Wheated bourbon has a reputation for being the soft, easygoing member of the bourbon mashbill family. Barton 1792 is betting it can hit hard too, with its new 1792 Wheated Full Proof, a 125-proof version of its 1792 Sweet Wheat bourbon.
Sweet Wheat first came out in 2015 and uses wheat in place of the rye found in most bourbon mashbills, which tends to give the whiskey a softer, rounder profile.
The new release keeps that recipe but bottles it at full proof, meaning it goes into the bottle at 125 proof, the same proof it entered the barrel at.
It’s also the wheated counterpart to 1792 Full Proof, which is already a regular part of the lineup.
Barton 1792 has been making whiskey in Bardstown since 1879, making it the oldest fully operating distillery in town. It’s also one of the more private operations in bourbon country.
Despite sitting on 196 acres with 30 barrel-aging warehouses, Barton 1792 no longer offers public tours, citing plant capacity and safety. For most drinkers, a new release like this is about as close to a look inside as they’ll get.
A smart way to sell a big-proof wheater
Barrel-strength bourbon has been a runaway success story, and wheated bourbons are some of the most sought-after bottles around. Combining the two makes plenty of sense.
The more interesting call is the bottle size. 1792 Wheated Full Proof comes in a 375 mL half bottle, a smaller commitment for anyone curious about high-proof bourbon who isn’t sure they want a full 750 of it.
Some simple math shows that works out to about $80 for a full bottle. That’s a premium, but not an unreasonable one for a barrel-proof wheated bourbon from a brand with plenty of awards behind it.
Sweet Wheat alone has picked up Double Gold at the 2024 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, Gold at the 2025 International Wine & Spirit Competition, and Gold at the 2026 Denver International Spirits Competition.
If you’re new to the style, here’s a primer on some of the best wheated bourbons to try.
Where to buy it
1792 Wheated Full Proof arrives in November in California, Texas, New York, Florida, and Illinois, at a suggested retail price of $39.99 for a 375 mL bottle.
