Green River Kentucky Straight Wheated Bourbon
Mike Rosen

Bourbon

December 15, 2025

Originally founded in 1885, Green River (DSP-KY-10) is the 10th-oldest distillery in Kentucky. Prior to Prohibition, Owensboro, Kentucky, was one of the richest contributors to the bourbon industry with more than 20 distilleries. Fire and prohibition relegated the brand to history, but Green River Distilling was reestablished and purchased by Bardstown Bourbon Company in July 2022. The distillery also runs a successful contract distillation business, producing, aging, and bottling many other whiskies. In March 2023, Green River Distilling introduced a straight wheated bourbon with a 21% wheat mash bill to complement their flagship 21% rye mash bill bourbon. Green River Straight Wheated Bourbon is bottled at 90 proof with a retail price of $34.99. Let’s get started.

Taken: Neat in a Glencairn glass, rested for about 10 minutes.

Distillery: Green River Distilling Co., Owensboro, KY.

Proof: 90.

Age: NAS (at least 4 years).

Mash bill: 70% Corn/21% Wheat/9% Malted Barley.

Retail Price: $34.99.

Appearance: Light golden caramel.

Nose

Caramel, honey, pears, peaches, vanilla icing, oranges, baked bread, green tea, toasted almonds, allspice, and oak. Light, sweet, floral, and very fruity.

Palate

With a medium mouthfeel, there’s caramel, butterscotch, peaches, orange slice, green tea, toasted almonds, a very moderate amount of allspice, and oak. This is a light, easy drinker, but very flavorful for its proof.

Finish

Delicate allspice continues with caramel, poached pears, stone fruit, orange peel, pie crust, soft leather, and subtle pipe tobacco. Spice and soft pipe tobacco linger, delivering a delicate yet medium-long finish.

Conclusion

In my review of the Seelbach’s Private Reserve Wheated Bourbon (sourced from Green River Distilling), I said that while I don’t subscribe to the “this” is a “that” bottle killer, the Seelbach’s Wheated has a very “Weller vibe”. The same is also true for the flagship Green River Straight Wheated. Although I don’t usually prefer bourbons in the 90-proof range, I sometimes want something lighter and fruitier, and Green River Wheated perfectly fits the bill. Although it’s obvious, the Green River Wheated wasn’t intended to slap you in the face with high-proof intensity. But, if you’re looking for a delicious, fruity, sweet, well-balanced, and very easy-drinking wheated bourbon at this proof point, the Green River Straight Wheated Bourbon is a great choice at a great price.

Rating: 6.0/10.

The bottle for this review was provided by Green River Distilling at no cost and without any stipulations. The opinions expressed in this review are my own..

1 | Disgusting | So bad I poured it out.
2 | Poor | I wouldn’t consume by choice.
3 | Bad | Multiple flaws.
4 | Sub-par | Not bad, but better exists.
5 | Good | Good, just fine.
6 | Very Good | A cut above.
7 | Great | Well above average.
8 | Excellent | Really quite exceptional.
9 | Incredible | An all-time favorite.
10 | Perfect | Perfect.

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