New Basin Wild Will Wheat Whiskey Review

By Richard Thomas

Rating: C

Wild Will Wheat Whiskey
(Credit: New Basin Distilling)

New Basin really does put the farm into the farm-to-glass and “farm distillery” concept, since the Madras, Oregon distillery is actually located on a farm. They have 400 acres of their own, which they use to furnish grain for their mash. Whereas the Light Whiskeys, Strong and Strongest, in their line up are at least partially sourced, their in-house rye and wheat whiskeys are not just in house, but off their land too.

Which brings me to Wild Will, a 100 proof, 100% wheat whiskey aged in small barrels (what size isn’t specified, but New Basin did choose to use the word “small”). New Basin takes a turn akin to Ezra Brooks and the defunct Jim Beam Green by filtering Wild Will through charred oak chips after aging. Not this is not the same thing as the Lincoln County Process, used to make Tennessee Whiskey, the crucial difference being the when: in Tennessee, they filter the new make, not the aged and substantially finished product.

The Whiskey
Wild Will has a coppery, light amber look in the glass. I found the nose to have a sweet base, predominately caramel and butterscotch, so rather candied, but a candy accented by currents of orange zest and pine. The flavor adds a honey drizzle, and the citrus zest aspect turns decidedly tart. That last note, the tart citrus, is what rolls off into the finish. My take is that Wild Will has certain characteristics that make me believe it could be a good wheat whiskey indeed, but as is, the whiskey is youthful, rough and needs its maturation approach taken a step forward.

The Price
Wild Will should set you back about $45 a bottle.