Heaven Hill Grain to Glass Kentucky Straight Wheated Bourbon Whiskey
Style: Wheated Bourbon
Producer: Heaven Hill
Origin: Louisville, KY USA
ABV: 121 Proof (60.5% ABV)
Mashbill: 52% corn, 35% wheat, 13% malted barley
Age: Six Years (No Age Statement on bottle)
MSRP: $100
Availability: Nationally, but limited allocation
Reviewed By: Susan Reigler
The new Grain to Glass series of whiskeys from Heaven Hill was the brainchild of Executive Chairman Max Shapira. More than eight years ago he approached Indiana seed company Beck’s Hybrids to develop a corn varietal that would grow especially well in Central Kentucky’s climate. The result, Beck’s 6158 is used in this year’s release of a Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (52% corn, 35% rye, 13% malted barley), a Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey (63% rye, 24% corn, 13% malted barley), as well as this wheated expression.
Shapira (right) very much liked the idea that Beck’s, like Heaven Hill, was a family owned and run company. But he didn’t stop there. Shapira, son of one of the distillery’s founders and father and father-in-law of the current company co-presidents, also sought out multi-generational Peterson Farms. The farmers planted and now tend two fields of the hybrid corn in Nelson County, one of which is nestled along the roadside across from the Heaven Hill Bardstown warehouses.
Interestingly, the mash bills for the new whiskeys differ from Heaven Hill’s other grain recipes, which are 78%corn, 10% rye, and 12% malted barley for its bourbon, 68% corn, 20% wheat, and 12% malted barley for the wheated expressions, and 51% rye, 35% corn, and 12% malted barley for its ryes. Each future annual release of the Grain to Glass series will be made with a different corn hybrid developed by Beck’s, which could create some interesting vertical tastings.
What They Say
• VinePair: 90/100
• Robb Report: 87/100
• Bourbon Banter: Bottle (Ranked by Bottle, Bar, or Bust)
What We Say
Color: Beautiful deep amber with bronze highlights.
Nose: Lively citrus aroma of freshly peeled Mandarin orange along with sugar-coated almonds, some very light savory spice, and a whiff of sweet oak.
Palate: Warmed wheat thins with some vanilla wafer, light sorghum, and a touch of orange marmalade. These notes are supported by some light new leather, and a suggestion of milk chocolate.
Finish: Long and warm. The oak is the winner here, accompanied by some black pepper and some darkened sorghum has darkened.
A very worthy addition to the Heaven Hill portfolio. Water smooths out some of the alcohol in the proof and also heightens the citrus and vanilla.
The malted rye does some very interesting things to the balance, contributing softer spices than simply a higher rye proportion would bring. Allow this to sit in the glass for a few minutes to reveal all of its flavors. A drop or two of water helps along the apple, too.
Rating: Four Stars
★★★★☆
★ Not Recommended
★★ Recommended
★★★ Highly recommended
★★★★ Excellent
★★★★★ Ethereal
Former restaurant critic and beverage columnist for the Louisville Courier-Journal, Susan is bourbon columnist for Food & Dining and Covey Rise magazines and also writes for Bourbon+, LEO Weekly, and American Whiskey (tasting notes and ratings). Susan has authored or co-authored six books including Kentucky Bourbon Country: The Essential Travel Guide, The Kentucky Bourbon Cocktail Book, The Bourbon Tasting Notebook, and The American Whiskey Tasting Notebook, and Which Fork Do I Use with My Bourbon? – Setting the Table for Tastings, Food Pairings, Dinner, and Cocktail Parties. Susan is a member of the Order of the Writ, former president of both the Bourbon Women Association and the Kentucky chapter of Les Dames d’Escoffier International, an organization of women culinary professionals.
