Blue Note Wheated Bourbon
The Stats
- Distillery: B.R. Distilling Company
- Location: Memphis, TN
- Type: Straight Bourbon Whiskey
- Proof: 101 Proof (50.5% ABV)
- Age: NAS
- Mash Bill: 70% Corn, 21% Wheat, 9% Malted Barley
- Release: 2026 Release
- MSRP: $45
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Blue Note has quietly built a reputation for making approachable, easy-drinking bourbon with a little Memphis personality baked into the brand. The music-inspired labels, blues club aesthetic, and “finished with soul” tagline could easily come across as gimmicky if the whiskey itself did not hold up. But lately, Blue Note has been on a surprisingly solid run.
Now the brand is stepping into wheated bourbon territory, which immediately raises expectations for a certain kind of drinker. Softer texture. Sweeter profile. Dessert-forward flavors. Comfort-pour energy. The new Blue Note Wheated Bourbon leans directly into that style, offering an approachable 101-proof pour that feels designed for easy evenings rather than proof-chasing bourbon hunts.
This is not a complex bourbon trying to reinvent wheated whiskey. It is a soft, pastry-forward pour that feels more like low lights, good music, and conversation than a whiskey designed to dominate a blind tasting.
A Soft Memphis Pour
Wheated bourbons live and die by texture. The best ones feel creamy, soft, and inviting without losing all structure underneath the sweetness. Blue Note Wheated manages to strike that balance fairly well, especially for a bottle in the $45 range.
From the very first sip, this bourbon leans fully into an easygoing, dessert-forward profile. The overall experience feels soft, sweet, and approachable without becoming overly heavy or artificial. There is enough proof to give the whiskey a little warmth and structure, but this is clearly designed to be an accessible pour rather than an aggressive one.
What stood out most was how relaxed this whiskey feels. Even at 101 proof, it drinks comfortably with very little sharpness or oak aggression. The sweetness stays controlled, the profile remains approachable throughout, and the pour never asks too much of the drinker.
That softness is also what ultimately limits the complexity a bit. While enjoyable, the whiskey does not evolve dramatically in the glass, settling into a fairly straightforward wheated bourbon experience by the end of the pour.
Still, there is something undeniably likable about it. This feels less like a bourbon built for deep analysis and more like one designed to fit a mood.
Tasting Notes
Aroma
Dessert-forward immediately. Warm peach strudel, cinnamon sugar, vanilla icing, pie crust, and soft caramel rise out of the glass first. There is a fresh-fruit quality beneath the sweetness that keeps the nose from becoming too heavy, alongside subtle hints of toasted pastry, hazelnut, and light baking spices. The overall aroma remains soft, sweet, and approachable, with little oak dominance.
Taste
The palate delivers many of the same pastry-driven notes from the nose. Peach glaze, sticky monkey bread, caramel drizzle, vanilla cream, and cinnamon all layer together into a soft wheated profile that drinks comfortably for the proof. The texture feels rounded and slightly creamy, with just enough warmth to remind you this still carries a little proof behind it.
As the pour develops, some light leather and toasted caramel notes begin to appear, adding a little depth beneath the sweetness. Still, this remains a softer, lighter whiskey overall rather than a bold or highly complex wheated bourbon.
Finish
Medium-short in length, fading gently with lingering cinnamon sweetness, vanilla, light caramel, and soft oak warmth. The finish stays pleasant and approachable, though relatively simple compared to more proof-forward wheated bourbons. A small amount of spice and warmth hangs on just long enough to keep the sweetness from completely taking over.
Artfully Bourbon Rating
6 / 10 - Above Average
Blue Note Wheated Bourbon succeeds because it knows exactly what it wants to be. This is not a bold, barrel-proof wheater chasing intensity or complexity. Instead, it leans into softness, sweetness, and easy drinkability.
The profile is approachable and dessert-forward, offering notes of peach pastry, cinnamon glaze, vanilla sweetness, and soft baking spice without becoming overly heavy or artificial. At 101 proof, it carries just enough warmth to stay interesting while remaining incredibly easy to sip.
For us, the biggest takeaway was the atmosphere this bourbon creates. This feels less like a whiskey built for deep analysis and more like one made for low lights, good music, and relaxed conversation.
Would we reach for this over some of our favorite wheated bourbons at similar prices? Probably not. Bottles like Green River Full Proof Wheated Bourbon offer more depth and complexity for our personal tastes.
Still, if you enjoy softer wheated bourbons with an easygoing personality, Blue Note Wheated delivers exactly that. A mellow, bluesy pour with just enough soul to keep the glass coming back to your hand.
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For bourbon runs, bottle shares, and backyard pours.
This Snapback Trucker Hat delivers the perfect blend of comfort, structure, and cool. Featuring a classic 6-panel design with breathable mesh and a pre-curved visor, it’s your go-to cap whether you’re hunting bottles or just keeping the sun off during golden hour sips. With a mid-profile fit and adjustable snapback, it wears well and pairs with everything—from distillery tours to weekend errands.
Product Features
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Structured 6-panel mid-profile design with hard buckram front panels
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Permacurv® visor with matching undervisor for classic shape retention
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Front & visor: 60% cotton / 40% polyester
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Back mesh: 100% breathable polyester
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Cotton sweatband for all-day comfort
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Adjustable plastic snap closure
Sourced from: Vietnam or Bangladesh
