Heaven Hill’s micro-brand Sq. 6 expands with the launch of its Wheated Bourbon, becoming a member of its Excessive-Rye Bourbon and Excessive-Rye Rye. Like the opposite members of the Sq. 6 household, this one’s made on the artisanal distillery situated at 528 W Important Avenue in Louisville, “simply steps from the positioning of Williams’ authentic distillery based in 1783.”
Per the corporate:
The Sq. 6 Wheated Bourbon is comprised of two distinct Wheated Bourbon mashbills which have been rigorously blended post-aging. The primary mashbill consists of 74% Corn, 16% Wheat, and 10% Malted Barley, and the second mashbill consists of 68% Corn, 20% Wheat, and 12% Malted Barley. In contrast to its predecessors within the Sq. 6 line which have been bottled at 95 proof, the Sq. 6 Wheated Bourbon has been bottled at 105 proof, which additional highlights the wheated style profile.
There aren’t any age statements for any of this, however it’s clear from the get-go that that is youthful, punchier stuff. The nostril is boldly spicy, and I wouldn’t have guessed this was wheated primarily based on the nostril. Earthy and pungent with inexperienced herbs, this provides loads of savory, peppery character, underpinned by ample notes of barely charred popcorn.
The palate feels much more aggressive, laden with barrel char, peanut shell-and-popcorn combine, and grassy greenery. The sweetness endemic to wheated bourbons reveals its face solely in profile, a considerably nutty high quality that’s much less nougat and extra fruitcake. Some dried cherry does perk up within the combine together with some cinnamon, additional evoking a Christmas-adjacent expertise. Biting and gritty on the enduring end, even a wholesome addition of water doesn’t do a lot to tame what appears like a country, not-yet-mature expertise.
I like that Heaven Hill continues to experiment with whiskey from its small pot nonetheless — making one barrel a day — however the value is a disconnect for what’s ending up within the bottle.
105 proof.
B- / $90
Sq. 6 Wheated Bourbon
$90
