Bernheim Original Kentucky Straight Wheat Whiskey
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2021 & 2022 San Francisco World Spirits Competition Double Gold Medal Winner
This Heaven Hill Distillery original is named for the famed Bernheim Distillery in Louisville. A 7-Year-Old Wheat Whiskey, Bernheim Original is the first new style of American Whiskey to be introduced since Prohibition. Aged for 7 years in traditional open rickhouses, its mellow taste is refreshingly smooth when served straight or in cocktails.
Bright amber in color and mildly sweet on the nose with hints of vanilla and honey. On the palate, toffee, berries, and spice with and elegant and warm finish of toasted oak.
Enjoy on the rocks or mixed into your favorite simple soda like a cola.
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This small-batch whiskey, with its bright copper penny color and bewitchingly sweet aromas of cocoa, mocha and fresh-baked cookies, is one of the few “straight wheat” whiskeys out there. The flavors are brisk and restrained, with leather and tobacco tones and a clean citrus and vanilla finish. Despite a relatively high proof, it still comes across as mellow and balanced. Drink straight up, with ice.
At its launch, Bernheim Original Straight Wheat Whiskey was the first truly new variety of American straight wheat whiskey introduced since Prohibition. Heaven Hill Master Distillers saw an opportunity to give today's whiskey connoisseurs a unique taste experience. Bernheim was the only straight whiskey to use winter wheat as the primary grain in its mashbill, giving it a soft, sweet flavor and medium finish.
Today, on the front of the bottle, Bernheim proudly displays its finest attributes: Kentucky Straight Wheat Whiskey, small batch, and a 7 year age statement. With an age statement of 7 years, Bernheim Original Wheat Whiskey truly is well worth the wheat. It is the only straight wheat whiskey distributed nationally. As a straight whiskey, it meets the same criteria as Bourbon or rye—aged a minimum of two years in new, charred oak barrels, distilled at less than 160 proof, and contains no coloring, flavoring or blending agents. As a small batch product, it is made with a dump of 100 barrels or less.
Capturing a broad range in one category, American Whiskey refers to any spirit made in America by distilling a mash of fermented grains—typically corn, wheat, rye or barley. American Whiskey must be distilled to no more than 95% alcohol and bottled at 40% or higher. In order to be labeled a straight Whiskey, it also must be aged in white oak barrels for a minimum of two years and not contain any added colors or flavors.