Review: Casey Jones Single Barrel Wheated Bourbon

Casey Jones Distillery in Hopkinsville, Kentucky is a relatively new distillery on the scene, but they put the whiskey community on notice when taking home Best in Show from the 2023 American Craft Spirits Association. The history of Casey Jones is that of illicit distilling near Golden Pond, but now very licit.

Casey Jones refers to their 4-grain wheater as Mashbill 3 and consists of 26.5% Bloody Butcher corn, 26.5% yellow dent corn, 35% soft red winter wheat, and 12% malted barley with a 4:1 ratio of Pilsner to caramel.

Casey Jones runs around a 72-hour sweet mash fermentation and ages in barrels with a No. 4 char and a medium toast. While the legal maximum for barrel entry proof is 120, Casey Jones goes into the barrels between 110 and 120 proof. All of the Mashbill 3 singles barrels are at least 4 years old, while this particular barrel is 4.5  years old.

The nose is initially very light, but after about 5 minutes, it comes to life with honeysuckle and a burst of mulled wine spices. There is no trace of wine on the nose, but simply the spices that accompany hot wine that you might have encountered around Christmas. Further nosing reveals a pleasant stewed apple with a hint of vanilla.

The palate immediately hits with honey. The mulling spices from the nose are reduced to a simpler cinnamon here, while the stewed apple from the nose is equally present on the palate. On the back end, there’s a combination of burnt orange peel and simple syrup. The mouthfeel is quite dry but quite pleasant. On the drying and enjoyable finish, the cinnamon, honey, and orange peel from the initial palate all remain.

One aspect of wheated bourbons without extended age is that they tend to be rather grassy. It must be noted that there isn’t the slightest hint of grassy character on either the nose or palate in this whiskey. While this is a high-wheat bourbon, the quality and character of the 12% malted barley in the mash provide for a delicious and unique sipping experience that you don’t typically find with high-wheat bourbons.

If you’re looking for the next great craft distillery, Casey Jones Single Barrel Wheated Bourbon needs to be on your radar.

113.5 proof.

A- / $70 / caseyjonesdistillery.com

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