what is a wheated bourbon

Wheated bourbon is a type of bourbon that replaces the rye in the mash bill with wheat, either in whole or in part. By law, bourbon must consist of at least 51% corn and use newly charred American oak barrels for the aging process. Typically, bourbon distillers use rye and malted barley in the other 49% of the mash bill. Wheated bourbon simply replaces the rye with wheat, either in whole or part. The use of wheat in the mash bill creates a softer and sweeter flavor profile compared to bourbons that use rye as the secondary grain. Wheated bourbons are often described as more approachable and milder, with notes of vanilla, caramel, and toasted oak. Some of the most famous and expensive examples of wheated bourbon include Pappy Van Winkle and Weller. Other popular wheated bourbons include Makers Mark, Larceny, and Bernheim Original.