Whiskey is
an ageless spirit that has always found ways to re-invent itself through the
use of different grains. The best
Scottish and Irish whiskies are generally built on barley while the top
American bourbons are derived from distilled corn or rye. Having a great fondness for all of these
styles, I was instantly enamored with the thought of trying a new one when I
received a bottle of Bernheim Original,
a wheat based whiskey from Kentucky.
The thought
of taking a great beverage that is traditionally focused on malted barley and
adding some wheat into the mix is clearly not a new one when one considers how well
wheat based beers compliment their barley counterparts. As with beer, the wheat version does not
disappoint and offers a lighter, smoother, yet flavorful alternative to barley
(or in the case of most bourbon – corn).
On its own, Bernheim is incredibly smooth. It has a light, slightly spicy and sweet flavor. Like many fine Irish whiskies or lighter
American or Canadian whiskies, Bernheim
goes down neatly without an intense burn or strong and intensely
memorable peat-y aftertaste (yeah Scotland – I’m referring to you . . . ) Smooth, however, should not be confused with
weak or flavorless . . . this whiskey has plenty of flavor that continues to
reinforce the notion it’s a great contender.
As with rye
whiskies, I found that Bernheim has potential
to play a niche role in whiskey based cocktails due to its unconventional
smoothness and wheat based character. Looking
for something to truly showcase the flavor, I went to the source tried some of
the cocktails that Bernheim
recommends on its unconventionally arranged website.
I tried the Bernheim Blossom and the Bernheim Fashion and liked both very
much. Both were very light and smooth
and showcased how the use of a wheat based whiskey can provide a new twist on
classic bourbon cocktails. As somebody who
rarely mixes orange juice with whiskey, I found Bernheim to be a particularly
pleasant compliment to citrusy mixes which helps explain the large number of
citrus influenced cocktails on their website.*
I hope that
you get a chance to try this unique Kentucky whiskey and some of the great
cocktails that showcases its lovely and unique character. Cheers!
* Although I
abhor the custom of garnishing a finely crafted Hefeweizen with an orange
slice, I understand the wheat/citrus impulse and it plays out beautifully here.
