Short answer: Wheated bourbon swaps rye for wheat as the secondary grain in the mash bill. That swap softens the spice and brings out more sweetness and roundness. Our Turby's Cherrywood Bourbon uses a wheated mash bill, then finishes with cherrywood for even more smoothness.
Key Takeaways
- Bourbon must be at least 51 percent corn. Wheated bourbon uses wheat instead of rye for most of the rest.
- Wheat brings a softer, rounder flavor compared to the spice of rye.
- Turby's Cherrywood Bourbon uses a 69 corn, 21 wheat, 10 malted barley mash bill, what we call WB21.
- Turby's earned a Single Gold Medal at the 2025 San Francisco World Spirits Competition.
What Makes a Bourbon Wheated
Every bourbon has to be at least 51 percent corn by law. Past that, distillers usually fill out the rest of the mash bill with rye, wheat, or malted barley, sometimes a mix of all three. A wheated bourbon is one where wheat, not rye, is the second biggest grain in that mix.
Wheat behaves differently than rye during fermentation and aging. Rye brings pepper and spice. Wheat is softer and rounder, with less bite, so a wheated bourbon tends to taste sweeter and smoother than a high rye bourbon made from the same distillery.
Turby's Cherrywood Bourbon: A Working Example
Turby's Cherrywood Bourbon uses a mash bill of 69 percent corn, 21 percent wheat, and 10 percent malted barley, our WB21 recipe. That wheat base gives it a naturally soft, round character before it ever touches a barrel.
Turby's then ages in new charred white oak and finishes with cherrywood, which is unusual. That cherrywood finish adds notes of dark cherry and subtle vanilla on top of the wheat's natural smoothness. The result is a bourbon built for easy sipping, whether neat, on the rocks, or in a cocktail.
Turby's Cherrywood Bourbon earned a Single Gold Medal at the 2025 San Francisco World Spirits Competition.
High Rye Bourbon vs. Wheated Bourbon
| High Rye Bourbon | Wheated Bourbon (Turby's) | |
|---|---|---|
| Secondary grain | Rye | Wheat |
| Flavor lean | Peppery, spice-forward | Soft, round, sweeter |
| Finish | Dry, long spice | Smooth, mellow |
| Best for | Cocktails that need backbone | Sipping neat or on the rocks |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is wheated bourbon sweeter than regular bourbon?
It tends to taste smoother and rounder, since wheat does not bring the pepper and spice that rye does. Whether that reads as "sweeter" depends on the drinker, but wheat generally softens the profile.
What is the difference between wheated and wheat whiskey?
Wheated bourbon is still bourbon, so it stays at least 51 percent corn. Wheat whiskey has to be at least 51 percent wheat, which is a very different spirit.
Is Turby's Cherrywood Bourbon a wheated bourbon?
Yes. Turby's uses a 69 corn, 21 wheat, 10 malted barley mash bill, then finishes with cherrywood for extra smoothness.
Why finish a wheated bourbon with cherrywood?
Cherrywood adds notes of dark cherry and subtle vanilla that build on wheat's natural roundness, giving Turby's its signature smooth, fruit-forward character.
Try Wheated Bourbon for Yourself
Pick up a bottle of Turby's Cherrywood Bourbon from our shop and taste the difference wheat makes.