Cherry | Raspberry | Fresh roses | Malt | Caramel | Charred oak

Caramel | Honey | Dark chocolate | Rich barrel char | Deep rich roasted flavor

Malt | Black tea | Touch of clove | Light roasted barley | Earthy aftertaste

Bendt Distilling Company was founded in Lewisville, Texas in 2012. Sourcing local grains, distilling their own products, and of course aging in Texas hot summers has helped them produce unique tasting whiskeys. Their flagship product, Bendt No. 5, is a blend of five individual whiskeys all distilled, aged, and bottled on site.

For this release, Bendt Distilling Company uses a mashbill containing 60% malted barley with 40% red winter wheat as a secondary grain. While it has strong undercurrents of malted barley throughout, the red wheat helps add sweetness, a touch of astringency, and it’s apparent it is helping cut its malt whiskey characteristics you typically get from 100% malted barley whiskeys. I’d go out on a limb and say it's a better whiskey because of it. The nose finds a good balance between its fruity scents and its caramel, malt and oak side. The palate is surprisingly rich given its proof, and features ample barrel char and roasted flavor elements against its lighter caramel and honey ones. It finishes a degree darker, with black tea, clove, and roasted barley accented by an earthy aftertaste.

I really like what Bendt Distilling Company has produced with this release. There are few bottled-in-bond American made malt whiskeys on the market, and sourcing local grains and Texas aging have combined to create an original tasting whiskey here. While I’m already sold, I’d love to taste this a touch older and at a higher proof, but that’s just me being curious more than a fault of what Bendt Distilling Company delivered. Distribution is still limited, but that is changing and when it's available in your area, it's worth seeking this bottle out.