It has been a hell of a long time since we’ve reviewed Buffalo Trace’s Bourbon (nearly 8 years) since then it’s remained a bar staple for a good time on rocks or request for an Old Fashioned (if in the mood for non-rye). They apparently have a vodka now, and where that has a more diverse and muted flavor – this is a big wheat and grain scenario.
What we get is something that overall really doesn’t have too big a sore spot. It’s actually what makes this a better vodka in our minds because often there might be something fantastic, but the burn will just ruin any idea – sure it averages out in the end, but it’s better to just be darn good at most everything.
What they Say: “Craft distilled ten times, this vodka is made from a distinct recipe and unique process that delivers a delicately soft and crisp taste. Starting with a proprietary wheat recipe that is cooked, fermented, and distilled seven times on our custom micro-still, it is then married with a second recipe made from grains that has also been distilled seven times. Next, the marriage is distilled three more times in our dedicated vodka pot still. This delivers exceptionally pure and balanced vodka. Finally, after being triple filtered for clarity and bottled at 82 proof, the result is Wheatley vodka. We’ve been making award-winning whiskey at Buffalo Trace Distillery for over 200 years and are humbled to be the most award-winning distillery in the world. As Master Distiller, I am proud to carry on our tradition of distillation expertise and innovation with Wheatley vodka. I hope you like it. This is how vodka is supposed to taste. – Harlen Wheatley, Master Distiller.”
Taste: 6.0 – It starts off with a hint of – nah just kidding – just a big wheaty vodka flavor. It tracks, but damn.
Aftertaste: 6.0 – That’s so much Wheat in the backend it has pictures of the winner of the latest sporting event on it (Wheaties) – it infects the whole flavor.
Burn/Smooth: 4.5 – There is a bit of burn despite what seems to be 10 times distillation. Overall though it’s fairly minor, and can’t compete with the flavor
Aroma: 8.5 – It smells a tiny bit like grass. (we suppose that’s actually wheat), but you have to dig into it to get that as it is otherwise fairly odorless – which is good, because there’s no face punching awfulness going on either.
Honesty: 6.0 – Mostly goes on about process which is good – better than wanking off. There is some of that sprinkled in, but it otherwise doesn’t commit any major crimes, whilst doing a bit to bolster itself. Putting the face of the man who makes it on the bottle helps it to prove it’s willing to back its claims so they do alright.
Mixability: 6.5
Vodka Tonic: 6.5 – It does have some of that flavor here, but not to its detriment. It makes for a good Vodka Tonic.
White Russian: 6.5 – That wheat flavor gives you a certainly unique taste on a Russian. It might not be as good as a delicious creamy flavor like you get with some vodkas, but it’s good.
Value: 5.5 – That’s not tremendous, and at best runs maybe a dollar or two cheaper than you’d expect. However, being good at mixing gives it a certain length of leeway here.
Google Shop Average: $17
Website: https://www.wheatleyvodka.com/
Reviewer Scores:
BuffaloJern: 6.5
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Metric Score: 43/70 |+| Metric Average: 6.14 |+| Reviewer Average: 6.5
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Final Thoughts: This is one of the rare times we almost wish we could give scores in quarters, because 6.25 is much easier than our internal debate of 6 or 6.5. In the end, though we went higher because as we said before – there’s really no major faults here, and for a vodka that’s a damn fine achievement.
