Born in Kentucky, Raised in Memphis, Finished with Soul
The label on Blue Note’s Wheated Bourbon gives it a strong identity right away: “Born in Kentucky, Raised in Memphis, Finished with Soul.” That is a great line. It tells you exactly what the brand wants this bourbon to be, Kentucky bourbon character shaped by Memphis attitude.
This release comes from B.R. Distilling Co. in Memphis, Tennessee, the company behind Blue Note Bourbon. The brand leans hard into the city’s blues heritage, and that part works. Blue Note has a clear personality. It feels Southern, musical, and different enough to catch your attention.
Blue Note Wheated Bourbon 101 is a Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, bottled at 101 proof, released unfiltered, and made from a wheated mash bill of 70% corn, 21% wheat, and 9% malted barley. That mash bill immediately sets an expectation. With wheat in place of rye, we were looking for a softer, rounder bourbon with more sweetness and less sharp spice. That is not quite what we found in the glass.
About B.R. Distilling Co.
B.R. Distilling Co. is based in Memphis and is the company behind the Blue Note Bourbon lineup. According to the brand, Blue Note is named as a tribute to the blues music tradition of Memphis. The company focuses on crafting, aging, bottling, and distributing whiskey from Memphis, and its DSP TN 21021 license was originally issued in 2014, making it the oldest distillery license in Memphis.
That Memphis story is a strong one. The branding is memorable. The bottle has personality. The phrase “Finished with Soul” is exactly the kind of line that makes you want to pour a glass and pay attention.
We were able to confirm the mash bill and proof from the producer. We did not find a clear age statement. Because this is labeled Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, it must be at least two years old, but without an official age statement and based on our tasting, we would not assume anything beyond that.
Honest Scores: Blue Note Wheated Bourbon 101
Appearance — 2.5 / 5
In the glass, this bourbon is very light golden. It looks thin and young. There is not much depth to the color, and it does not give the visual richness we usually hope for from a 101 proof unfiltered bourbon. Appearance is not everything, but it does set the first impression, and this one started lighter than expected.
Aroma — 2.75 / 5
The nose is fairly restrained. We picked up vanilla, sweet fruit, and a light floral note, but nothing came forward with much force. For a 101 proof bourbon, we expected more aroma, more depth, and more lift from the glass. It is not unpleasant. It is just quiet.
Flavor — 2.75 / 5
The first sip opens with spice. We found cinnamon, pepper, and maybe a little ginger right up front. There is some caramel underneath, but the spice drives the pour more than the wheat does. That surprised us. With a wheated bourbon, we usually expect a softer profile, sweet grain, caramel, vanilla, maybe honey, maybe a rounded bread note. This did not land there for us. Instead, it came across sharper, spicier, and less balanced than we hoped. There was also a flavor note in the middle of the palate that we could not quite identify. It stood out, but not in a good way. It interrupted the pour rather than adding complexity.
Finish — 2.75 / 5
The finish is medium in length, with lingering spice and a dry fruit note. It does not vanish immediately, but it also does not evolve much. The spice hangs around, the fruit dries out, and the finish fades without adding a lot of new character.
Overall Impression
Blue Note Wheated Bourbon 101 has a lot going for it on paper. The proof is right. The mash bill is interesting. The Memphis identity is strong. The unfiltered presentation sounds promising. The label makes you want the whiskey to be bold, soulful, and rich. But for us, the pour did not quite deliver on that promise.
We did not get the complexity the distiller describes. We also did not get the smooth, sweet wheat profile we were expecting from a wheated bourbon. The aroma was muted, the appearance looked young, and the palate leaned more spicy and awkward than soft and rounded. This is not a bad bourbon. It just was not the wheated bourbon experience we hoped to find.
Final Rating: 2.7 / 5
Final Call
One bottle is enough. The story was better than the sip for this bottle, but we don’t intend to give up on the brand completely. There are several other offerings that have had good reviews and we intend to give them a pour. Check back for more soon.
Perfect Pairing
A lighter, spicier wheated bourbon like Blue Note pairs best with something easy and casual. Match it with the Bourbon Beach Sun & Sand Tee from the Barrel Proof Collection, the right shirt for an unhurried pour on a warm evening.
Track your own tasting notes pour by pour, the Bourbon Notebook & Tasting Journal.
