🥃Review 96: Green River Full Proof Wheated Bourbon

Sharing the same mash bill as Green River's standard Wheated Bourbon, this full proof edition is a batch of selected barrels blended and bottled without dilution. Because of this, batch final proof will vary depending on the barrels involved, but GR is targeting a batch output range of 109-116. The February 2026 announcement hit social media like wildfire, and I've been excited to try this upgraded version. They also offer a full proof single barrel product that I believe was previously a distillery exclusive. If you're not familiar with Green River, the brand has a historic legacy of "Whiskey Without Regrets" since 1885 and was reintroduced in 2022. A sister company of Bardstown Bourbon Company, both operations have become known for their industrial precision and quality.

🛒Sourced: $49.99 for 750ml from Smyrna World of Beverage, April 2026. This is my first time seeing it on the shelf in market, though Georgia is often behind getting new releases it seems.

🧪Proof: 109.3 proof, 54.65% ABV - Seems like the consensus sweet spot for wheated bourbons is in the 105-115 range with my personal preference being on the lower end of that band.

🎨Color: R3 - Lighter than I would have thought, a cheery sunrise yellow, not terribly leggy for the proof.

🥔Mash Bill & Production: 70% corn, 21% wheat, and 9% malted barley.

Age - No Age Statement (NAS) - Company official press release states it as being a blend of barrels aged for 5-7 years specifically in the clay rickhouses at Green River. The higher heat capacity of these rickhouses results in a more even and consistent aging profile when compared to metal or wood sided facilities.
Barrel Entry Proof - I think 110 proof but I'm not completely sure.
Char - #4 Char ("Alligator Char")
Batch Size - Not Noted, likely smaller format
Chill Filtered - NO

👃Nose: A bit boozy for the proof, dry cornfield, walnut, fall foliage, and rickhouse musk.

😜Palate: Great thickness with strong wheat creaminess and pretty darn easy drinking for the proof. Nougat and fresh sweet pastry with some honeycomb offset and a slight musty off-note. There is a sort of white chocolate marshmallow under the other flavors that I don't think I've ever experienced in a whiskey before, find it most in the mid-chew peaking into the finish.

💦Finish: Solid belly warmth when it hits the stomach, outsized for the smoothness on the tongue. Flavor is either wet cornbread or the confection and chocolate depending on if you get more funk or more clarity (think it may have to do with the part of the tongue the sip hits first).

🏆 Overall: 7/10 - Great - This is a very unique drinking experience. In some ways, Green River's Full Proof Wheat Bourbon is shockingly complex, but there is this strangely dynamic wet grain aspect that intermittently rears its head. Playing around with it more, I'm pretty sure it has to do with the amount of air in the mouth and volatilization than exact positioning of the first taste, if you let it hit the back third of the tongue it is much easier to find the baking ingredients and pastry; mid or forward gives more of the damp grain. A full Kentucky chew is probably necessary to enjoy this to the fullest extent which is a little bit of a departure from habit for me (I usually am more of a wine sip type taster).

💵Would buy again? Yes, though if they come down $5-10 to match Maker's Cask that would be lovely.

🙈Blind Tastings:

7/26/26 - 1792 Full Proof Single Barrel > Green River Full Proof > Bardstown High Wheat - major caveats with this one as I think for many people the Bardstown will blow it out of the water due to the nuance as discussed.

⚖️Rating Scale:

🥃Review 92: 1.75L Costco's Kirkland Kentucky Bourbon 2026

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Released earlier this year in 2026, the Kirkland Sparkling Energy Drink lineup features three flavors: Orange, Tropical, and Peach. The style, ingredients, and caffeine content seem to be talking aim directly at recent CPG success, Celsius Energy. It echoes that brands "clean" veneer with no high fructose corn syrup, GMO ingredients, or artificial colorings. 🛒 Price: $16.99/24 ~$.7/each - Costco. Celsius is normally around $20/12 without sales, so figure around 95 cents savings per can vs. full sticker which is around 58% savings. Celsius is showing up frequently on sale around $15 now but that's still not nearly enough to reach parity. ✨Calories: 10 , 12oz. can 🍵 Caffeine: 200mg, around a third more than a cup of coffee, more than Monster and Red Bull - similar to Celsius. 👅 Flavor: Very effervescent, I get tons of bubbles - close to Red Bull and more than Celsius. It does have a thinner mouthfeel vs Monster Ultra and Red Bull on balance whi...

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