Into the Wheat–Final Series Post

It has been quite the journey of discovery for me and Wheat Bourbons.  I have found some I liked, and others I loved.  I know there are more wheat bourbons out there for me to try, but I thought I would bring this series to a close.  I have found a great appreciation for the juice that started out on a rocky road with the less than stellar Makers Mark, and will end with another great expression of wheat bourbon I had on a recent road trip to Oregon.

Along the way I have also discovered the wonders of Vincent Van Gogh and his paintings of wheat and wheat fields.  I always knew he painted “Sheaves of Wheat” but didn’t know that he had quite a collection of wheat paintings.  They have been wonderful, and I hope to see some of them in person some day!  I thought it fitting to end this series on a high note with a very tasty bourbon I found in my travels…

The Very Special Old Fitzgerald 12 Year Old is a very good and rich wheat bourbon!  It is 90 proof, or 45% ABV, and as you can see it was drank from a Glencarin which is a specially shaped glass to concentrate the nose and add to the drinking experience.  It worked very well.  I gotta get me some!  The nose on this bourbon was very pronounced and had sweet cherries, honey and old leather up front with slight oak and barrel tones.  My first sip was heavenly! Sweet cherries and honey on the front end with Oak and a little char on the back side with a long but subdued finish of about one minute.  All the flavors were big and bold and filled the palate with complexity and the subtleties of a good wheat bourbon.

Neat

Drink this bourbon neat every time!  It is so good this way it is almost a shame to cool it.

On the Rocks

Cooling this bourbon brings out some additional barrel notes and char on the finish, but you loose a substantial amount of the finish.

With a Splash

Don’t do it!  The nose almost disappears, the finish is gone, and much of the flavor is compromised with water.

This was a great and unique bourbon.  I haven’t had a bourbon that was so outstanding neat and then quickly unraveled with ice and water.  I would say just drink this one neat.  It is a special bourbon that doesn’t need anything else to be great.

This has been a special ride into the wheat, and I am certainly glad I took the trip!  See you down the road.

-Don