Have you ever heard of Wenzel Distillery? If not, no worries, I was recently introduced to them myself, so let me put you on. Founded in 2022, Wenzel is a craft distillery and boutique blending experience located in Covington, Kentucky. Not only can you visit for their blending experience, but they’re also producing their own line of spirits.
To showcase what they’re doing, Wenzel gifted me three of their expressions: Double Oak Barrel Proof Bourbon, Toasted Barrel Proof Bourbon, and Wheated Barrel Proof Bourbon. These products were provided with absolutely no obligation to post, review, or share my thoughts. As always, all opinions expressed here are entirely my own.
I sampled all three this weekend, and instead of squeezing them all into one Instagram post, I decided each one deserved its own review. First up: Toasted Barrel Proof Bourbon.
This expression is aged at least 8 years and has a mash bill of 69% corn, 21% rye, and 10% barley. This happened to be my husband’s favorite of the three and my second favorite, so let’s get into it.
Nose: Pepper, hay, and light sweetness
Palate: Oak, pepper, coffee, and nuttiness
Finish: Lightly sweet and warming
ABV: 55.9% | Cost: $99
This expression had the highest proof of the three, and honestly, it didn’t drink like it. Yes, there’s some warmth, but it was never too rough around the edges. On the first sip, I got oak and pepper, followed by coffee and nuttiness. Toward the end came that warming hug at the back of my throat, followed by a light sweetness that helped balance everything out.
My husband isn’t much of a bourbon guy, but this was the one he truly enjoyed and I did too. I appreciated how bold and warming this expression was, especially as the days start getting colder. That touch of sweetness also worked well against the oak, pepper, and nuttier notes.
If you haven’t tried Wenzel yet, I can tell you that what they’re doing is good. They’re not only creating their own spirits, but they’re also creating an experience for anyone who visits the distillery. So, if you see a bottle on the shelf, give them a try. And if you’re visiting Kentucky, Wenzel might just be a place to add to your list.
Cheers!
Note: The contents on my blog are solely my opinion. To me every palate is different! Although I may or may not like a product, I always recommend people to try it and make up their own minds.
