Willett Wheated 8 Year Old Bourbon. Kentucky Bourbon Distillers, Bardstown, Kentucky — the wheated mash bill expression of the Willett own-distilled program aged 8 years, bottled at 115 proof without chill filtration, replacing rye with wheat as the secondary grain to produce a softer, sweeter, more approachable character than the Family Estate's standard high-rye expressions while delivering the concentrated proof and barrel-character depth that 8 years of Kentucky aging produces.

The wheated mash bill — corn, wheat, and malted barley, with no rye — is the same category framework that defines W.L. Weller and Pappy Van Winkle's celebrated softness. In the Willett program, where most own-distilled single barrel expressions use a high-rye mash bill, the Wheated 8 Year occupies a distinct position: the same Bardstown production and Kentucky aging conditions, but a fundamentally different flavor direction driven by wheat's natural sweetness and smoothness replacing rye's spice and structure.

At 115 proof without chill filtration, the Wheated 8 Year delivers the wheat's natural sweetness and the 8-year barrel's caramel and vanilla at full barrel intensity. Non-chill filtration preserves the natural oils and flavor compounds that chill filtration would remove, ensuring the mouthfeel and complexity that the barrel developed over 8 years stays in the glass.

Tasting Notes

• Nose: Warm wheat sweetness, vanilla, caramel, and light honey — the softer, more approachable aromatic profile that the wheated mash bill produces over the standard high-rye Family Estate expressions.
• Palate: Sweet, smooth, and full-bodied at 115 proof — the wheat's natural sweetness integrated with 8 years of caramel and vanilla from American oak. Less spice, more softness than the rye-forward Family Estate expressions.
• Finish: Long and warming with sweet wheat character and gentle oak. The non-chill filtration's natural oils produce a richer, more coating finish than filtered expressions.

Specs

• Distillery: Kentucky Bourbon Distillers, Bardstown, Kentucky
• Mash Bill: Wheated (corn, wheat, malted barley — no rye)
• Age: 8 years
• ABV: 57.5% (115 proof)
• Filtration: Non-chill filtered
• Inventory: 2 bottles in stock
• Size: 750ml

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Frequently Asked Questions

• How does the Wheated 8 Year differ from standard Willett Family Estate bourbon? Most Willett own-distilled Family Estate bourbon uses a high-rye mash bill producing bold spice and grain character. The Wheated uses wheat instead of rye — producing a softer, sweeter, more vanilla-forward profile closer to Weller or wheated Pappy-style bourbon than to the rye-driven Family Estate expressions.
• What is non-chill filtration? Standard chill filtration cools whiskey before bottling to remove natural oils and proteins that might cause cloudiness when served cold. Those oils also carry flavor and mouthfeel. Non-chill filtration skips this step — preserving the natural oils and producing a richer, more textured mouthfeel and fuller flavor profile.
• Is the Wheated 8 Year still available? Yes — 2 bottles in current stock. Order online with fast shipping.