Pappy Van Winkle is one of the most sought-after bourbons in the world. Collectors line up for the chance to buy a bottle, and prices on the secondary market often reach thousands of dollars. As such, most drinkers struggle to find or afford a bottle at retail.
The good news is that you do not need Pappy to enjoy a similar experience. Wheated bourbons share its signature smoothness and sweet, rounded flavor. Here are five whiskeys under $200 that echo Pappy’s appeal.
Wyoming Whiskey Small Batch
Wyoming Whiskey Small Batch was created with input from Steve Nally, the former master distiller at Maker’s Mark. It uses a mash bill of 68% corn, 20% wheat, and 12% malted barley. The bourbon is aged for at least five years in new charred oak and bottled at 88 proof. The retail price is about $45.
The wheat gives it a smooth, sweet character with caramel, vanilla, and dried fruit notes. It shares the soft style that makes Pappy Van Winkle famous. What sets it apart is its Wyoming origin. Local grains, limestone water, and high plains aging give it a unique regional twist.
Maker’s Mark Cask Strength
Maker’s Mark is one of the best-known wheated bourbons. The Cask Strength edition takes the familiar recipe of corn, red winter wheat, and malted barley and bottles it straight from the barrel. It usually comes in around 108 to 114 proof. Expect a price of about $55.
The wheated mash bill gives it a soft, rounded sweetness that recalls Pappy Van Winkle. Think caramel, vanilla, and honey balanced by warm oak. What sets it apart is the bold intensity. The higher proof delivers extra spice and heat. It is an accessible way to taste a Pappy-like profile.
Weller 12 Year Old
W.L. Weller 12 Year Old is made at Buffalo Trace using the same wheated recipe as Pappy Van Winkle. The mash bill combines corn, wheat, and malted barley. It is aged for 12 years in new charred oak barrels and bottled at 90 proof. The suggested retail price is around $70.
The long aging gives this bourbon a velvety mouthfeel and flavors of caramel, vanilla, and dark chocolate. It is often called a “baby Pappy” because of its close ties to the Van Winkle line. What sets it apart is its softer style. It is smooth, approachable, and an excellent daily sipper.
Garrison Brothers Small Batch Bourbon
Garrison Brothers was the first legal bourbon distillery in Texas. The Small Batch expression uses a mash bill of 74% Texas corn, 15% wheat, and 11% malted barley. It is aged for about three to four years in new American oak and bottled at 94 proof. Expect to pay around $75 to $80.
The wheat adds a soft sweetness that recalls Pappy Van Winkle, with notes of vanilla, honey, and chocolate. The Texas climate makes a huge difference here. The hot weather speeds up aging, giving the bourbon bold oak, leather, and spice. It is a wheated bourbon with real Texas character.
Larceny Barrel Proof
Larceny Barrel Proof comes from Heaven Hill and uses the same wheated mash bill as Old Fitzgerald. That recipe is 68% corn, 20% wheat, and 12% malted barley. The bourbon is aged between six and eight years. Each batch is bottled without dilution or filtration at around 120 proof. The retail price is usually about $65.
This bourbon is rich and bold, yet softened by wheat. Flavors of caramel, maple, and baking spices create a profile that many compare to Pappy Van Winkle. What makes it stand out is the uncut strength. It is sweet, smooth, and powerful all at once.
Pappy Van Winkle Alternatives
Do you have any go-to Pappy Van Winkle alternatives? Share them in the comments below.
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