Bulleit Unveils Mesquite-Smoked Bourbon
(Credit: Diageo)
Mesquite-smoked whiskey has been around since the early 2010s and has long been a signature of the craft distilling scene in the American Southwest. In all this time, it has never been associated with Kentucky bourbon, although some Kentucky distillers have experimented with smoked grains (just not mesquite-smoked). Bulleit Bourbon has decided to change all that with its latest limited release, Bulleit Bourbon Mesquite Smoked Malt Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, putting a particular eye on making it a classic pairing choice for barbecue.
Bulleit is owned by Diageo, the British drinks giant that owns Johnnie Walker and most of its foundational distilleries in Scotland, making it the world’s most important Scotch Whisky maker. That experience is evident in how Bulleit Mesquite-Smoked Bourbon gets its smoke. During the barley malting process, a portion of the malted barley is smoked over mesquite wood, imparting its signature smoky aroma. The mesquite wood-smoked grains are then used as an ingredient in the mash bill before fermentation and distillation begin. This is strongly reminiscent of how malted barley is peated, by burning peat and allowing the smoke to waft over the grain.
To play up that mesquite smoking, the mash bill for the new bourbon is best described as a high malt bourbon mash, where malted barley is there for flavor and not just the enzymes that convert starch to fermentable sugar. This bourbon is made with 65% corn, 30% mesquite smoked malt, and 5% malted barley. The whiskey is bottled at 93 proof. The whiskey was first distilled in November 2018 and aged for a minimum of six years at Bulleit Distilling Co. before being pulled from the barrel in 2025. It was bottled in Fall 2025 and represents Bulleit’s first experimental new-make project, part of a broader and ongoing focus on exploring unique grains, experiences, and aging techniques while preserving a commitment to quality.
“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. “The subtle smokiness comes from the mesquite wood-smoked malt used in the mashbill. 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.”
This is a one-time release, available as of Tuesday, March 2 with a suggested retail price of $49.99.
