Whiskey Review: West Fork Bottled-in-Bond Wheated Bourbon

Introduction

Today, we're checking out West Fork's Bottled-in-Bond Wheated Bourbon, a 100-proof expression from a rising Indiana craft distillery. West Fork Whiskey Co., founded in 2014 by three Indiana natives, distills its own products rather than sourcing from the state's better-known juggernaut, MGP. This bottle is their flagship four-year-old bourbon, produced in accordance with the Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897. That means it comes from a single distilling season, aged at least four years in a federally bonded warehouse, and bottled at exactly 100 proof. The mash bill, courtesy of Breaking Bourbon, is 73% corn, 17% wheat, and 10% rye—a slightly higher rye content than we expected from a wheated bourbon.

This was our first experience with West Fork Whiskey, and we were excited to see how it stacked up.

Nose

Brad: This smells very young to me. It has the craft vibe, which sometimes is good, sometimes not. I smell sawdust and corn and youth—like a street youth. 6/10

Bob: I think it's a little better than that, Brad. It smells kind of like a pancake cooked in butter where a little batter has overcooked and toasted in the pan. It has a butteriness and even a bit of burnt scent. There's also some saline, in addition to your standard bourbon notes. I think it's intriguing. 7/10

Taste

Brad: The corn really comes through. It just tastes very young. It kind of has a little bit of vanilla, reminds me of Kix cereal—a sugary coating over a bland grain ball. I don't like this. 5.5/10

Bob: I don't think it's a great whiskey either, but I think it's pretty good. It reminds me of stuff you'd drink at the Ohio Distillers Festival. It feels like you're getting in on the ground floor of something. I'm not going to compare it to well-aged Kentucky bourbon, but I like it. 6.5/10

Finish

Brad: Finish tastes like sour wheat. 5/10

Bob: I don't find this to be as unpalatable as you. I think it's pretty good. 6.5/10

Balance

Bob: If we were using Roger Ebert's four-star scale, this is a two-and-a-half-star whiskey. It’s like a 6.5/10 for me.

Brad: It's not my favorite craft whiskey, but the experience is straightforward. 6/10

Value

Brad: They're selling this for $45, which I think is a reasonable price. I've seen much worse craft whiskey for $80 to $140. $45 is an accurate price for this, but I think you can get better whiskey elsewhere at that price. 6/10

Bob: I just have a soft spot for the little guy. It costs more to be a small operation, and I think pricing this at $45 is generous. 7/10

Final Scores

Bob: 33.5/50

Brad: 28.5/50

Average: 31/50

At a 31/50, West Fork Bottled-in-Bond Wheated Bourbon falls just below our typical bar-pour threshold of 35. That said, it shows promise. While we found it youthful and rough around the edges, it lays a solid foundation for what could be a great future release. We’ve tried other West Fork products that impressed us more, and we’re excited to explore those next. For now, we’d say: sample this one at a bar if you're curious, but save your $45 for one of their more mature expressions.