Wildfether Barrel Strength Wheated Bourbon Whiskey is a 100-proof craft bourbon from New Jersey, aged 24 months and bottled at barrel strength. This distinctive wheated bourbon features a mash bill of 60% heirloom corn, 20% New Jersey malted barley, and 20% New Jersey red wheat, creating a smooth yet bold expression that showcases the Garden State's emerging whiskey heritage.

In the heart of Haddonfield, New Jersey, Wildfether Distilling has carved out a unique space in American whiskey making. Their commitment to local grains — including heirloom corn varietals and red wheat grown in New Jersey soil — speaks to a philosophy of terroir-driven spirits. The 100 barrel entry proof and barrel strength bottling preserves every nuance of flavor developed during those crucial 24 months of aging, delivering an uncompromising expression of their craft.

Tasting Notes

• Nose: Warm baking spices, vanilla custard, toasted grain, honey wheat bread, subtle oak char
• Palate: Creamy wheat texture, caramel corn sweetness, cinnamon bark, roasted malt, peppery rye undertones
• Finish: Medium length with lingering wheat softness, oak tannins, brown butter, gentle heat

Product Details

Perfect For

• Neat Sipping: The barrel strength intensity paired with wheat's natural smoothness creates an ideal contemplative pour
• Craft Cocktails: Adds backbone and character to Old Fashioneds and Manhattans without losing its wheated personality
• Whiskey Education: Showcases how regional grains and terroir influence flavor in American whiskey
• Collection Building: Represents the exciting new wave of Mid-Atlantic craft distilling

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Wildfether Barrel Strength Wheated Bourbon taste like?

Wildfether's wheated bourbon offers a creamy, soft mouthfeel with prominent vanilla and caramel notes from the wheat, balanced by the structure of heirloom corn and the complexity of New Jersey malted barley. At 100 proof, it delivers warmth without overwhelming heat, showcasing the smoothness that wheat brings to the mash bill while maintaining bourbon's characteristic richness.

Is this good for cocktails or should I drink it neat?

This barrel strength bourbon works beautifully both ways. Neat, you'll appreciate the full complexity of the local grains and the unfiltered character that barrel proof provides. In cocktails, the 100 proof strength ensures the whiskey's personality shines through mixers, while the wheat component adds a silky texture that elevates classic bourbon cocktails like Old Fashioneds and Whiskey Sours.

How does New Jersey wheat affect the flavor compared to other wheated bourbons?

New Jersey's red wheat brings a distinctive terroir element that sets this apart from typical wheated bourbons. The local red wheat variety tends to contribute more pronounced grain character and subtle mineral notes compared to soft red winter wheat used elsewhere, while still providing the signature smoothness wheated bourbons are known for. Combined with heirloom corn, it creates a uniquely Mid-Atlantic flavor profile.

Is 24 months enough aging for a quality bourbon?

While younger than traditional Kentucky bourbons, 24 months allows the high-quality local grains to shine without being overwhelmed by oak. The barrel strength bottling preserves all the flavors developed during aging, and the wheated mash bill naturally creates smoothness that complements this age statement. This represents the emerging craft distilling philosophy of letting grain character, not just wood aging, define the whiskey.

What makes Wildfether different from other craft distilleries?

Wildfether's commitment to using 100% local New Jersey grains — including heirloom corn varieties and regional red wheat — creates a true sense of place in their whiskey. Their barrel strength bottling philosophy ensures no flavor is lost to dilution, giving you the whiskey exactly as it came from the barrel. This approach showcases how terroir and local agriculture can influence American whiskey just as it does wine.

You must be 21 years of age or older to purchase this product.