Explore Beyond Bourbon and Rye With These 10 Delightful Wheat Whiskeys

In the world of American whiskey, bourbon and rye tend to dominate the shelves and the spotlight. But if you’re a fan of smooth, sweet and approachable pours, there’s another style worth exploring: wheat whiskey.

This lesser-known category is highly underrated — and we’re here to showcase the best of the best. Whether you’re new to wheat whiskey or a seasoned aficionado, these 10 selections showcase the depth and diversity the style has to offer. From silky-smooth sippers to barrel-proof powerhouses, the best wheat whiskeys rival anything in your bar cart.

Before we dive into our rankings, let’s explore what sets wheat whiskey apart.

What Is Wheat Whiskey?

Wheat whiskey is a distinct style of American whiskey that, by federal law, must be made from a mashbill containing at least 51% wheat. Many are made from 100% wheat, while other wheat whiskeys utilize corn, malted barley and sometimes even rye in the rest of the mashbill.

This isn’t to be confused with “wheated bourbon,” which still contains at least 51% corn but uses wheat as a secondary grain instead of the more common rye. Wheat whiskey flips that ratio: Wheat takes the lead, delivering a different set of flavors and textures.

Key Characteristics of Wheat Whiskey

• Soft and sweet, similar to a bourbon in some ways, but the sweetness from wheat differs from the corn sweetness of bourbon.
• Notes often include honey, toasted bread, caramel and light spice.
• Typically low in tannic bitterness and peppery heat.
• Often described as dessert-like or buttery.

Wheat whiskey is far less common than the major styles of whiskey, but you can find it if you look in the right places. These 10 bottles prove that the category is worth your attention.

10 Wheat Whiskeys Well Worth Trying

10. Middle West Spirits Straight Wheat Whiskey

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Proof: 90
Price: $46.99

A solid introduction to the category, this straight wheat whiskey from the Columbus, Ohio-based Middle West Spirits offers approachability and balance. Distilled from soft red winter wheat and aged in new American oak for over three years, it’s sweet, smooth and endlessly sippable.

Tasting Notes

Nose: Honey, oatcakes, coffee beans, clove, salted caramel

Taste: Praline, cake batter, maple, orange zest

Finish: Cookie dough, cloves, black pepper

Overall: A very nice, everyday wheat whiskey that won’t break the bank. An excellent starter bottle for anyone exploring the style.

9. WhistlePig CampStock Limited Edition Wheat Whiskey

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Proof: 86
Price: $74.99 (or $199.99 if purchased in the CampStock Campfire Kit)

A collaboration with Solo Stove, this unique blend of 85% Indiana wheat whiskey from MGP and 15% Vermont rye is finished in toasted barrels. It’s a flavor-forward whiskey with complexity beyond its proof.

Tasting Notes

Nose: Honey, raisin bread, cinnamon, sweet tobacco

Taste: Buttercream, clove, butterscotch, mild rye spice

Finish: Balanced: sweet with a spicy cinnamon edge

Overall: An adventurously refreshing step away from WhistlePig’s core lineup. It may be under-proofed for some palates but is undeniably fun and easy-drinking.

8. Bernheim Original Kentucky Straight Wheat Whiskey Aged 7 Years

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Proof: 90
Price: ~$34

A staple from Heaven Hill, this 7-year-old wheat whiskey is a fantastic entry into the category — affordable, widely available and consistently delicious.

Tasting Notes

Nose: Honey, caramel, faint vanilla, light oak

Taste: Oak, vanilla, caramel, pepper, tobacco

Finish: Medium-long with nougat, sweet vanilla and light spice

Overall: A classic. It’s smoother than many wheated bourbons and more complex than its price tag suggests.

7. Old Elk Straight Wheat Whiskey

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Proof: 100
Price: $66.99

Distilled by Greg Metze at MGP and then bottled by Greg Metze after his move to Old Elk, this 6-year-old whiskey is rich, sweet and elegantly oaky. Old Elk was acquired earlier this week by Middle West Spirits.

Tasting Notes

Nose: Toffee, peach rings, crème brûlée

Taste: Sweet cream, caramel corn, toffee, oak

Finish: Long, with nutmeg, cocoa, cream, pepper

Overall: Balanced and mature. One of the sweeter bottles on this list but with enough oak and spice to keep things interesting.

6. Lost Lantern Single Cask Cedar Ridge Iowa Straight Wheat Whiskey

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Proof: 123.1
Price: $90

Selected by independent bottler Lost Lantern, this 100% malted white winter wheat whiskey is a flavor bomb — layered, complex and deeply enjoyable.

Tasting Notes

Nose: Berries and cream, cola, crème brûlée, buttered toast

Taste: Strawberry ice cream, coffee, root beer, browned butter

Finish: Butterscotch, tea, cinnamon, oak

Overall: A decadent, balanced pour that hits both sweet and savory notes. This is a special cask without a doubt.

5. Bernheim Barrel Proof Wheat Whiskey

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Proof: Varies (122.6 for batch B924)
Price: ~$75

The barrel-proof sibling of Bernheim Original, this limited release turns up the volume with bold, dense dessert flavors.

Tasting Notes (from Batch B924)

Nose: Cake batter, maple, icing, light oak

Taste: Nougat, praline, cinnamon, rich oak

Finish: Long, spicy, buttercream, brown sugar

Overall: A rich and opulent whiskey. Heaven Hill shows off just how sweet and satisfying wheat whiskey can get at higher proof.

4. Laws Whiskey House Centennial Bonded Straight Wheat Whiskey Aged 7 Years

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Proof: 100
Price: $84.99

Distilled from 100% Centennial spring wheat, this Bottled-in-Bond release from the Denver-based Laws Whiskey House is one of the most structured and well-rounded wheat whiskeys out there.

Tasting Notes

Nose: Lemon curd, orange peel, praline, oats

Taste: Caramel, toasted walnuts, honey, anise

Finish: Cola, leather, heavy anise, lingering sweetness

Overall: Sweet but never cloying. If you like a dessert-y profile with some earthy, herbal complexity, this is an excellent choice.

3. Middle West Spirits Cask Strength Wheat Whiskey

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Proof: Varies (Our bottle was 125.1)
Price: $69.99

This cask strength offering showcases Middle West Spirits at its best — sweet, rich, layered and dangerously drinkable despite the bruising ABV.

Tasting Notes

Nose: Buttercream, maple, coconut, cinnamon

Taste: Caramel, hazelnut, orange peel, clove, honey

Finish: Long, cinnamon pancakes, cherry, ginger

Overall: Middle West’s cask strength wheat whiskey punches far above its price. It’s bold and expressive, yet refined. This is a damn delicious whiskey.

2. Star Hill Farm American Wheat Whisky

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Proof: 114.7
Price: $100

Rolling out to shelves right about now, this is the first non-bourbon ever to come from the esteemed Maker’s Mark. The 2025 release of Star Hill Farm Whisky is a blend of two mashbills: one made from 100% malted soft red winter wheat and the other from 70% soft red winter wheat and 30% malted barley.

Tasting Notes

Nose: Wheat funk, confectioners’ sugar, praline, caramel, macadamia, banana bread, golden raisins

Taste: Tannin, leather, maraschino cherry, caramel cake, cocoa, cinnamon, grapefruit peel

Finish: Butterscotch, dark chocolate-covered walnuts, leather, cinnamon and honey

Overall: Maker’s Mark’s first wheat whiskey is a spectacular bottle, showcasing superb balance of sweet notes and bitter tannin.

1. Frey Ranch Single Grain Series 100% Wheat Whiskey

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Proof: Varies
Price: ~$80

At the top of the list is this phenomenal single barrel expression made entirely from soft winter wheat grown on the Frey family farm. Bottled at cask strength after aging 6–7 years, this is wheat whiskey at its most powerful and pure.

This is the only whiskey on this list that we haven’t personally reviewed, but its Raided Score® of 94 makes it the highest-rated wheat whiskey in the world, per Bottle Raiders’ expansive archive of reviews.

To conclude: Wheat whiskey might not dominate the shelves like bourbon or rye, but these 10 bottles prove it’s more than just a niche curiosity. Whether you’re looking for an easy everyday pour or a bold barrel-proof expression, there’s a wheat whiskey here for you.

Ready to try something new? Start with a bottle from this list and experience the softer, sweeter side of American whiskey.