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Wheated Bourbon

(68 products)

Wheated bourbon swaps rye for wheat as the secondary grain in the mash bill, trading peppery spice for a softer, rounder, sweeter pour. It's the style behind Maker's Mark, Weller, Larceny, Old Fitzgerald, and the Van Winkle line.

Every bourbon starts with at least 51% corn. What fills the rest of the mash bill shapes the flavor. Most bourbons use rye, which brings black pepper, baking spice, and a drier finish. Wheated bourbons use soft winter wheat instead, which lets the corn's caramel and vanilla sweetness take the lead and gives the whiskey a creamier texture on the palate.

That gentleness makes wheaters a favorite for neat sipping and an easy entry point for newer bourbon drinkers. It also makes them some of the most chased bottles on the shelf: Weller, Pappy Van Winkle, and Old Fitzgerald Bottled in Bond are perennial allocated releases. For something easier to find, Maker's Mark, Larceny, and Rebel deliver the same soft profile every day, and craft distillers like Wilderness Trail, Castle & Key, and Green River have excellent wheated bottlings of their own.

Want more heat? Look for barrel proof wheaters like Larceny Barrel Proof or Maker's Mark Cask Strength. New to bourbon styles? Start with our complete bourbon guide.