Wheel Horse 5 Year Double Oaked Kentucky Straight Bourbon

Green River Distilling Company has quietly transformed Owensboro into a pivotal whiskey destination. Their distillate provides the foundation for this expression, marking a definitive shift toward complex secondary maturation. This five-year straight bourbon spent over four years resting in standard char level four barrels before undergoing an ambitious transfer into air-seasoned char level one casks. The result demands your absolute attention. Six additional months inside that fresh wood profoundly amplify the underlying richness, eschewing superficial flavorings in favor of rigorous, authentic oak interaction.

Bottling at 101 proof strikes a meticulous balance between raw power and nuanced drinkability. Latitude Beverage Company clearly recognized the inherent quality of the sourced distillate, refusing to mask its character with chill filtration. The heavy staves impart a cascade of robust, earthy sugars without ever tipping into a cloying, artificially syrupy sweetness that plagues lesser releases. You get genuine, profound depth. The interplay between traditional Kentucky corn and a hefty rye malt percentage yields unexpected waves of dark pastry notes intertwined with sharp oak tannins.

• Mashbill: 70% Corn, 21% Rye, 9% Malted Barley
• Aged 4.5 years in Char 4, finished 6 months in Char 1
• Non-chill filtered and bottled at 101 proof

Nose: Dense aromas of chocolate-dipped toffee and ripe cherry immediately command the glass. A secondary wave of warm butterscotch emerges, offset by the sharp snap of dry seasoned oak.

Palate: Demerara sugar and rich vanilla custard hit the tongue with substantial, viscous weight. The profile quickly pivots toward an assertive black pepper sting before settling into deep molasses and toasted almond.

Finish: Hot cinnamon spice takes absolute control of the palate. This lingering, profound warmth ultimately surrenders to earthy pipe tobacco and persistent leather tannins.

This expression easily cuts through the charred fat of a smoked brisket or ribeye. The intense oak backbone perfectly counterbalances savory, heavily seasoned meats. It’s absolutely fantastic with dessert. Pair a pour with dark chocolate torte to highlight the bourbon’s hidden dried cherry notes, creating a deeply resonant flavor clash.