Blue Note Wheated Bourbon Review

 

Blue Note has been making waves in the Wonderful World of Whiskey. Founded in 2013, B.R. Distilling Company is the oldest legal distillery in Memphis, Tennessee, and has two flagship brands:  Blue Note and Riverset Rye. B.R. Distilling changed ownership in 2017 and aggressively marketed its whiskeys.

 

B.R. Distilling Company looks to Bardstown Bourbon Company to handle the distillation of its Rye whiskeys and Green River Distilling Co. for its Bourbons. They then transport the barrels to Memphis, Tennessee, where those whiskeys mature in the humidity and heat.

 

And now, B.R. Distilling introduces its first Wheated Bourbon.

 

“Wheated Bourbon has always offered a softer, rounder expression of the grain, and with this blend we set out to highlight that character at its most vibrant. By carefully selecting barrels that balance creamy sweetness with developing spice and oak, we created a bourbon that shows both the approachability of youth and the depth that thoughtful blending can unlock. The result is a whiskey that’s rich, layered, and unmistakably wheated—designed to showcase just how expressive this style can be.” – Harris Smith, Assistant Production Manager, B.R. Distilling Company

 

Distilled from Green River’s classic wheated mashbill of 70% corn, 21% winter wheat, and 9%, it carries no age statement. Incidentally, one of my favorite things about Green River is that it offers delicious, high-quality whiskeys at lower-than-average prices. B.R. Distilling Company passes those qualities to consumers, which is greatly appreciated, and I give them kudos for not profiteering by unnecessarily jacking up prices.

 

After resting in new, 53-gallon charred oak barrels, this wheater is packaged unfiltered at 50.1% ABV (101°). You can expect to pay around $45.00 for 750mL. Blue Note Wheated Bourbon is available in AL, AR, CO, CT, DE, FL, GA, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, MS, MO, NY, NJ, OK, RI, SC, TN, TX, DC, and WI retailers as well as its online store.

 

But, should you rush out and buy one? Let’s #DrinkCurious first and judge afterward. Thankfully, Blue Note provided me with a sample of Wheated Bourbon in exchange for my no-strings-attached, honest review.

 

• Whiskey Type: Straight Bourbon
• Distiller: Green River Distilling Co.
• Age: NAS
• Mashbill: 70% corn, 21% winter wheat, and 9% barley
• Cooperage: New, 53-gallon charred oak barrels
• Alcohol Content: 50.5% ABV (101°)
• Price per 750mL: $44.99
• Unfiltered

 

Appearance: I used a Glencairn glass to explore Blue Note Wheated Bourbon neat. The color presented as that of raw honey, and a thin rim produced thick, fast, crazed tears.

 

Nose: I allowed the Bourbon to breathe for about 15 minutes before I started nosing it. I found smells of peaches and apricots, along with cinnamon, nutmeg, charred oak, and vanilla. I drew the vapor into my mouth, revealing a taste of golden raisins and dried apricots.

 

Palate: With the first sip, I encountered a thin, silky texture. While there was some buzzing on the tip of my tongue, there wasn’t anything I could describe as a palate shock. The first flavors included honey, toffee, and vanilla. The mid-palate offered cinnamon, apricots, and stewed peaches, while the back included oak tannins, clove, and toasted hazelnuts.

 

Finish: Oak spice, older leather, clove, toasted hazelnuts, and stewed peaches remained in my mouth and throat well after the swallow. It was dry, with a gentle ramp-up as the spice notes built on one another. Then, everything began to fall off at 2:07, and it faded entirely at 2:39, resulting in a very long duration.

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: Wheaters are known to be sweeter Bourbons, so you can imagine my surprise when I discovered the spice notes, particularly on the finish. I’ve had several from Green River and haven’t found one quite like Blue Note Wheated, and that’s okay.

 

Blue Note Wheated Bourbon has character and won’t get lost while you sip it; it can certainly hold its own as a base for a cocktail. I was impressed by how the dry, spicy notes hung on through the finish. It drank right at its stated proof, which, in my opinion, is Bourbon’s sweet spot. It even had my head a bit swimmy once I polished off my pour.

 

Blue Note Wheated Bourbon is tasty and affordable, and like most things out of Green River, won’t disappoint. It has earned my Bottle rating, and I believe you’ll agree it is worth picking up. 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 to do so responsibly.