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Bernheim Barrel Proof Wheat Whiskey Review

Is wheat whiskey always mellow and sweet? This Bernheim Original review reveals surprising complexity with pipe smoke, cherry cobbler, and a resurgent finish that defies expectations.

OVERALL RATING

7
$60
  • Charles Steele is an attorney and whiskey enthusiast with a penchant for the peculiar.
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Tasting Notes

About:

Heaven Hill Bernheim Original Kentucky Straight Whiskey holds a special place in this whiskey company’s more extensive portfolio. Produced at the originally named Bernheim Distillery in Louisville, it is meant to have a mellow taste, courtesy of its mash bill of 51% wheat, 37% corn, and 12% malted barley. This, Heaven Hill feels, makes it excellent for either sipping or using as a cocktail base.

Alongside the 7-year-old Bernheim Original Heaven Hill, in taking a part of its playbook from some of its other flagship whiskeys, also offers up a more limited edition variant that’s bottled at barrel strength.

For the whiskey enthusiasts out there, batch number C925 follows a naming convention in which the letter in the batch number indicates which of that year’s releases the bottle was a part of, followed by the month (second character) and the year (last two characters).
Appearance:
Deep Copper.
Nose:
strong punchy nose. White peppercorn mixed with cinnamon, soft oak, and dark sugars. It has rich malt notes which are sweet yet uncomplicated.
Palate:
Pop of pipe smoke, cherry cobbler, oak, malt, wheat crenels and earth tones of black tea, drive smoke orange peel.
Finish:
It has a dry oily mouthfeel, resurgent finish goes away only to come back with lingering bitter oak and tea.
Comments:
This is generally curated as a malty and warm expression. Wheat whiskey is often considered to be very mellow and sweet. This one, to me, had a lot of fun flavors which stay true to the classic wheat whiskey expectation. It is full bodied with a lot of bite throughout. This is a great whiskey to put over ice, sit with a nice glass, or just enjoy at the end of a long day.

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.

Charles Steele

Charles Steele, a Portland-based attorney, is a native of the Pacific Northwest. His legal background provides him with an analytical approach to understanding whiskey and other aged spirits. Primarily a legal writer, freelancing for The Whiskey Wash offers Charles a unique opportunity to showcase his versatility as a writer. Although his preference lies with whiskey and whiskey-based cocktails, he has a profound appreciation for all unique and unconventional liquors, from Malört to Ojen - if it's peculiar, he's intrigued.

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