Bulleit Bourbon Mesquite Wood-Smoked Malt Nails Savory and Sweet

BOTTLE DETAILS

• DISTILLER: Bulleit Distilling Co.
• MASH BILL: 60% Corn | 30% Mesquite-Smoked Malted Barley | 5% Malted Barley
• AGE: At least 6 years
• YEAR: 2026
• PROOF: 93 proof (46.5% ABV)
• MSRP: $49.99
• BUY ONLINE: TheBar.com and ReserveBar

STEVE'S NOTES

SHARE WITH: Any whiskey drinker who will like something different. I sip a lot of new whiskies each year, and while that's fun, repeat flavors inevitably set in. So, it's nice to taste something not done often in American whiskey–something that makes you wonder why it wasn't done before.

WORTH THE PRICE: It is. It's a cool novelty that I hope to see added to the main line, and, perhaps tweaked a little to make it more distinct. But yeah, if you "drink curious," as we advise, you'll enjoy this.

BOTTLE, BAR OR BUST: Bottle. That way you get all the liquid to try neat (best) or in a cocktail (good). Over rocks, though, the smoke influence was diluted.

OVERALL: Some interesting italicized stuff from the press release on Mesquite Smoked Malt: This marks the first time a Bulleit Bourbon has removed rye from the recipe, reflecting the brand’s spirit to do things differently. Nice! As big a fan of rye as I am, I'm interested to see what happens.

“It’s important to note that while this release is a first-of-its-kind spirit for the brand, it is not a flavored whiskey,” said Phil Gelineau, Whiskey R&D Manager at Bulleit. I can assure you, were it flavored, I'd not have asked for a review sample. “The subtle smokiness comes from the mesquite wood-smoked malt used in the mash bill. As it has aged, those notes have rounded into something richer and more complex, with layers of brown sugar, caramel, and real depth of body. The mesquite character lingers on top, giving it a smooth yet distinctive smoky finish.”

I've tasted charcoal-influenced and smoked grain American whiskies, but as far as I and ChatGPT can tell, this is the only one that's smoked its malt using mesquite charcoal. By comparison, Wild Turkey Longbranch (not great) and Old Forester King Ranch Edition (pretty good, but Texas only) both used mesquite charcoal to influence the liquid rather than via smoking the grain.

• As serendipity would have it, as I was writing this, I got a press sample offer for Warbinger Mesquite Smoked Southwest Bourbon, which smokes its malt and its corn. This is from Sespe Distillery in Oxnard, Calif. Never heard of it, but I'm eager to try its whiskey.

Back to the review ... On the nose, the smoke is subtle, but there. If you're a fan of Isla Scotches or smoky mezcals, you'll find the smoke dose on the light side. Imagine the delicate whiff of smoke you get the day after you smoked a brisket and came back the day after to clean your smoker. That's the intensity I get.

It's there and delicate on the palate, too, and on the first sip, it's really enjoyable. But by the time I get to the third sip, it's starting to taste more like reliable ol' Bulleit Bourbon: plenty of caramel, butterscotch, vanilla and brown sugar. Nothing at all to dislike. But after taking a short break from it, the smoke returns with a lot of unexpected fruit and candied sweetness–things I don't find on Bulleit's flagship.

That the rye is gone doesn't seem to matter to spice content. Spice from the barrel is gentle and central to the whiskey's character. The clean-to-slightly-drying finish is surely tied to the high malt content and that background touch of smoke. That, too, is a plus.

Truth is, I wish the smoky flavor held on more because I saw it having a lot of opportunity to pair well with smoked or grilled foods. (I'm sure eating it with meats fresh from the smoker will be dandy.) Anything negative I mentioned doesn't equate to whole points off, just one-tenth deductions. It is good whiskey and its nicely differentiated from Bulleit's flagship offerings. All in all, a solid first effort at something new and fun.

BRAND NOTES

Bulleit's Bourbon Mesquite Smoked Malt opens with rich notes of caramelized sugar and warm mesquite smoke. The palate delivers layers of sweet vanilla and oak, balanced by subtle smokiness that nods to classic BBQ pit flavors. The finish is light yet lingering, leaving a gentle, barbecue-inspired warmth. That experience is driven by the mashbill and the work done long before the liquid reaches the glass.

Bulleit Bourbon Mesquite Smoked Malt is made with 65% corn, 30% mesquite smoked malt, and 5% malted barley. Bottled at 93 proof (46.5% ABV), the higher proof point allows the liquid to deliver more depth and intensity, letting the smoky and malty notes shine. This results in an incredibly drinkable whiskey that shows up wherever it’s poured, neat, over ice, mixed in a cocktail or alongside a plate of serious BBQ.

Disclaimer: Bourbon & Banter received a sample of this product from the brand for review. We appreciate their willingness to allow us to review their products with no strings attached. Thank you.