Wheel Horse Cigar Blend (Fall 2025) Review

Distillery: Green River Distilling—Owensboro, KY

Proof: 101.0 (50.5% ABV)

Age: Five Years + Undisclosed Secondary Aging

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

MSRP: $43

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A Quartet of Secondary Aging

Wheel Horse Cigar Blend begins as a brand’s classic five-year sour-mash bourbon distilled at Green River Distillery in Owensboro.  After its primary maturation, it undergoes a secondary aging of at least eight months in a combination of Port, Cognac, Sherry, and Armagnac barrels.  Each cask contributes its own accent.  What does that produce in the glass?  Read on and let’s find out…..

Wheel Horse Cigar Blend (Fall 2025) Review: Tasting Notes

Nose – 4.5/5

Toasted oak.  Sweet fig jam.  Leather.  Cocoa.

Strengths:  Sweet dark-fruit note are first to appear joined by a dusty oak or leathery notes.  The traditional bourbon core remains underneath.
Why It’s Not Higher:  Fruit and oak layers blur together making them hard to distinguish.
Rating Justification:  Elegant and expressive.

Palate – 4.6/5

Dried apricot.  Warm raisin bread.  Toffee.  Pipe tobacco.

Strengths:  A burst of dried apricot sweetness brightens the mid-Palate and balances the darker fruit notes.  Gentle spice and dry complexity.
Why It’s Not Higher:  A hint of dryness trims out the mid-Palate fruit before the Finish.
Rating Justification:  More sophisticated than its price point suggests.

Finish – 4.4/5

Baking spice.  Toasted oak.  Dark chocolate.  Espresso.

Strengths:  Long and warm fades from sweet fruit to roasted coffee and oak.
Why It’s Not Higher:  Slightly dry wood notes linger at the tail end.
Rating Justification:  Satisfying and balanced.  A close that invites another sip.

Value – 4.8/5

At roughly $43, this release delivers remarkable craftsmanship per dollar.  Four distinct finishing casks brings complexity—without being gimmickry.  The 101 proof makes it equally suited for a neat pour.

Wheel Horse Cigar Blend (Fall 2025) Review: The Verdict

Wheel Horse Cigar Blend showcases how multiple fortified-wine secondary aging can enhance not detract from a bourbon’s core.  The result is rounded sweetness, subtle spice, and mature depth that drinks well beyond its price tag.  A standout example of thoughtful secondary aging.

Verdict – 4.6/5

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