OLD EMMER WHEATED KENTUCKY STRAIGHT BOURBON WHISKEY
KENTUCKY, USA
WHY BUY:
Three wheated bourbons for everyday drinking for up to $20 off. The proprietary blend for each of these expressions from Old Emmer pays homage to, well, Emmer, an ancient, low-yield heirloom wheat, the exact prehistoric grain that shows up in Buffalo Trace’s much-lauded Daniel Weller release. Ol’ Emmy’s wonderful new Cigar Blend Bourbon costs a tiny fraction of that, and, we assure you, is going to be a keeper for you throughout the winter: a wonderfully soft slow-sipper with haunting notes of rich toffee and oak spice. We've also secured their High Wheat and their Toasted Barrel, a sublime single barrel. These are wonderfully versatile bourbons, the kind you save for sipping alone, by the fire, but given their depth and roundness, we have to confess: we can't resist stirring them, from time to time, into a Manhattan or Old Fashioned.
THE GRAIN:
Nearly all wheated bourbon leans on soft red winter wheat, the same grain you find in Weller and Pappy. Old Emmer skips it entirely. Instead, it targets Emmer wheat, a high-protein strain that actually predates recorded history; it was cultivated in ancient Egypt long, long before anyone thought to distill anything from it. What it gives the bourbon is a depth and character that’s hard to put into words.
OUR TASTING NOTES:
* The Cigar Blend is the new arrival, and never has a bourbon been better named. Finished across Cognac, Oloroso Sherry, and Armagnac barrels, it delivers an attackless attack, smooth and easy-going, with dried fruit and rich toffee giving way, slowly, to oak spice and an almost velvety warmth. This is a drink for a slow, lingering night at home. Tobacco hovers in the background, there, but not insistent, and yep, you’ll find yourself wanting to light up a good Cuban to smoke alongside it.
* Wheat makes up a frankly startling 28% of the High Wheat. This one was aged for a minimum of four years, with some barrels that stretched past seven. The high grain percentage brings a softness and generousness to the palate, and we love the way the notes of sweet vanilla and orchard fruit trade lines, like a pair of saxophonists in a jazz tune. This is exactly the kind of gentle, easy-going profile that wheat lovers chase … and rarely, if ever, find below the $60 mark.
* The Toasted Barrel is the single barrel of the trio; it was matured in staves that were toasted and charred for the expressed purpose of flattering the wheat. Notes of toffee and caramel predominate, but what makes this one so seductive, and so hard to resist, are the hints of smoldering oak that carry through to the slow, sustained finish. This was produced in limited quantities, and tends to sell out quickly … whenever and wherever it shows up.
THE STORY:
Produced by Kentucky Whiskey Bottling in Shelbyville, KY, Old Emmer is described by some as a “modern dusty,” offering today’s drinker a rare opportunity to experience flavors of the past. To craft its wheated expressions, Old Emmer uses only the finest wheat harvested for grain-forward flavor, and mirrors traditional production of wheated bourbon’s earliest days.
FUN FACT:
Emmer wheat doesn’t just go back to ancient Egypt. It’s explicitly mentioned in the so-called pyramid texts, the oldest-known religious and funerary writings in the world.
OUR GUARANTEE:
As always, we only buy and source directly from the producer to ensure that your bottles arrive as they should, and as you deserve: with pristine provenance guaranteed.
*Offer NOT valid in-store. This offer is made pre-arrival, with wines estimated to be delivered to your preferred store in Fall 2026. All sale prices are the lowest available at Total Wine & More and ONLY valid through Concierge Sales. No further discounts or coupons may be applied. The price reflected on your order form is subject to change after the order is placed in the event of a change in tariffs or taxes that are imposed by the U.S. government, or in the case of currency fluctuations of 10% or greater. Offer not valid in KS, MI, NC, NY, TN, VA, & WA. This offer will expire on Monday, October 5, 2026.