Bernheim Original Wheat Whiskey 20th Anniversary Limited Edition
57.5% ABV (115 proof) | 750mL | 10 years old | Kentucky Straight Wheat Whiskey | 20th Anniversary Limited Edition (2026) — Bernheim Original 20th Anniversary is the high-proof, extra-aged celebration of the whiskey that restarted American wheat whiskey: a special selection of barrels aged 10 years, bottled at 115 proof — a big step up from the standard 90-proof, 7-year Bernheim. Released in 2026, twenty years after Bernheim Original's 2005 debut, it arrives in a commemorative bottle with a distinctive copper plate on the front. Available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA.
The story matters here: when Bernheim Original launched in 2005, it was the first truly new American whiskey style introduced since Prohibition — soft winter wheat as the primary grain (51% wheat, 37% corn, 12% malted barley) — and it helped usher in the modern whiskey renaissance. The anniversary edition keeps that wheated soul and turns up everything else: three more years in Bardstown rickhouses and 25 more proof. Produced at the historic Bernheim Distillery and aged in Bardstown, Kentucky. SRP $84.99. Among American wheat whiskies, this is the definitive anniversary pour.
Tasting notes
Nose: honeyed wheat, vanilla custard, toasted oak, light cinnamon. Palate: rich and warming at 115 proof — caramel, wheat bread, baking spice, dried fruit. Finish: long — oak, vanilla, lingering warmth.
Why buy it from Del Mesa Liquor
- 57.5% ABV (115 proof) — 10 years old, vs 90 proof / 7 yr standard
- 20th Anniversary Limited Edition — released 2026, copper-plate bottle
- Kentucky Straight Wheat Whiskey: 51% soft winter wheat mash bill
- Celebrates the 2005 original — the first new American whiskey style since Prohibition
- Available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor
How to serve it
Neat with patience — at 115 proof it rewards a few drops of water to open the wheat honey.
Frequently asked questions
When was the Bernheim 20th Anniversary released?
2026 — announced February 2026, twenty years after Bernheim Original's 2005 launch.
How is it different from regular Bernheim Original?
It's 115 proof (vs 90) and 10 years old (vs 7), in a commemorative copper-plate bottle.
Is Bernheim a bourbon?
No — it's a Kentucky Straight Wheat Whiskey: wheat, not corn, is the primary grain (51% wheat).
Where is it made?
Produced at the historic Bernheim Distillery and aged in rickhouses in Bardstown, Kentucky.