Distillery: Wyoming Whiskey—Kirby, WY
Proof: 97.0 (48.5% ABV)
Age: Six Years
Mashbill: 68% Wheat, 20% Corn, 12% Malted Barley
MSRP: $80
Don’t Let the Proof and Theatrical Name Fool You—There’s a lot Here
When most people think of Wyoming, whiskey probably isn’t the first thing that comes to mind. But Wyoming Whiskey continues to change that perception bottle by bottle since inception in 2012. With its wide temperature swings, high elevation, and commitment to grain-to-glass production, the distillery has built a strong reputation for craft transparency, climate-driven aging, all the while maintaining a distinctive Western identity.
Now comes their newly released Buffalo Bill Cody expression—a six-year-old wheated whiskey, bottled at 97 proof and crafted from a 68% wheat, 20% corn, and 12% malted barley mashbill. It’s leans fully into the smooth silky profile that wheat fans will recognize from Wyoming Whiskey.
Tied thematically Buffalo Bill Cody, the larger than life showman of the early American West, this whiskey is not about theatrics. While the proof is somewhat modest, let’s find out how it holds up in the glass…..
Wyoming Whiskey Buffalo Bill Cody Wheat Whiskey Review: Tasting Notes
Nose – 4.25/5
Leather. Cherry cake. Chocolate. Toffee. Honey almonds.
Strengths: The Nose is a clear standout. Rich with many layers creating significant complexity to the Nose. This is a Nose that you go back to many times during the sip.
Rating Justification: It’s a highly appealing Nose that will have you going back again and again during the sip. Complex. Stays firmly planted in the sweet/confectionary column. Lacks a high-end burst of spice or surprise element that would push it into Platinum territory.
Palate – 4/5
Lemon. Caramel. Honey. Milk chocolate. Almond.
Strengths: Creamy silky mouthfeel, in line with what you might expect for the high wheat content. The lemon notes give it a bit of bright lift and helps keep it becoming too heavy from the caramel and milk chocolate. Rich “confectionary” notes
Rating Justification: If you’re a wheat whiskey fan, this is a highly enjoyable and rich pour. Mid‑Palate sweetness clocks in strong. Some may find it leans a bit too much into its dessert-like qualities.
Finish – 3.8/5
Cherry. Molasses. Tobacco. Dry oak.
Strengths: Long and layered finish. The tobacco and oak notes play well with the fruit and ginger notes. The tobacco notes reinforce the concept of this being an aged whiskey.
Rating Justification: Well‑structured. The oak becomes dry and rather sharp near the end, pushing up against the sweetness. That edge of astringency doesn’t ruin the experience but does limit the “polish” to the Finish.
Value – 4/5
Strengths: At 6 years and 97 proof, it’s a well-aged wheated bourbon that avoids too much softness sometimes found in lower-proof wheat expressions. The depth on the Nose alone puts it ahead of many competitors in the wheated whiskey category.
Why It’s Not Higher: At $80, this release is priced above many wheated offerings, most of which hit similar or slightly higher sensory marks for lower price. It doesn’t deliver the kind of standout length or structure on the Finish that would place it in Platinum Value territory.
Rating Justification: For fans of wheated whiskey looking for something distinct from the major Kentucky houses, this offers a flavorful and well-crafted experience. It lands right where it should–paying a bit of a premium price point, but the Tasting Profile, transparency, and small-batch integrity serve to justify the price.
Wyoming Whiskey Buffalo Bill Cody Wheat Whiskey Review: The Verdict
Complex and mellow – Wyoming Whiskey Buffalo Bill Cody provides a confident Gold-tier expression. This six-year-old wheat whiskey, with an $80 MSRP, isn’t aiming for mass-market appeal—it’s targeting the wheat enthusiast who values craft transparency and refinement over raw power or gimmicks. It could benefit from a touch more spice to elevate the experience fully, however, this lands confidently in our Gold tier and is another in the increasingly long line of superb whiskeys from Wyoming Whiskey.
Verdict – 4/5
We score each bourbon based on nose, palate, finish, and value.
Scoring System:
- Platinum – 4.5 – 5
- Gold – 4 – 4.5
- Silver – 3 – 4
- Bronze – <3
Mike Long is a staff writer at Bourbon Inspector and has an Executive Bourbon Steward designation from the Stave and Thief Society. He’s a former “wine guy” who discovered his love for bourbon years back at a spur-of-the-moment bourbon tasting he attended. He also loves traveling throughout America with his wife of over 37 years, Debby.
