Green River Full Proof Wheated Bourbon (2026 Release) Review

Distillery: Green River Distilling Co – Owensboro, Kentucky

Proof: 109.3 (54.65% ABV)

Age: Five to Seven Years

Mashbill: 70% Corn, 21% Wheat, 9% Malted Barley

MSRP: $70

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Full proof. Wheated mashbill. Mid-aged Kentucky maturation.

When Green River released its Full Proof Wheated Bourbon in February 2026, it expanded its portfolio with a wheat-forward bourbon bottled at 109.3 proof and aged between five and seven years. The mashbill would seem to signal sweetness. Wheat replaces rye’s sharper spice with a gentler grain and often brings forth confectionary-like notes.

The question now isn’t whether this expression carries flavor. It does. 

The real test is integration. How well sweetness, oak, and proof move in tandem from Nose to Finish.

Green River Full Proof Wheated Bourbon (2026 Release) Review: Tasting Notes

Nose – 4.3/5

Ripe cherries. Warm cinnamon buns. Vanilla. Toasted oak. Caramel drizzle.
The first impression is sweet and inviting. Ripe red cherry leads, followed by the unmistakable aroma of warm cinnamon rolls. The wheat shows up as pastry rather than raw grain. At 109.3 proof, there’s warmth, but no sharp spike.

Strengths: Clear dessert-forward identity. Proof enhances the Nose without overpowering the notes.
Why It’s Not Higher: Complexity stays fixed within a sweet lane. Doesn’t expand into darker notes.
Rating Justification: A strong and inviting Nose that clearly reflects the mashbill and age. Stops short of exceptional due to limited range beyond its sweet notes.

Palate – 4.2/5

Citrus peel. Caramelized sugar. Baking spice. Light cocoa powder. Toasted marshmallow.
The Palate opens “brighter” than expected, with quick notes of citrus peel that cut through caramelized sugar. Soft mouthfeel makes the bourbon feel almost creamy but not heavy.

Strengths: Balanced sweetness and spice. Pleasant soft mouthfeel. Bright at first then transitions into slightly richer notes.
Why It’s Not Higher: The mid-Palate remains predictable by maintaining its sweet profile rather than expanding or intensifying before the Finish.
Rating Justification: The Palate is flavorful. Shows the maturity would be appropriate for a 5–7 year whiskey. 

Finish – 4.0/5

Lingering cinnamon. Warm oak. Brown sugar. Faint bitter edge.
The Finish is long and warm, driven by cinnamon and proof intensity. Sweetness tapers gradually into dry oak. The warmth sustains nicely, reinforcing the proof without turning hot. At the very end, a faint bitter tail emerges; not aggressive, but noticeable enough to shift the final impression slightly.

Strengths: Length and sustained warmth. Defined cinnamon character. Oak presence.
Why It’s Not Higher: The bitter edge disrupts the otherwise continuous sweet-spice arc and causes a last second dip in the experience.
Rating Justification: The sudden bitterness keeps the Finish from matching the strength and polish of the Nose and Palate.

Value – 4.3/5

At $70, this sits squarely within the competitive range for a 5–7 year full proof wheated bourbon. The integration, proof concentration, and overall length justify the MSRP. It’s not a bargain pick up.

Green River Full Proof Wheated Bourbon (2026 Release) Review: The Verdict

This is a well-executed wheated bourbon that leans confidently into sweetness without losing structure. The 109.3 proof makes you sit up and take notice, while the wheat-forward mashbill creates a pastry-like identity.

It doesn’t push into exceptional complexity, and the slight bitterness at the tail holds it back from climbing higher. It delivers exactly what the mashbill and proof suggest — sweet structure, controlled spice, and solid length.

Verdict – 4.2/5

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