The collection explores how climate impacts bourbon’s final flavor during aging, with Gray Wolf set to be available exclusively through the Milam & Greene website and for in-person pickup at their distillery tasting room starting March 26, 2025.
“The Wildlife Collection is more than just an incredible collectors’ bourbon, it is also an opportunity for us to test how climate impacts the aging of whiskey,” says Heather Greene, Milam & Greene Whiskey master blender and CEO.
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Greene explains that the barrels experience natural airflow in their rickhouses, allowing Texas weather to influence the whiskey. “The Gray Wolf barrels spent roughly half their time aging in Kentucky, and the other half in Texas,” she notes.
Climate’s Impact on Flavor
The extreme weather patterns experienced in Texas Hill Country over the past three years played a significant role in the whiskey’s development, according to Greene.
“The climatic whipsaw over the last three years in Hill Country with some of the coldest cold we’ve ever experienced, along with extreme drought and long periods of intense 100+ degree heat had a tremendous effect on the rate of maturation and the final flavors that you just won’t get in other locations,” she adds.
This release is named after the gray wolf, the largest species of the wolf family that historically inhabited the land where the distillery now stands in Blanco, Texas. The timing of the release coincides with the spring birth season of gray wolf pups.
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Milam & Greene Gray Wolf Straight Bourbon Wildlife Collection 2025
Barreled in May 2018, the whiskey aged for nearly four years in Owensboro, Kentucky before being transported to Texas. The bourbon then continued aging for an additional three years on the north side of Milam & Greene Rickhouse 2.
Bottled on March 14, 2025, at 125.5 proof (62.75% ABV), the bourbon completed a total aging process of six years, nine months, and 25 days.
The distillery describes Gray Wolf as a bold bourbon with a mahogany appearance and rich aromas of maple, coffee cake, creamed corn, fresh mint, and baking spices. The full-bodied whiskey features butterscotch, black tea, dill, fresh herbs, and peppercorn flavors, balanced with oak.
With only 284 cask-strength bottles available at $149.99 each, this release is expected to sell out quickly. A portion of each bottle’s proceeds will benefit the Texas Parks & Wildlife Foundation.
