Heaven Hill Grain to Glass (Wheated)
Overall Score: 7/10
Overall Value: 3/5
Distillery: Elijah Craig Distillery Co. (Heaven Hill)
Classification: Straight Wheated Bourbon
Company: Elijah Craig Distillery Co. (Heaven Hill)
Release Date: Summer 2024
Proof: 121
Age: 6-8 Years Old
Color: Hazelnut
MSRP: $100 (2024)
Mashbill: 52% Corn, 35% Wheat, and 13% Malted barley
The Barrel Bros’ Review
The nose on the Heaven Hill Grain to Glass Wheated brings a pleasant sweetness, starting with buttered waffles drenched in maple syrup and a subtle undertone of dark fruits. There’s also a faint oakiness that supports the overall sweetness nicely. Some notes are reminiscent of old library books or paper, especially when it airs out. A drop or two of water brings out more caramel and softens the profile, enhancing the experience in our view.
The mouthfeel of the palate is on the thinner side but coats the palate well. You’ll find a strong peanut profile, almost like Reese's peanut butter cup cereal or a Pay Day candy bar, with a bit of graininess. The sweetness from the nose is dialed back here, allowing the wheat to stand out. The flavor evokes hearty bread. Again, adding water helps to smooth out the harshness and brings more balance to the pour.
The finish highlights the wheat and grain, with a lingering proof that may be too strong for some. It transitions from sweetness to a more papery, sour note that’s characteristic of the wheated style. There’s a bit of oak, but nothing too bold.
Heaven Hill's Grain to Glass Wheated offers an intriguing balance of sweetness and wheated character, especially with its maple syrup and dark fruit nose. However, the palate leans more toward grain and peanut notes, and the 121 proof can overpower the experience.
While water improves the pour, the $100 MSRP feels a bit steep for what’s in the glass. For fans of wheated bourbons, it may still be worth trying, but it’s not the standout offering you might expect from Heaven Hill at this price.
If you’re looking for specific notes from our Barrel Bros, read their individual reviews below!
Individual Reviews
The Rye Guy Says
Score: 7.5/10
Value: 3.5/5
THE NOSE:
Buttered waffle with maple syrup. There is also a sweet dark fruit profile running underneath.
The oakiness present on this is very subtle and more of a supporting note to the sweetness, which is how I prefer it.
THE TASTE:
Honestly I felt the mouth feel on this pour was pretty thin, however it really coated the palate well.
There is a peanut profile here with a bit of graininess that presents like Reese's peanut butter cup cereal or a Pay Day.
However, the sweetness is dialed back in comparison to the nose.
THE FINISH:
It has a lasting full bodied finish that moves away from the sweetness.
The wheated part of the bourbon has an opportunity to shine here and also brings a bit of a papery sourness.
BUY OR PASS?
I really enjoyed all aspects of this pour with the nose and the palate being the clear favorite.
It feels and drinks well balanced and presents itself well.
The Hunter Says
Score: 6.5/10
Value: 2.5/5
THE NOSE:
Definitely has that wheated profile, reminding me of Weller Antique 107, but it’s less complex.
There’s a scent of library books or old paper, with a small hint of red fruit—maybe cherry.
This is the best part of the pour. After adding a couple of drops of water, more caramel and sweet notes came forward, making it much more enjoyable.
THE TASTE:
The wheat and grain are there, but not too strong. It reminds me of hearty bread, and honestly, I think it might be better at a lower proof.
As it is, it feels a bit like chewing on a sweet, dusty book. When I added two drops of water, it made a huge difference—the harshness disappeared, and I was left with a solid wheated bourbon.
While wheated profiles aren’t my favorite, this bottle pulls it off pretty well after the water adjustment.
THE FINISH:
There’s not much going on in the finish—just a bit of oak.
The wheated flavor is still present, but mostly it’s a strong proof hug that’s a little too much for my taste.
Again, after adding water, the harshness faded, which made me think 121 proof might not be this bourbon's sweet spot.
BUY OR PASS?
I love Heaven Hill and I appreciate their new offerings, but at $100, this one feels like a bit of a miss. The bottle is beautiful, and the story behind the Grain to Glass offering is interesting, but I have to judge it based on the pour.
While adding a few drops of water improved it, for someone who usually enjoys higher proof pours, it didn’t quite shine where I expected it to.
