Review: Green River Wheated Full Proof Bourbon

Kentucky’s Green River recently released a new addition to their already extensive lineup of bourbon and rye, and fans of cask strength whiskey are sure to take notice. Green River Wheated Full Proof joins a handful of high octane offerings in the brand’s portfolio including the standard Full Proof and single barrel, both made from the distillery’s rye bourbon mashbill.

According to Green River’s press release announcing this new high proof wheater, wheated bourbon represents roughly one-third of the bourbon market in North America. That’s honestly more than I would have thought, but it explains some of the trends we’ve seen, especially from smaller brands. Green River’s high proof slice of that valuable bourbon pie is distilled from the same mashbill as their standard wheated bourbon (70% corn, 21% wheat, and 9% malted barley) and ages for between five and seven years in the distillery’s signature clay tile warehouses. While “full proof” doesn’t technically mean undiluted across the industry, Green River confirms this is a cask strength offering (like the standard Full Proof) that will be bottled at a variable batch proof ranging between 54.5% and 58%. Thoughts follow.

Green River Wheated Full Proof Bourbon Review

At full strength, the ethanol is the first thing that jumps out on the nose, but despite that, it still manages to deliver a similar depth and complexity that we observed in the standard proof, wheated offering. The aroma is bright and effusive with an almost buttery sweetness accentuated by notes of warm caramel, butterscotch, and loads of well-baked apple, pear, and peach. As it opens, the sweetness builds, becoming a little more high tone and candied.

The palate is punchy out of the gate with full proof heat and an early rush of Red Hots candies that lingers across the sip with a prickly, chili pepper warmth. As that first wave recedes, undertones of fresh baking spice and vanilla extract offer a more soothing but still peppery midpalate that gives way to big, juicy notes of mandarin and grapefruit peel. The finish melds that tart citrus with warm notes of red pepper flakes and cinnamon syrup for a full-flavored finale that ends the sip as bold as it began. Fans of big, spicy cask strength whiskey will find plenty to enjoy here, but I personally like Green River’s wheated bourbon better at the beginner proof.

109.3 proof.

B+ / $50

The post Review: Green River Wheated Full Proof Bourbon appeared first on Drinkhacker: The Insider’s Guide to Good Drinking.