Review #238: World Whiskey Society 10 Year Wheated Bourbon Finished in Cognac Casks, 14th Edition

MASH BILL: 51% corn, 45% wheat, 4% malted barley

AGE: 10 yr

PROOF: 117

COST: $100 for 750mL bottle (South Carolina)

World Whiskey Society focuses on producing “ultra-premium whisky.” It focuses on finishing unique whiskeys they've sourced from around this world. All are limited releases and give a sense of being exclusive. From the packagin, to the juice inside, to the price, it all feels premium and exclusive. But is it? This particular release of 352 bottles features a 10 year old wheated bourbon from Oklahoma featuring a high wheat bourbon mash bill with 45% wheat. Finished in French cognac barrels for an undisclosed amount of time, I'm expecting a rich, sweet experience. Sounds right up my alley! Let’s see if it feels as premium as it sounds.

Reviewed neat in a Glencairn.

APPEARANCE: A warm auburn color (1.5), quite oily, almost syrupy looking on the sides of the glass, making it promising for the rich, sweetness I’m anticipating.

NOSE: There is an astringentness on the nose at first. Caramel, lots of orange citrus, melted cinnamon Red Hots, and vanilla bean ice cream. Baking spices dance around the proof heat while tannic oak lingers in the background. I was expecting more dark fruit notes with the cognac finish, but not getting them all that much. I do get a berry turnover note with a vigorous swirl of the glass though.

PALATE: There's some fruit! Sticky plums, stewed berries, and cherry cordial pop right away. Dark brown sugar and a nice baking spice mix with clove particularly standing out for me. This has a syrupy mouthfeel to match the sweetness at the beginning but gets soft and creamy towards the end. Flavors start coalescing to a cherry vanilla ice cream with a caramel drizzle halfway through the sip, but then it starts turning more spicy and earthy. An earthy/grainy malt-o-meal note with tons of added sugar, ginger appears around the edges of the palate, and some seasoned oak. It is warming late in the sip with signs of the proof tickling my palate.

FINISH: A long, sweet finish with a hearty hug. Caramelized sugar, underripe cherry, and candied ginger. As the sweetness fades, cinnamon sticks, charred oak, and nutmeg meander with toasted vanilla beans long into the finish. The spice notes last for minutes after the swallow.

RATING: 6.9/10

OVERALL: This was a tasty pour that reminded me of Midwinter Nights Dram in a lot of ways, even though we’re talking a wheater vs a rye whiskey, but it was a bit punchier with the proof heat and generally sweeter. The sticky, sweet fruit notes with lovely baking spices on the palate and finish were great! I do wish I got more of that on the nose though. The 45% wheat mash bill and 10 year age statement made for a great mouthfeel. Overall, it's a fun whiskey in a fun bottle, and perhaps the best cognac (solely cognac) finished bourbon I've had, albeit I've not had many. After trying a few of these WWS expressions, you're certainly paying something for the fancy packaging, but it does help that the whiskey isn't a dud. These aren't bottles I'll be reaching for all the time because of the price and knowing a decent penny is lost in the glass and 2 pound stopper, but considering they're usually available in most stores, it does make for a fun bottle to set on the bar when you want a fun whiskey to share with people.

1 | Disgusting | see my 1/10 ratings

2 | Poor | see my 2/10 ratings

3 | Bad | see my 3/10 ratings

4 | Sub-par | see my 4/10 ratings

5 | Good | see my 5/10 ratings

6 | Very Good | see my 6/10 ratings

7 | Great | see my 7/10 ratings

8 | Excellent | see my 8/10 ratings

9 | Incredible | see my 9/10 ratings

10 | Perfect | see my 10/10 ratings

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