April 18, 2025
Exploring Bourbon Styles for Craft Distilling: Traditional, High Rye, and Wheated
In the world of craft distilling, few spirits are as iconic—or as versatile—as bourbon. While it may seem straightforward, there are several distinct styles of bourbon, each defined by its grain bill and the flavor it brings to the final spirit.
Whether you're crafting a bold, spice-driven whiskey or a smooth, mellow sipper, understanding the types of bourbon will help you choose the right mash bill for your goals. Below, we break down the differences between Traditional, High Rye, and Wheated bourbon styles, along with how they’re reflected in our recipe kits.
What Legally Defines Bourbon?
Before diving into styles, it’s important to understand what makes a whiskey a bourbon.
By U.S. law, a bourbon must:
- Be made in the United States
- Contain at least 51% corn
- Be distilled to no more than 160 proof
- Enter new, charred oak barrels at no more than 125 proof
- Be bottled at no less than 80 proof
These standards create the foundation for bourbon’s character. What sets different bourbons apart is the secondary grain—usually rye or wheat—and how it interacts with the corn to shape aroma, flavor, and mouthfeel.
Traditional Bourbon
Traditional bourbon follows the most common and time-tested grain profile. With corn as the base, a moderate amount of rye adds gentle spice, while malted grain (often distillers malt) helps convert starches during fermentation and rounds out the body.
This style offers the flavor most drinkers associate with bourbon: smooth, sweet, and lightly spicy. It’s incredibly versatile, working well for sipping, barrel aging, or mixing into cocktails.
Grain Bill:
62.5% Corn
25% Distillers Malt
12.5% Rye Malt
Shop Bourbon Style Whiskey All Grain Distilling Recipe Kit
High Rye Bourbon
High rye bourbon increases the proportion of rye in the mash bill—often around 30%—for a bolder, spicier flavor. While it still contains more than 51% corn to meet the legal definition of bourbon, the added rye pushes the flavor into a more intense and peppery direction.
This style is known for its complexity, dry finish, and excellent structure, making it a favorite for those who enjoy a little edge in their whiskey or use bourbon in classic cocktails like the Old Fashioned or Manhattan.
Grain Bill:
60% Non-GMO Malted Corn
10% Munich 4 Malt
30% Malted Rye
Shop High Rye Bourbon Whiskey All Grain Distilling Recipe Kit
Wheated Bourbon
Wheated bourbon takes a different approach by replacing rye with wheat as the secondary grain. The result is a bourbon that’s smoother, softer, and rounder on the palate. Wheat brings a mellow sweetness and a creamy mouthfeel without the spice of rye.
Wheated bourbons are often preferred for sipping and long aging, where the subtlety of the grain bill allows oak and barrel character to shine through.
Grain Bill:
60% Non-GMO Malted Corn
10% Munich 4 Malt
30% Munich Wheat Malt
Shop Wheated Bourbon Whiskey All Grain Distilling Recipe Kit
Build Your Bourbon Your Way
Each of these bourbon kits is crafted with precision and built around award-winning malts for consistent results. Whether you're looking to create a well-balanced, spice-forward whiskey or a smooth and approachable pour, there's a mash bill to match your taste.
