Bernheim Barrel Proof Wheat Whiskey B923

Nose is relatively muted, but features popcorn, wintergreen, saltwater taffy, tangerine, new leather, honey, and oak tannins. A confusing mix for sure. Ethanol definitely a presence and makes you pay the price if you huff too deeply. Palate deviates from the nose in a positive way offering caramel, buttered corn, chocolate, brown sugar, and a hint of orange/citrus which was very welcome. Flavors are robust, but also center on the back of the tongue adding a hint of harshness. Finish is surprisingly long and brings a spice bloom of cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, and cardamom along with black pepper, dried oak, and burnt sugars. There is a little astringent alcohol burn and root vegetable note after everything else fades. Mouthfeel is medium bodied and sufficiently oily and suits the profile well. Finishing better then it starts, this doesn’t suck but there are some flaws as there is kind of an astringency throughout which brings the overall experience down a peg. At the $79.99 that I paid (damn mail order, lol) it is pretty far from a rebuy and I’d even struggle to rebuy it at a lower price since I can think of a better whiskey at nearly every price point. Middle of the road.

The nose is very bold and full, with sweet notes of charred oak and caramel immediately jumping out. Vanilla comes out balanced with earthy notes of molasses and brown sugar. Its quite intense and gets you excited for your first sip. The palate is dry and chewy, igniting the mouth with a burst of pepper and spicy cherry syrup, as charred oak quickly floods the mouth. Sweet notes of vanilla and caramel can be coaxed out as it breathes, but overall this whiskey is simple and to the point. The intensity of the flavors is what makes this stand out. The finish is long and slightly chewy with the mouth tingly as dry oak and sweetness take their time gently fading.

NEAT NOSE - Pleasant nose. This smells like lightly toasted wheat bread sprinkled with cinnamon and nutmeg with honey and caramel drizzled over it. PALATE - Silky and smooth. Honey, Cinnamon, and nutmeg are dominant on the palate. There is a minty finish on the end that’s unexpected but not unpleasant. FINISH - Medium. BUY? - Yes, great bottle at MSRP. BUY AGAIN? - Not this specific batch, but that’s okay. I look forward to seeing where this series of batches goes as this is only the second in it’s line.

On the nose, the ethanol hits right off the bat, with hints of chocolate and mint. The palate is sweet, but at the same time spicy with an ever building burn. The finish is decent, but leaves an earthy after taste.