Ben Holladay Rickhouse Proof Soft Red Wheat 750ML

Ben Holladay Rickhouse Proof Soft Red Wheat 750ML is a barrel-strength wheated bourbon bottled at 119.9 proof (59.95% ABV) from Missouri's Holladay Distillery. This expression earned Double Platinum at the ASCOT Awards and Silver at the World Whiskies Awards, distinguishing itself as one of the more compelling barrel-proof wheated bourbons produced outside of Kentucky.

Quick Facts: ABV: 59.95% (119.9 proof)  |  Origin: Weston, Missouri  |  Minimum 6 Years Old  |  Distillery: Holladay Distillery

Production & Heritage

Holladay Distillery sits in Weston, Missouri, roughly 45 minutes north of Kansas City, and stands as one of the oldest distilling operations west of the Mississippi. The Rickhouse Proof Soft Red Wheat expression uses a mashbill of 73% corn, 15% soft red wheat, and 12% malted barley, distilled on an 18-inch diameter Vendome column still at 120 proof and entered into barrels at 118 proof. After a minimum of six years of aging, each batch is tasted and blended at the exact proof yielded from the rickhouse barrels — meaning no water is added to reduce proof, and no two releases are identical. This "rickhouse proof" approach delivers the bourbon in its most unaltered state, preserving every nuance the barrel imparted during maturation.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with sweet caramel and banana nut bread before shifting to cereal grain, maple, and ripe stone fruit — peach and plum prominently. A backdrop of barrel char and light tobacco adds structure beneath the sweeter top notes.

Taste: On entry, stewed cherries and prune develop quickly alongside molasses and dark caramel. The mid-palate introduces cranberry and apple alongside herbal graininess, with buttered cracker and honey cereal notes providing a wheated softness unusual at this proof. Leather and hibiscus emerge toward the peak, giving the palate an earthy, floral complexity.

Finish: The finish is long and warming, with barrel char, dried fruit, and lingering tobacco. A dandelion-like bitterness keeps the sweetness in check, leaving a dry, satisfying close that invites the next sip.

How to Drink Rickhouse Proof Soft Red Wheat

At nearly 120 proof, a splash of water or a single large ice cube opens the aromatics considerably without diminishing intensity — though experienced barrel-proof drinkers will find it rewarding neat. For cocktails, the high proof and wheated sweetness make it a powerful mixing bourbon. An Old Fashioned benefits from the natural caramel and fruit depth, requiring minimal sweetener. A Boulevardier gains structure from the barrel char and leather notes, standing up to Campari's bitterness. A Gold Rush with honey syrup and lemon amplifies the cereal and banana bread qualities while the proof cuts cleanly through dilution.

Best For

• Bourbon collectors seeking barrel-proof wheated expressions outside the Kentucky mainstream
• Gifting a whiskey enthusiast who appreciates single-batch, uncut releases
• Side-by-side tastings comparing wheated bourbon profiles at cask strength
• After-dinner sipping sessions where intensity and complexity are welcome

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Rickhouse Proof Soft Red Wheat taste like? It delivers a rich, fruit-forward bourbon experience dominated by stewed cherries, caramel, and molasses, layered with herbal grain, barrel char, and a distinctive banana nut bread sweetness from the soft red wheat mashbill.

How does Rickhouse Proof Soft Red Wheat compare to Maker's Mark? Both are wheated bourbons, but Rickhouse Proof is bottled at barrel strength (119.9 proof versus Maker's Mark's standard 90 proof), resulting in significantly more intensity and barrel influence. Tasters note the Ben Holladay expression leans toward apple and darker fruit, while Maker's Mark tends toward cherry and vanilla at a softer, more approachable proof point.

Is Rickhouse Proof Soft Red Wheat good for sipping neat? Yes, though its 119.9 proof demands respect — experienced barrel-proof drinkers will enjoy the uncut intensity, while others may want a few drops of water to tame the heat and let the fruit and grain notes fully expand.

Where is Rickhouse Proof Soft Red Wheat made? It is produced at Holladay Distillery in Weston, Missouri, located approximately 45 minutes north of Kansas City, one of the oldest continuously operating distillery sites west of the Mississippi River.

What foods pair well with Rickhouse Proof Soft Red Wheat? Smoked brisket complements the barrel char and leather notes. Pecan pie mirrors the caramel and nutty grain character. Dark chocolate truffles echo the molasses depth. Aged cheddar provides a sharp contrast to the bourbon's sweetness. Grilled stone fruit like peaches ties directly into the nose's prominent fruit notes.

What sizes does Rickhouse Proof Soft Red Wheat come in? The standard release is available in 750ml bottles.

Is Rickhouse Proof Soft Red Wheat worth the price? It positions as a premium barrel-proof bourbon offering genuine batch variation and a minimum six-year age statement — competitive value within the barrel-strength wheated bourbon category, especially given its Double Platinum ASCOT Award recognition and the relative scarcity of Missouri-distilled bourbon at this quality level.

Why Rickhouse Proof Soft Red Wheat?

The defining feature here is authenticity of proof — each batch is bottled at whatever strength the barrels yield after at least six years of aging, with no water added and no target proof to hit. That means genuine batch-to-batch variation, which is increasingly rare in a bourbon market dominated by consistency-driven production. The Double Platinum ASCOT Award and World Whiskies Awards Silver medal confirm this isn't just a novelty; it's a critically recognized expression. For drinkers looking beyond Kentucky's borders for serious barrel-proof wheated bourbon with real provenance, Holladay Distillery's Rickhouse Proof delivers a convincing argument from the banks of the Missouri River.