious.

 

Appearance: I poured this wheat whiskey into my Glencairn glass and sipped it neat. I observed a deep, dark, mahogany-colored liquid. A thin rim shed tiny droplets that crawled down the wall.

 

Nose: I’ve been smelling this whiskey for the last ten or so minutes while I’ve penned the introduction and allowed it to oxidize. It was fragrant and fruity with cherry, strawberry, raspberry, and banana. What I didn’t find were wood notes. That surprised me as most whiskeys possess it, and small-barrel ones even more so. A cherry vanilla flavor filled my mouth when I pulled the air through my lips.

 

Palate: I was introduced to a thin, oily, Texas-hot mouthfeel. The front tasted of cherry cola and cocoa powder, while the middle offered leather, tobacco, and marshmallow. The back provided bold, charred oak, dark chocolate, and graham crackers. With all the oak notes, I was slightly confused why it never showed up on the nose.

 

Finish: Oak tannins, dark chocolate, old leather, and tobacco leaf formed a long-lasting, warm finish.

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: In case you’re wondering, yes, this wheat whiskey had a S’mores quality. There was no gooeyness to it, but the flavors were there. I failed to discover any telltale signs of smaller cooperage being used, which was also unexpected. That’s money in the bank right there, which shoves Wheandigo forward from a Bar to a Bottle rating. Cheers!

 

My Simple, Easy-to-Understand Rating System

• Bottle = Buy It
• Bar = Try It
• Bust = Leave It

 

Whiskeyfellow encourages you to enjoy your whiskey as you see fit but begs you do so responsibly.