10 Best Wheated Bourbons – My Top Picks For 2024

Ask anyone what the best wheated bourbon is, and you’ll run into a LOT of people who say the same thing:

Weller, Weller, and Weller.

While it’s great (I recommend it too!), you might be looking for more ideas. Maybe you want a good one that’s easier to find?

Well… you’ve come to the right place!

I’ve been reviewing bourbon professionally since 2020, and wheaters are easily my favorite type of whiskey.

I’ve tried pretty much all the best ones out there, and in this article, I’ll go over the 10 best wheated bourbons!

Let’s get right to it.

How We Rank These Bourbons

Okay…

Before I begin, let me just give you a quick rundown of how I came up with this ranking list.

Here at Bourbon Inspector, we use a taste + price = value formula.

I’m not gonna throw a bunch of $1,000 wheaters at you just because they taste the best. Instead, I’ll show you the ones I feel have the best value.

So It’s going to be a mix of cheap, mid-price, and rare bourbons – all of which I highly recommend getting your hands on!

The 10 Best Wheated Bourbons To Try in 2024

Here are my top 10 picks!

1. Larceny Barrel Proof
2. Maker’s Mark
3. Old Fitzgerald Bottled-In-Bond
4. Larceny Small Batch
5. Weller Special Reserve
6. Redemption Wheated Bourbon
7. Rebel Yell Single Barrel
8. 1792 Sweet Wheat
9. Garrison Brothers Small Batch
10. Weller Antique 107

Let’s take a closer look at each one!

Best Wheated Bourbons by Category

Best High-Proof Wheated Bourbons

1. Larceny Barrel Proof
2. Rebel Yell Single Barrel
3. Weller Antique 107

Best Budget Wheated Bourbons

1. Maker’s Mark
2. Larceny Small Batch
3. Redemption Wheated Bourbon
4. Weller Special Reserve

Best Tasting Wheated Bourbons

1. Old Fitzgerald Bottled-In-Bond
2. 1792 Sweet Wheat
3. Garrison Brothers Small Batch

The Best Wheated Bourbon Overall: Larceny Barrel Proof

MSRP: ~ $60
Proof: 110
Profile: Deep caramel

This is easily my top wheated bourbon based on value!

I love the deep caramel notes that persist throughout the nose, palate, and finish. The higher proof also gives just enough kick to make this one of my favorite bourbons of all time.

Aside from caramel, the nose also comes with touches of vanilla, brown sugar, light cinnamon, and some chocolate. You’d think it’d come off hot because of high proof, but it’s surprisingly pleasant.

The caramel notes carry over to the palate, and you also get hints of brown sugar, graham cracker, and maple syrup. There’s some spice mid-sip, but again, not as strong as you’d expect from the high proof.

Finally, the finish is medium-length, spicy, and super satisfying. You initially get notes of cinnamon, caramel, and maple syrup, before it’s rounded out with a touch of oak.

Larceny Barrel Proof is distilled in the iconic Heaven’s Hill Distillery – one of the best distilleries in America. The MSRP is set at $60, but you’re more likely to get this for around $80 – $100.

Not the cheapest wheater in the world. But it’s SUPER worth it!

The only downside is it can be hard to find and is often behind counters (but still not as hard to find as Weller!).

The Remaining Top 9 Wheated Bourbons

1. Maker’s Mark

MSRP: ~ $25
Proof: 90
Profile: Caramel and vanilla

If you’re looking for a cheaper and easier-to-access wheater, I highly recommend Maker’s Mark. With a $25 price tag, it makes for a great daily sipper.

This is by no means the best-tasting wheater on this list. But at 25 bucks, it’s hard to find something with better value.

Maker’s Mark has a lovely traditional bourbon nose. It’s sweet and rich, with notes of caramel, vanilla, and brown sugar.

The palate has an almost buttery mouthfeel to it. It’s sweet and flavorful (although not as strong as the nose), and it has nice notes of vanilla and oak.

If I had to improve one thing, it’d be the finish. It has pleasant hints of oak and toffee, but it’s not quite as sweet as the nose and palate. Still satisfying, but it does have a surprising spice to it.

Maker’s Mark is another iconic bourbon brand. I still prefer the deep caramel of Larceny Small Batch, but this is one of my favorite bourbons under $30.

Larceny also has a budget bottle, Larceny Small Batch. It’s slightly cheaper than Maker’s Mark and is just a fraction below its value. I’ll talk more about this bottle below, but first:

2. Old Fitzgerald Bottled In Bond

MSRP: ~ $110
Proof: 100
Profile: Balanced and refined

Old Fitzgerald is one of those hyped up bottles that has a loyal fanbase. Every spring and fall, they release a new batch, and it’s often gone before you even knew it was there!

If ever you luck out and find one, I’d highly recommend grabbing it. The MSRP is $110, but unless you grab one on release, you’ll end up paying around $200 (you’ll also find older bottles for much higher price tags).

As for the bourbon itself, it’s a very balanced and refined pour. The nose has notes of brown sugar, bread, cinnamon, and nutmeg.

For the palate, there’s no dominant flavor. Instead, you get hints of caramel, peaches, cream, and some peppery spice.

The peaches and spice also carry through to the finish, which is medium-length and super satisfying. It’s quite strong on the tongue too, which probably has to do with the higher proof of this pour.

Overall, Old Fitzgerald is a great wheater. I prefer the flavor and higher proof of this bottle, but it’s a tad too difficult to get for me to rank it higher.

3. Larceny Small Batch

MSRP: ~ $23
Proof: 92
Profile: Banana bread

If you’re looking for a wheater that’s solid neat, but also cheap enough that you won’t think twice before mixing it, this is your bottle!

It’s also just a hair behind Maker’s Mark as the best value wheater. It’s cheap, super easy to find, and versatile – an easy addition to this list.

The nose has orange and baked bread aromas, with a slight hint of cinnamon. The palate is a bit watered down, but you still get notes of honey, caramel, and some oak. The finish leaves you with cinnamon and oak.

Does it have the richest, most delightful flavors in the world?

Of course not.

But if you’re looking to grab bourbon on a whim, this is a great choice.

I prefer the traditional bourbon nose and buttery mouthfeel of Maker’s Mark, which is why I put this bottle behind even though it’s slightly cheaper.

4. Weller Special Reserve

MSRP: ~$30
Fair Price: ~$50
Proof: 90
Profile: Sweet and smooth

A “best wheated bourbons” list would NOT be complete without mentioning at least one Weller.

Weller is a hyped-up brand, but for good reason. Their bourbon is as classic as it gets – sweet, smooth, and everything you expect a bourbon to be.

The nose has soft notes of light caramel, vanilla, and honey. You get a nice, soft palate with hints of caramel, honey, and a tiny bit of spice. The finish is short but delicate, with notes of oak and caramel.

However, I feel this bottle gets a bit too much hype. Yes, it’s simple and classic, but it’s not easy to find a bottle because of the demand (and you’ll have to spend about $50 rather than the MSRP of $30).

I also feel that it’s ever so slightly worse than Maker’s Mark. Weller is much better tasting, but it’s hard to put it above Maker’s Mark due to price and availability.

That said, if you can get a bottle of Weller’s Special Reserve, go for it! You might just find it’s your favorite wheated bourbon (like so many others have).

I also only included the Weller Special Reserve and the Weller Antique 107 in this list. Even though most Weller bottles taste amazing, the others are just wayyy too expensive to add to this list.

5. Redemption Wheated Bourbon

MSRP: ~ $45
Proof: 96
Profile: Vanilla and caramel

Jump into any discussion about this bourbon, and you’re bound to find ALL kinds of opinions.

Some people love it, some people hate it. Some want to stock up on it, others are trying to return their bottles.

For bourbon lovers, Redemption is a bit of an outsider brand since it focuses on rye. I even find the Redemption Bourbon a bit too rye-forward for my liking.

But okay…

We’re talking about their special Wheated Bourbon, which doesn’t contain any rye in its mashbill (but a whole lotta wheat, 45% to be exact).

It has a wonderful no-burn nose, with notes of vanilla, oak, and grain. The palate starts slowly, has a light mouthfeel, and has hints of vanilla and marshmallows.

Finally, the finish is short and balanced, but a bit underwhelming for my tastes.

If you like Redemption for their rye, you probably won’t like this one. But if you enjoy sweeter and simpler bourbons, this is a nice, mid-price bottle to have around.

Redemption’s wheated bourbon is more rich than Maker’s Mark and Larceny Small Batch. But it also comes with a slightly higher price tag, which is why it’s down here.

6. Rebel Yell Single Barrel

MSRP: $60
Proof: 100
Profile: Fruity and floral

If you enjoy complex flavors, you’ll probably love this one! It’s a 10-year, single-barrel bottle with high-proof and a very interesting flavor profile.

The nose has a surprisingly fruity scent. You get the aroma of cherries, raspberries, and blueberries. Beyond this, you can also pick out an undertone of wheat.

The palate is where the complexity hits you. You get notes of orange zest, cinnamon, brown sugar, cherries, and a bunch of other flavors. It’s rich, robust, and comes with some hotness from the high proof.

For the finish, you get a nice dry oak flavor. There’s a tinge of bitterness in there, but nothing overpowering. The wheat flavor also comes out, giving this a very rich finish.

If you like simple and sweet bourbons, avoid this. But if you enjoy rich and complex flavors, this wheater will be right up your alley! If you can’t get your hands on Larceny Barrel Proof, this makes for a great alternative.

7. 1792 Sweet Wheat

MSRP: ~ $50
Proof: 91.2
Profile: Mild and mellow

As the name suggests, this is a wheater that stands out for its sweetness. It’s pretty much the opposite of Rebel Yell, where you get a simple and smooth pour rather than a complex one.

1792 Sweet Wheat was originally released in 2015. However, in 2023, they made some small changes to their recipe which does have a noticeable effect.

The nose has layers of caramel, candied nuts, and spicy oak. The palate is quite thin compared to the original version, but it’s still perfect for a sweet tooth with notes of vanilla, caramel, custard, and other sugary goods.

The finish is short and, once again, very sweet. There’s a tiny bit of spice in there, but it’s quickly replaced by sweetness.

Some people call this bottle basic, and I see where they’re coming from. But for those of you who enjoy simple bourbons, this wheater is a must-try.

Also, it’s worth nothing that even though the MSRP is $50, you’re more likely to get it at $100 – $200. It’s quite hard to find as welll!

8. Garrison Brothers Small Batch

MSRP: ~ $75
Proof: 94
Profile: Woody and smoky

Garrison Brothers is one of those smaller distilleries that has a very loyal customer base.

They’re the first distillery based in Texas, so they always advertise their products as “Made in Texas.” Smack a lone star on the bottles, and Garrison Brothers get away with pretty hefty price tags.

But hey… if you can put Texas in a bottle, I’d say this is exactly what it’d taste like.

Right from the nose, you get the feeling that this pour is going to be strong and assertive. The nose is robust, with notes of tobacco, raw sugar, and barrel char.

The palate is bold and intense. You get a rich combination of honey, leather, and cane sugary all coming together with notes of oak and pepper. The finish balances things out with some nice sweet flavors. You still get some leather and oak in there, but it’s slowly overtaken by notes of cinnamon.

It’s hard to justify $75 for this bottle. Yes, it tastes great. But it isn’t one of those rare whiskeys that send your palate to the heavens.

However, high-quality wheaters are getting quite rare to find nowadays. This is why despite its price tag, I’d say Garrison Brothers Small Batch is still one of the best wheated bourbons to try!

9. Weller Antique 107

MSRP: ~ $50
Proof: 107
Profile: Rich and flavorful

Last but not least, another Weller!

Like all Wellers, the Antique 107 isn’t super easy to get your hands on. It has an MSRP of $50, but you’re more likely to get it at $80 – $200.

I slightly prefer this bottle over the Weller Special Reserve. But in terms of value, the retail price of this one is a bit too high.

The nose is quite complex. It has a spicy cinnamon roll aroma, with notes of oak, caramel, cinnamon, vanilla, and a hint of dark fruit.

You get a full-bodied palate that’s cinnamon and oak forward. There’s some caramel and vanilla in there too, but only in faint hints. It ends with a strong, spicy, and oaky finish with a dash of cinnamon and a touch of vanilla.

If it wasn’t so expensive, this wheater would be a LOT higher on this list. It actually tastes better than Weller Special Reserve. But its price tag got jacked up SO quickly, it’s not really worth it anymore.

I’d grab a bottle if I can get it at $80, but over that feels like you’re paying for the hype.

What Is Wheated Bourbon?

To properly understand wheated bourbon, it’s important to know what bourbon is – as it has a strict and legal requirement.

According to regulations, bourbon must contain at least 51% corn and be aged in newly charred American oak barrels. The remaining 49% of the mashbill typically includes rye and malted barley.

Now, if you substitute wheat for rye as your secondary grain, you create a subcategory of bourbon with its own unique flavor profile and identity – wheated bourbon.
Sounds easy, right? Well, not exactly.

Although wheat is a commonly harvested crop worldwide, it presents a challenge when it comes to malting.

Its elastic properties, while ideal for making dough, make it difficult to malt, as the resulting mash can clog up stills.

Nevertheless, malted barley can be added to the mash bill to break down the starches in wheat, allowing it to be used in whiskey production despite its inherent challenges.

Wheated Bourbon vs Rye Bourbon: Is There A Difference?

Wheated bourbon and rye bourbon are two sides of the same coin, essentially. They’re both delectable and highly sought-after, with each one having a loyal following.

The more obvious difference would be in their mashbills– rye bourbon uses rye as its secondary grain, while wheated bourbon utilizes wheat.

But if we talk about their flavor profiles and overall drinking experience, both bourbons are polar opposites.

Rye is responsible for the robust spicy flavors such as clove, nutmeg, and pepper found in bourbon–giving it a slightly sharp finish.

Wheated bourbons, on the other hand, are softer and sweeter in taste with notes of cinnamon, vanilla, and brown sugar, that makes up their smooth and mellow profile.

Overall, wheated bourbon is the more approachable bourbon between the two. If you enjoy a milder and sweeter taste with less harshness, wheated bourbon is the perfect choice.

Wheated bourbon allows you to appreciate the distinctive characteristics, flavor profile, and finish of bourbon while also expanding your palate – thanks to its sweeter taste.

Satisfy Your Wheat Tooth Now

If you like a smoother, more mellow flavor in your whiskey, wheated bourbon is a fantastic alternative. And if you’re new to wheated bourbon, these 10 bourbons are a wonderful place to start.

Don’t forget to give Larceny Barrel Proof a try, as it is going to be your best choice.
The world of bourbon is vast and diverse– filled with amazing flavors to be discovered. Never be afraid to explore and find what you love.