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Whiskey Review: Bernheim Original Kentucky Straight Wheat Whiskey

We review Bernheim Original Kentucky Straight Wheat Whiskey, a staple American wheat whiskey that's produced by Heaven Hill out of Kentucky.

OVERALL RATING

7
$30.00
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Bernheim Original Kentucky Straight Wheat Whiskey

Tasting Notes

About:

Bernheim is aged 7 years, bottled in batches of 100 or less. It retails for around $30 per bottle. It’s 45% ABV, 90 proof. The mash bill is 51% wheat, and the other 49% is a mix of corn and malted barley.
Appearance:
Bright golden, blonde and amber hues, with slick legs and an oily texture. It’s thin and graceful, delicate but holds itself.
Nose:
This expression is super mild on the nose, light notes of honeysuckle, grass, buttery toast, pancakes with syrup and vanilla whipped cream. Slight notes of oak and warm bread emerge as it opens up over time. It’s really straightforward, precise and airy. Bernheim is the exact opposite of a slap in the face – like a graceful waltz for the senses.
Palate:
Like with other wheat whiskies, the mouthfeel is light and oily, but not sticky. The flavor is delicately sweet, with notes of sweet cinnamon roll and salted popcorn. Toffee, green grass and orange peel all melt together to form a complete picture. A few tannic notes on the finish, and lingers with notes of allspice, charred oak and sweet honey. The flavors are all subtle, it’s a nice change from in your face, bold and aged flavors. In a landscape where others are using extravagant and innovative techniques to stand out, Bernheim keeps it uncomplicated, standing out because of its simplicity.
Finish:
Comments:
Bernheim is a nice change from in-your-face bold expressions. I think a whiskey can still be delicate without being plain, but it just barely misses the mark. The light flavors were nice, but too simple and lacking nuance. I liked that it was easy to drink and I enjoyed it the most with some plain seltzer water and a twist of lemon.

Editor’s Note: This whiskey was either bought as a sample by The Whiskey Wash or provided to us as a review sample by the party behind it. Per our editorial policies, this in no way influenced the outcome of this review.

Shauna McKnight

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