Old Louisville 8 Year Wheated Bourbon 750ML

Old Louisville 8 Year Wheated Bourbon 750ML is a barrel-proof Kentucky straight bourbon aged eight years, bottled at 124.8 proof (62.4% ABV) in a 750ml bottle. What sets this expression apart is its unusually wheat-heavy mashbill — 45% wheat — paired with full cask strength and an eight-year maturation period, a combination rarely found in the wheated bourbon category.

Quick Facts: ABV: 62.4% (124.8 proof)  |  Origin: Louisville, Kentucky  |  Age: 8 Years  |  Bottler: Old Louisville Whiskey Co.

Production & Heritage

Old Louisville Whiskey Co. operates out of Louisville, Kentucky — the historic heart of American bourbon production. This wheated bourbon uses a mashbill of 51% corn, 45% wheat, and 4% malted barley, swapping the rye grain found in most traditional bourbon recipes for a dominant wheat component. The liquid is aged a minimum of eight years in new charred American oak barrels and bottled without proofing down, preserving every ounce of barrel-strength character that developed during its time in the rickhouse. The result is a whiskey that marries the soft, pillowy sweetness associated with wheated bourbons to substantial proof-driven intensity.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Caramel and toasted marshmallow lead the nose, followed by almond, dark cherry, and a thread of black pepper. The high proof delivers noticeable ethanol warmth, but underneath it the wheat sweetness comes through clearly.

Taste: The palate entry is rich and viscous, coating the tongue with dark honey, butterscotch, and stewed red fruit. At mid-palate, the wheat influence becomes apparent — a rounded, pillowy sweetness that distinguishes this from rye-heavy bourbons. Oak tannins build gradually alongside baking spice, toasted almond, and a pulse of black pepper heat that reflects the 124.8 proof.

Finish: Long and warming, trailing off with lingering caramel, dried fruit, and a gentle char bitterness that keeps the sweetness balanced. The heat is noticeable but well-integrated, slowly fading into toasted grain and vanilla.

How to Drink Old Louisville 8 Year

At 124.8 proof, this bourbon rewards a slow approach — pour it neat and let it sit for a few minutes, then add water in small increments to unlock layers beneath the proof. A few drops of water open up the butterscotch and dark fruit notes considerably. For cocktails, the barrel-proof muscle holds its own in spirit-forward builds:

• Old Fashioned: The rich caramel and dark fruit notes stand up beautifully to bitters and a sugar cube without getting lost.
• Wheated Boulevardier: The soft wheat sweetness provides a rounder, more dessert-like counterpoint to Campari's bitterness compared to a rye-based bourbon.
• Kentucky Mule: The high proof cuts through ginger beer with authority, and the underlying honey sweetness keeps the drink balanced.

Best For

• Bourbon enthusiasts exploring barrel-proof wheated expressions beyond the allocated market
• Side-by-side tastings comparing wheated versus traditional rye-recipe bourbons
• Gifting a serious whiskey drinker who values age statements and cask strength
• Building high-proof Old Fashioneds with a softer, wheat-forward profile

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Old Louisville 8 Year taste like? It delivers a rich, viscous palate of dark honey, butterscotch, and stewed red fruit, supported by toasted almond, baking spice, and black pepper. The wheat-dominant mashbill gives it a softer, rounder sweetness than rye-recipe bourbons, while the 124.8 proof ensures substantial depth and warmth.

How does Old Louisville 8 Year compare to Maker's Mark Cask Strength? Both are Kentucky wheated bourbons bottled at barrel strength, but Old Louisville carries an eight-year age statement and sits at 124.8 proof, while Maker's Mark Cask Strength is a no-age-statement product typically ranging from 108 to 114 proof. The higher proof and longer stated aging in the Old Louisville generally translate to more pronounced oak influence, deeper caramel tones, and greater intensity on the palate.

Is Old Louisville 8 Year good for sipping neat? Yes, though patience is key — the 124.8 proof delivers significant heat on the initial pour, but a few minutes of rest and a splash of water reveal complex layers of caramel, dark fruit, and baking spice that reward slow sipping.

Where is Old Louisville 8 Year made? It is distilled in Kentucky and bottled by Old Louisville Whiskey Co. in Louisville, Kentucky, the state most synonymous with bourbon production in the United States.

What foods pair well with Old Louisville 8 Year? Smoked brisket or pulled pork complement the bourbon's char and caramel sweetness. Dark chocolate with at least 70% cacao mirrors the baking spice notes. Pecan pie echoes the toasted nut and butterscotch character. Aged cheddar or Gouda provides a savory counterbalance to the wheat-driven sweetness. Crème brûlée pairs naturally with the caramelized sugar and vanilla on the finish.

What sizes does Old Louisville 8 Year come in? The standard release is available in 750ml bottles.

Is Old Louisville 8 Year worth the price? It positions as a premium barrel-proof bourbon with an eight-year age statement and a distinctive 45% wheat mashbill — a combination that places it in competitive territory with well-known allocated wheated bourbons, often at a more accessible price tier than its sought-after counterparts.

Why Old Louisville 8 Year?

The intersection of a 45% wheat mashbill, eight years of oak maturation, and full barrel-proof bottling at 124.8 proof is genuinely uncommon in the current bourbon landscape. Most widely available wheated bourbons are either proofed down significantly or lack a meaningful age statement — this expression commits to both. The high wheat proportion creates a softer, more dessert-like sweetness that the barrel strength then amplifies rather than overwhelms, producing a whiskey with real density and length. For drinkers who appreciate wheated bourbon but want the unfiltered intensity of cask strength with verified age behind it, this bottle fills a gap that few competitors occupy.