Spirit of the Month!! - June 2010 - Bernheim Original Kentucky Straight Wheat Whiskey

[murchmb]

Welcome to the B&B Speakeasy Spirit of the Month!​

Our selection for June 2010 will be Bernheim Original Kentucky Straight Whiskey.

Bernheim Original Wheat Whiskey is a relative newcomer to the world of whiskey. Since it's release in 2005 by Heaven Hill, it has gained quite a following and has won multiple awards at spirits competitions. It provides an experience that is a bit different than that of your typical bourbon or Tennessee whiskey.

Bernheim Original is unique in that it is the only true wheat whiskey currently being produced, at least in the US. That is, 51% of it's grain content is wheat. In contrast, whiskies that we often call "wheaters" such as Weller or Maker's Mark use wheat in the place of rye, but are still primarily corn based. The winter wheat results in a whiskey that is full bodied while being sweet and smooth. Bernheim Original's light color reflects it's flavors, which are delicate, balanced, and subtle. With ice or a splash of water the flavors are altered somewhat, but not masked. Even enjoyed neat, the lightness and crispness of this whiskey make it a nice choice for summertime.

Bernheim Original's background is something of a marketing ploy. It is named after the German immigrant brothers that established the Bernheim Distillery in Louisville back in the 19th century. The connection pretty much ends there, however. What the whiskey lacks in "history", Heaven Hill made up for it in the packaging. The bottle is nicely shaped and heavy. The "label" is a solid badge that is affixed and lends a classy look to the bottle. It is topped off with a cork stopped cap that is sealed in wax. A rather sturdy slip case type of box completes the presentation.

If you are in the mood for something a bit different that is not heavy or aggressive, this month's selection might just be for you. Depending on where you live, this fine, craft distilled whiskey will set you back $40-50. Please share your feelings and experiences regarding Bernheim Original in this thread.​

 

[Edcculus]

Nice selection. Can't wait to give this one a try!

 

[Gruder]

An outstanding selection. Really smooth and, IMHO, a nice "gateway whiskey." Not terribly expensive, either. Interestingly (to me, at least), the high wheat content keeps it from being called a bourbon, despite it's solid upbringing in the Commonwealth. How's that for fun bar trivia?

 

[TimmyBoston]

I've been familiar with this product for a long time, but I've never tasted it. I may have to change that this year. Nice work gents.

 

[CapnPanther]

Excellent stuff! A worthy choice.

 

[Don]

Don't recall hearing about this. I would accept a bottle though.

Does seem a bit pricey at $40-50.

 

[keebank]

Has anyone tried this whiskey? Would like to hear your opinions. I enjoy Rebel Yell wondering if this is wheatier than it is.

 

[ackvil]

Sounds nice. It is amazing that companies that produce some less expensive brands (Heaven Hill, Four Roses, etc.) are getting into the small bourbon and spirits market.

 

[murchmb]

Don't recall hearing about this. I would accept a bottle though.

Does seem a bit pricey at $40-50.

It's priced in the mid range of the American whiskey world. For something that is craft distilled and somewhat limited in production, it's priced well IMO. Not that I would mind it being less expensive ...

Has anyone tried this whiskey? Would like to hear your opinions. I enjoy Rebel Yell wondering if this is wheatier than it is.

I have tried Bernheim but I have not had Rebel Yell, at least in a very long time, so I'll have to speculate here. Based on tasting notes and comments I've read, I think the two are going to be very different animals. I believe you will find the Bernheim to be much more refined, complex, and smooth.

Bernheim, but it's very nature, is going to be wheatier. I don't know the exact mashbill of Rebel Yell, but I suspect it's wheat content is going to be in the 15% range versus 51% for Bernheim. They are different styles of whiskey and are in different leagues quality-wise, so it's difficult to compare them.

 

[Gruder]

Does seem a bit pricey at $40-50.

Odd. I paid in the mid $20's at a VA state store. It was on sale, though, IIRC. Not sure I'd pull the trigger at $50, but around $40 seems ok to me for this one.

 

[murchmb]

Odd. I paid in the mid $20's at a VA state store. It was on sale, though, IIRC. Not sure I'd pull the trigger at $50, but around $40 seems ok to me for this one.

I paid $35-40 for mine. It's hard to quote a general price here for alcohol, spirits especially, because it varies so much based on where it is purchased. I envy those that are fortunate enough to live in an area with little government control and taxation of alcohol, but that's another thread

 

[OneRand]

This one is quite sweet. Tastes different than Maker's which has a fairly high wheat content. I prefer dryer spirits, so brenheim was not a favorite, but it has a unique dlavor profile in the whiskey world.

 

[Don]

Odd. I paid in the mid $20's at a VA state store. It was on sale, though, IIRC. Not sure I'd pull the trigger at $50, but around $40 seems ok to me for this one.

The mid $20's sounds good to me, I'm going to check around here and see what kind of price it is going for.

 

[Edcculus]

Finally got a chance to try this one. Pretty good! I'm pretty new to whisky, so its hard to compare it to anything...but I did like it. I think its a good, easy to drink addition to the rotation.

 

[Storer50]

I'll try to find a bottle in the Dayton, OH area tomorrow

 

[Laz]

I will try to hunt down a bottle tomorrow. It sounds interesting

 

[Rughi]

I've had a bottle of this for a few years now (probably from the first batch Heaven Hill did), and never did find a fan of it, including myself.

When my bourbon and Scotch friends come over, they invariably talk about it being very smooth (from a group that doesn't consider smooth a compliment). Many have remarked on it having a light grainy taste and an aroma of hay or wet cardboard. It is clean and mildly sweet, due mainly to the lack of the rye or heavy corn oils that it's bourbon brethren would have (Old Fitzgerald Bond is probably identically made except for the ratio of corn to wheat).

Over time in an open bottle it has mellowed yet more. It now has a touch of the Heaven Hill yeast's signature menthol/eucalyptus and luckily the hay/cardboard aroma is now gone.

Maybe later batches have changed, but I find Bernheim Wheat more instructive than exciting. I'd say it would compare well with Canadian Blends, except a bit cleaner and less sweet.

Roger

 

[The Knize]

I can see I need to get by the Speakeasy more often for lots of reasons.

I think Bernhein is still available at Virginia state liquor stores at well less than $30 a bottlle. I am surprised that it may sell for so much more elsewhere.

I am surprised there has not been more responses and more enthusiastic response on this thread re this whiskey. I think when it has come up on B&B in the past various folks have posted saying it was an all time favorite of theirs and making similar comments.

I am more enthusiastic about it now than when I first bought. I think lots of folks buy it thinking it is going to be an even better Makers Mark, but it is quite a bit different. My recollection by the way is that I saw an article in one of the whisky/whiskey magazines that claimed to dispell the idea that the smoothness of Weller and Maker's Mark was all that closely related to those labels relatively high grain bill proportion of wheat and low grain bill proportion of rye. That some whiskies with no rye and lots of wheat tasted very different from MM and were not nearly as smooth. I wish I had a better recollection.

Anyway, Bernhein is more its own thing. By analogy to Scotch, think lowlands. Soft, subtle, smooth, perhaps "sweet," but all bourbon and related whiskeys are relavitely sweet. Elegant. No dis, but a long darn way from Rebel Yell if I recall Rebel Yell! I do not feel like I am descrbing this in a very inviting way, when it really is, to me, good whiskey, if properly understood. Maybe this works. Irish whiskey is a very different flavor profile because Irish whisky is made from malt. But in many ways the relationship Bernhein has to bourbon is reminescent of the relationship the milder Irish whiskies have to the more fromidable Scotches.

I am really trying to remember how much charred oak there seems to be in the Bernhein. All bourbon is aged in new charred oak barrels, whidh helps give it a distinctive flavor. I am going by memory, but my sense is that Berheim has less of that flavor and may see less, if any, time on charred oak, at least new chared oak.

Anyway, it is good stuff, and I think they need to adjust their marketing somehow so that folks trying it are not expecting something more of a wheated bourbon and being turned off to it!

 

[murchmb]

I can see I need to get by the Speakeasy more often for lots of reasons.

I think Bernhein is still available at Virginia state liquor stores at well less than $30 a bottlle. I am surprised that it may sell for so much more elsewhere.

I am surprised there has not been more responses and more enthusiastic response on this thread re this whiskey. I think when it has come up on B&B in the past various folks have posted saying it was an all time favorite of theirs and making similar comments.

I am more enthusiastic about it now than when I first bought. I think lots of folks buy it thinking it is going to be an even better Makers Mark, but it is quite a bit different. My recollection by the way is that I saw an article in one of the whisky/whiskey magazines that claimed to dispell the idea that the smoothness of Weller and Maker's Mark was all that closely related to those labels relatively high grain bill proportion of wheat and low grain bill proportion of rye. That some whiskies with no rye and lots of wheat tasted very different from MM and were not nearly as smooth. I wish I had a better recollection.

Anyway, Bernhein is more its own thing. By analogy to Scotch, think lowlands. Soft, subtle, smooth, perhaps "sweet," but all bourbon and related whiskeys are relavitely sweet. Elegant. No dis, but a long darn way from Rebel Yell if I recall Rebel Yell! I do not feel like I am descrbing this in a very inviting way, when it really is, to me, good whiskey, if properly understood. Maybe this works. Irish whiskey is a very different flavor profile because Irish whisky is made from malt. But in many ways the relationship Bernhein has to bourbon is reminescent of the relationship the milder Irish whiskies have to the more fromidable Scotches.

I am really trying to remember how much charred oak there seems to be in the Bernhein. All bourbon is aged in new charred oak barrels, whidh helps give it a distinctive flavor. I am going by memory, but my sense is that Berheim has less of that flavor and may see less, if any, time on charred oak, at least new chared oak.

Anyway, it is good stuff, and I think they need to adjust their marketing somehow so that folks trying it are not expecting something more of a wheated bourbon and being turned off to it!

Thank you for your insights, Rob. They were well put and I very much agree with them.