Review: Buffalo Trace’s New Wheater Is the Most Interesting Bourbon of 2026

(Photo: Buffalo Trace)

Wheated bourbon has become a familiar category in the spirits lexicon: swap the rye (the most common secondary grain in bourbon) for wheat, get something softer, sweeter, rounder. Buffalo Trace’s Weller lineup has built a devoted following on that formula, which many other brands have attempted to mimic.

Daniel Weller Spelt Wheat, the second release in Buffalo Trace’s experimental Daniel Weller series, goes somewhere else entirely.

Spelt is an ancient grain — farmers were growing it in Mesopotamia around 5000 BC — and it shows up in American whiskey production about as often as it did in ancient Mesopotamia. When Buffalo Trace launched the Daniel Weller line in 2023 with Emmer Wheat, the plan was to isolate individual wheat varieties and experiment with the different flavor profiles.

According to Buffalo Trace, Master Distiller Harlen Wheatley was deliberate about keeping this one stripped back. No specialized barrel treatments, no finishing tricks — just spelt wheat in the mashbill, aged 10 years and bottled at 94 proof (47% ABV), corked with a compass stopper engraved with the coordinates of Daniel Weller’s original farm near Botland, Kentucky.

As it turns out, that rare secondary grain resulted in one of the most intriguing whiskey releases of 2026.

Review: What Does Daniel Weller Spelt Wheat Bourbon Taste Like?

The nose is immediately, unmistakably wheat-forward — grainy and distinctive in a way that, to me, reminded me of a different uncommon grain: triticale. Fresh grains, leather, popcorn and buttered toast make up the aroma, with a pop of bubblegum-adjacent sweetness. On second and third tastings, the wheat began to give way to subtle, balancing fruits: overripe apple and peach cobbler.

The palate has an excellent viscosity that’s silky and clingy but not heavy. Wheat keeps driving: sourdough bread and fresh biscuits are joined by lemon peel, leather, olive oil, peppercorns and stewed apples, with a lovely nutty profile of almonds, walnuts and hazelnuts.

The finish is long. Sourdough toast with melted butter leads, followed by apples and pears, cinnamon, walnut husk and leather. A lovely profile of toasted almonds and cocoa powder hangs on for quite some time.

To find our full review and see what score we gave it, click here.

Worth the Asking Price?

That’s where it gets complicated. This is truly distinctive whiskey. I’ve tasted many wheated bourbons, and there isn’t much to compare it to. The flavor profile is savory, earthy and nutty in ways that set it apart from every other bottle in the Weller lineup. But its suggested retail price — $549.99 per 750-milliliter bottle — is a big asking price.

Distinctive profiles such as this one often lead to differing opinions. That savory profile that makes it so distinctive will undoubtedly turn off some drinkers; plenty of people are bourbon lovers for the typical sweetness of the spirit, and this expression may not scratch that itch.

Plus, $549.99 is a tough ask for any spirit. It drinks really nicely at 94 proof — and I personally think it’s proofed very well — but at that such a high price point, some Buffalo Trace fans will no doubt be hoping for something at or close to barrel proof.

Limited Buffalo Trace releases move regardless of price, so this one will surely will, too. Given the price and distinctiveness, this is probably a whiskey you hope to find a pour of at a bar rather than buy an entire bottle. Of course, if $550 isn’t hurting your pockets and you’re a Buffalo Trace head, we’re not going to tell you how to spend your money. At the end of the day, it’s good and memorable whiskey.

Just go in knowing what you’re paying for: a fascinating experiment, but perhaps not a crowd-pleasing slam dunk (depending on the crowd).

Daniel Weller Spelt Wheat is available now in limited quantities at select U.S. retailers, bars and restaurants.