Distillery: Mary Dowling Whiskey Company—Louisville, KY
Proof: 91.0 (45.5% ABV)
Age: Four+ Years
Mashbill: 65% Corn, 25% Rye, 10% Malted Barley
MSRP: $55
A Tribute to a Whiskey Pioneer, Just in Time for the Spotlight
With the upcoming release of the hardcover biography Mother of Bourbon on April 29, 2025, bourbon history is getting a fresh spotlight on one of its most enduring figures: Mary Dowling. Known for keeping her family’s distillery alive through Prohibition and for her role in shaping Kentucky bourbon, Dowling’s legacy is now being revived—not just through books, but through bottles.
Timed close to the biography’s release, the Mary Dowling label has launched a range of whiskeys, including this Winter Wheat Bourbon. Made with Kentucky-sourced grain and matured in toasted and #3 charred barrels for over four years, this expression highlights a softer style of bourbon driven by wheat rather than rye. Bottled at 91 proof and priced around $55, this is a pour that leans gentle and approachable, but doesn’t lack in personality.
Mary Dowling Kentucky Straight Winter Wheat Bourbon Review: Tasting Notes
Nose – 4/5
The Nose opens with soft cornbread and ripe strawberry, followed by subtle vanilla cream and a touch of fresh mint. There’s some light wood spice. Overall, it’s delicate but inviting, with the fruit notes setting a pleasant tone.
Palate – 4.25/5
On the Palate, this bourbon offers smooth grain sweetness, candy corn, and light baking spice. Mid-Palate brings in berries and clove. With a soft, rounded mouthfeel that is typical of a wheated mashbill, the proof is well-suited to the profile—warm with a balance between sharp and dull.
Finish – 4/5
The Finish is medium in length, with lingering notes of light oak, vanilla, and faint spice notes. It doesn’t hang on forever, but it wraps up cleanly and leaves a soft, sweet impression.
Value – 4.5/5
At $55, Mary Dowling Winter Wheat Bourbon is a strong buy for fans of wheated bourbons who appreciate gentler profiles with depth. The 91 proof highlights the sweetness of the high corn and wheat. It delivers more than expected at its price point and would sit comfortably next to some better-known wheated labels.
Mary Dowling Winter Wheat Bourbon succeeds in honoring its namesake—delivering a whiskey that’s approachable and quietly confident. It’s a pour that doesn’t shout for attention, but instead rewards with subtle fruit, gentle spice, and a well-rounded finish.
Mary Dowling Kentucky Straight Winter Wheat Bourbon Review: The Verdict
Mary Dowling Winter Wheat Bourbon succeeds in honoring its namesake—delivering a whiskey that’s approachable and quietly confident. It’s a pour that doesn’t shout for attention, but instead rewards with subtle fruit, gentle spice, and a well-rounded finish.
With the upcoming biography poised to shine a spotlight on Dowling’s contributions to whiskey history, this bottle offers a nice companion to her story and celebrates the legacy of Mary Dowling.
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
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.