Heaven Hill’s second Barrel Proof launch of its Bernheim wheat whiskey nearly eluded us late final yr, however we lastly uncovered our pattern simply in time for the presumed arrival of the third launch, which is anticipated this month. It’s bottled at a barely increased proof than A223, however in any other case there’s no actual distinction in manufacturing, the mix a mixture of whiskeys aged 7 to 9 years from a mash of 51% wheat, 37% corn, and 12% malted barley.
Let’s dig in.
Bernheim all the time tends towards the candy facet, and B923 is not any exception to the rule, evident on the nostril as a syrupy, maple-infused deal with that candy tooths (candy enamel?) will gravitate to immediately. Ample baking spice provides the whiskey a Christmassy high quality, popping with candied cherries however tempered with only a little bit of char.
No surprises on the palate from my viewpoint: The sweetness endures, although the alcohol could make for a warming expertise, with the total dessert cart in impact: Vanilla, marshmallow cream, flambeed banana, and loads of maple syrup. Gingery with a spiced fruitcake high quality rising late within the sport, the whiskey even makes room for a dusting of chocolate towards the end. It’s not notably sizzling, and is totally approachable with out water, however a couple of drops of H2O can really assist to mood a number of the sugar together with the booziness.
I don’t know that this whiskey diverges a lot from A223, nor that Bernheim’s Barrel Proof releases are going to indicate as a lot variance as, say, the Elijah Craig Barrel Proof lineup going ahead. That’s an enormous plus when you’re on the lookout for consistency — however people who intention to match and distinction a number of vintages could discover themselves twiddling their thumbs a bit.
120.6 proof.
A- / $65 / bernheimwheatwhiskey.com
Bernheim Barrel Proof Authentic Wheat Whiskey Batch B923 (September 2023)
$65
