Frank August is proud to announce the release of its first-ever wheated bourbon: Case Study 05 Wheated Reserve | 5 Barrel Batch—the fifth expression in the brand’s Case Study series. You may recall their Case Study 02 PX Brandy Finished landing my favorite finished whiskey of 2023 and their Winter Cover Rye landing a spot (in a pretty stiff competition) of my Top 10 Ryes of 2024.
Frank August Case Study: 05 Wheated Reserve Kentucky Straight Bourbon
Case Study 05 features a meticulous blend of five hand-selected barrels of Kentucky Straight Wheated Bourbon Whiskey, aged between 6 and 7 years. With only eight batches produced, it offers a rare, limited-edition experience—true to the Case Study series’ ethos of one-of-a-kind, never-to-be-repeated releases.
This limited-edition expression earned a Double Gold, a 97/100 rating, and was named a 'Best of Class' finalist at the 2025 San Francisco World Spirits Competition — the highest distinction awarded.
The nose has a wide array of inviting notes—spiced almonds, baked apples, honeydew melon, cherry, date, plum, wheat crackers, caramel sauce and fresh cedar.
The palate is confectionary - pecan pralines, baked apples, English toffee, butterscotch, with just a bit of cinnamon infused vanilla cream. The highlight here is the texture that just drinks effortlessly.
The finish trails seamlessly from the flavors on the palate, adding in sweet oak and warm pecan pie heavy on the nutmeg to the equation.
Frank August Small Batch Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey
We also have a new rye expression added to their lineup with their Small Batch Rye. This 100 proof offering has plenty to explore on its own, giving some similar flavors to their previous Case Study Winter Cover Rye with a bit of a softer, sweeter touch. It also makes a fantastic Old Fashioned (try adding 2:1 simple, 1 dash Angostura and 1 dash Peach Bitters for a great flavor compliment.) I'm sure we will be revisiting this one on my Ryes of 2025 list later this year.
There’s a semi-perfumed tinge to the nose, but definitely noses rich for its 100 proof. Old leather, slightly dusty oak, dried apple peel, candied fruits that lean on the dark side (think blackberries, blueberries) that come alive with a kiss more spice, citrus, and mint leaf in deeper inhales.
The palate is dangerously sippable at its proof. Caramel and honey are the front flavors with a creamy pulse of rye spice through the sips. As the sip progresses to the mid palate it adds some cocoa powder, shortbread cookie, and cherry pie notes, both fruit filling and crust.
The finish is warming, soft, and layered - a bit more vanilla driven, while still adding in herbal notes and a growing saturation and tannin on the tongue like a red wine.
