Neeley Small Batch Wheated Bourbon Review | 94 Proof

Neeley Family Distillery
Small Batch Wheated Bourbon
Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
94 Proof
SRP: $80
Review

Please enjoy our Neeley Small Batch Wheated Bourbon Review!

Background

Founded by eleventh-generation distiller Royce Neeley, Neeley Family Distillery in Sparta, Kentucky, produces a variety of spirits, including Hidden Barn Bourbons, Old Jett Brothers Bourbons, R.D.R. Neeley Sweet Thumped Rye, Neeley’s Wormwood Absinthe Verte, and a variety of moonshines and flavored whiskeys. We have visited many times and we’re happy to share what we know about the distillery in our Neeley Family Distillery Tour Review.

According to the distillery, “The second blend from single barrel coordinator, Rebekah Neeley, this batch [Neeley Small Batch Wheated Bourbon] was an idea she had to bring the old school tasting notes of Neeley bourbons to a soft drinking proof, with all the flavor, blending 34 twenty-five gallon barrels together.”

Details – Neeley Small Batch Wheated Bourbon Review

• Distillery: Neeley Family Distillery
• Expression: Small Batch Wheated Bourbon
• Type: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• Age: 5 Years
• Mash Bill: 68% Corn, 19% Wheat, 13% Malted Barley
• Proof: 94
• ABV: 47%
• Barrels: 34 Twenty-Five-Gallon Barrels
• Char Level: Char 2
• Filtration: Non-Chill Filtered
• Fermentation: Cypress Fermented
• Distillation: Copper Pot Distilled
• Mash: Sweet Mashed
• SRP: $80 / 750ml

Tasting Notes – Neeley Small Batch Wheated Bourbon Review

Let’s taste it:

🛏 Rested: 15 minutes in a Glencairn glass

👉🏻 Nose: Moderately sweet, honey, light butterscotch, raspberry jam, sweet creamed corn; maple syrup in the background; subtle tart orange peel and graininess; alcohol vapor appropriate for the proof; tea later on.
👉🏻 Taste: Mild honey sweetness, unsweetened tea, raspberry jam, sweet corn.
👉🏻 Finish: Tea becomes more pronounced, raspberry jam fades; mild char; increasingly dry later on; mild black pepper spice develops and lingers; fairly long.

Raspberry Jam, Tea And A Dry Finish

The nose of Neeley Small Batch Wheated Bourbon starts out fairly sweet, with a mix of honey, light butterscotch and raspberry jam. As time goes on, the jam becomes dominant. There’s a background of sweet creamed corn, maple syrup, tart orange peel and a touch of graininess. The alcohol vapor is fairly mild, as would be expected for the proof. After a few sips, tea becomes more noticeable in the nose.

The sweetness on the palate is less pronounced than on the nose and comes from light honey. The raspberry jam continues and is joined by unsweetened iced tea and some sweet corn, as well. The tea becomes more pronounced in the finish, while the jam fades. Later on, the finish becomes quite dry, with lingering black pepper spice and mild barrel char. The finish is surprisingly long for the proof.

Neeley Small Batch Wheated Bourbon Packs Plenty Of Flavor Into 94 Proof

As time has gone on, I’ve come to appreciate lower proof bourbons that have plenty of flavor and body. Neeley Small Batch Wheated Bourbon is one of those. It delivers plenty of flavor, with a nice layered complexity, at its 94 proof. That’s thanks to Royce Neeley’s trusty pot stills and the techniques that he has developed over the years, along with Rebekah Neeley’s blending skills.

If you are looking for a full-flavored satisfying pour that doesn’t pack a lot of proof, you’ll want to give Neeley Small Batch Wheated Bourbon a try. Have you tried it? What did you think? Cheers!🥃

We hope you have enjoyed our Neeley Small Batch Wheated Bourbon Review! Next, read these related reviews: Neeley Sweet Thumped Rye Review and Hidden Barn Perfect Harmony Madeira Finished Bourbon Review.

Note: This sample was graciously provided by the Brand for my review. I appreciate it!

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