Willett Wheated 8 Year Old Bourbon. Kentucky Bourbon Distillers, Bardstown, Kentucky the wheated mash bill expression of the Willett own-distilled program aged 8 years, bottled at 115 proof without chill filtration, replacing rye with wheat as the secondary grain to produce a softer, sweeter, more approachable character than the Family Estate’s standard high-rye expressions while delivering the concentrated proof and barrel-character depth that 8 years of Kentucky aging produces.

The wheated mash bill corn, wheat, and malted barley, with no rye is the same category framework that defines W.L. Weller and Pappy Van Winkle’s celebrated softness. In the Willett program, where most own-distilled single barrel expressions use a high-rye mash bill, the Wheated 8 Year occupies a distinct position: the same Bardstown production and Kentucky aging conditions, but a fundamentally different flavor direction driven by wheat’s natural sweetness and smoothness replacing rye’s spice and structure.

At 115 proof without chill filtration, the Wheated 8 Year delivers the wheat’s natural sweetness and the 8-year barrel’s caramel and vanilla at full barrel intensity. Non-chill filtration preserves the natural oils and flavor compounds that chill filtration would remove, ensuring the mouthfeel and complexity that the barrel developed over 8 years stays in the glass.

Tasting Notes

• Nose: Warm wheat sweetness, vanilla, caramel, and light honey the softer, more approachable aromatic profile that the wheated mash bill produces over the standard high-rye Family Estate expressions.
• Palate: Sweet, smooth, and full-bodied at 115 proof the wheat’s natural sweetness integrated with 8 years of caramel and vanilla from American oak. Less spice, more softness than the rye-forward Family Estate expressions.
• Finish: Long and warming with sweet wheat character and gentle oak. The non-chill filtration’s natural oils produce a richer, more coating finish than filtered expressions.

Specs

• Distillery: Kentucky Bourbon Distillers, Bardstown, Kentucky
• Mash Bill: Wheated (corn, wheat, malted barley no rye)
• Age: 8 years
• ABV: 57.5% (115 proof)
• Filtration: Non-chill filtered
• Inventory: 2 bottles in stock
• Size: 750ml

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Frequently Asked Questions

• How does the Wheated 8 Year differ from standard Willett Family Estate bourbon? Most Willett own-distilled Family Estate bourbon uses a high-rye mash bill producing bold spice and grain character. The Wheated uses wheat instead of rye producing a softer, sweeter, more vanilla-forward profile closer to Weller or wheated Pappy-style bourbon than to the rye-driven Family Estate expressions.
• What is non-chill filtration? Standard chill filtration cools whiskey before bottling to remove natural oils and proteins that might cause cloudiness when served cold. Those oils also carry flavor and mouthfeel. Non-chill filtration skips this step preserving the natural oils and producing a richer, more textured mouthfeel and fuller flavor profile.
• Is the Wheated 8 Year still available? Yes 2 bottles in current stock. Order online with fast shipping.

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